Morning ALL DAY Sickness
It can be quite the blow after the initial shock of an unexpected pregnancy to then also be hit with the exhausting morning sickness that haunts up to 70% of all pregnant women in their first 16 weeks of pregnancy.² And the kicker is, it’s not even just morning sickness! It’s morning, afternoon, evening, and even night-time sickness. For some, they may even be woken from their sleep only to run to the washroom for another awkward snuggle with the toilet.
This can be very discouraging in any circumstance, but for those who find themselves in an unexpected pregnancy, it can also be the tipping point for decision making. You may be thinking:
“Is it really worth enduring all of this?”
“Is this how it’s going to be?”
“I didn’t signed up for any of this!”
But there is hope! You don’t have to suffer through this common symptom of pregnancy. In fact, there are many remedies that can help you calm your queasy stomach. You may want to try a few and see what works best for you since there can be different causes of this unwelcomed symptom. However, the underlying culprit is always the hormones released during pregnancy.¹
No matter what the cause of your ill-feelings may be, what matters most is knowing how to manage them so that you can keep living your life. The great news is that, not only can pregnancy-related sickness be managed, but it typically only lasts for the first 16 weeks of your pregnancy. It is not a permanent symptom, meaning “this too shall pass.”²
In the meantime, here are some different remedies to try out:
Lifestyle changes
- Avoid strong smells – either perfumes or strong-smelling foods can set-off a sensitive stomach.
- Get fresh air often – this will also boost energy levels and help with sleep quality.
- Exercise – even though this is the last thing you have energy for, just 20 minutes per day of brisk walking can help release endorphins that combat fatigue and nausea.
- Stay vertical – laying down may increase reflux and cause further vomiting.
- Get a good night’s sleep – Aim for at least 8 hours of sleep at roughly the same time each night.³
Eating habits
- Eat frequent small meals and snack often – don’t stuff yourself or go hungry, find the balance and maintain it throughout the day.
- Saltine crackers – help absorb stomach acid. Keep them at your bedside to avoid sickness from an empty stomach first thing in the morning.
- Eat more bland foods – toast, bananas, and apple sauce can help. Avoid spicy or greasy food (don’t let your cravings deceive you).
- Drink plenty – aim for eight glasses of non-caffeinated drinks but try not to drink too much 30 minutes before or after you eat. Smoothies can be a great way to get fluids and high nutrients.
- Change your pill routine – try eating a small snack with your prenatal vitamin right before bed to avoid its nauseating effects.
- Ginger – try teas, candies, or flat Ginger Ale (the carbonated version will irritate acid reflux).
- Mint – gum, candies, lip balm, or a rollerball filled with diluted peppermint essential oil.
- Sour treats – try lemon water, sour candies, or even smelling something sour like a fresh lemon.
- Prioritize protein – high protein snacks like, trail mix, nuts, seeds, yogurt, milk, and cottage cheese will not only leave you full for longer it also gives you healthy fats and staves off nausea.³
Medications
- There are many different medications, both over-the-counter or that can be prescribed by your doctor, to help with nausea and acid-reflux. These can include Vitamin B6, doxylamine, ondansetron, corticosteroids, and antacids. Talk to your doctor about what is safest and may work best for you.1, 2, 3
- Acupressure – there are special wristbands available that will place pressure on just the right spot to help alleviate nausea. ³
- Aromatherapy – Try diffusing essential oils or find other ways to harness pleasant and relaxing smells such as chamomile, ginger, lemon, orange, or peppermint.³
There are a multitude of ways to help with so many different aspects of your unexpected pregnancy. Kingston Pregnancy Care Centre would love to play a part in helping you through this season. If you need to talk, we would be happy to have one of our support workers sit down with you. If you need resources, you are welcome to visit our Care Closet full of both baby and maternity products and clothing.
To learn more about our services click HERE
To contact us to make an appointment click HERE
By: Carling, RN
Prenatal Educator
References:
¹Hyperemesis Gravidarum. Marlena S. Fejzo, PhD. Retrieved August 24, 2022, from https://rarediseases.org/rare-diseases/hyperemesis-gravidarum/.
²Liu, Chuan et al. “Emerging Progress in Nausea and Vomiting of Pregnancy and Hyperemesis Gravidarum: Challenges and Opportunities.” Frontiers in medicine vol. 8 809270. 10 Jan. 2022, doi:10.3389/fmed.2021.809270
³Ebrahimi, Neda et al. “Optimal management of nausea and vomiting of pregnancy.” International journal of women's health vol. 2 241-8. 4 Aug. 2010, doi:10.2147/ijwh.s6794