While my bout with morning sickness was not as severe as others I have heard about, it was not something that I look back fondly on. My morning sickness left me with only 3 hours a day when I could eat without nausea. From 2pm-5pm, I was able to eat almost anything that I wanted, and get nutrition to my body. All other hours of the day I avoided food, anything that smelled like food, and anything that resembled a kitchen or had food in it.
If your morning sickness has you rushing for the bathroom every few minutes, or avoiding food like the plague, you might benefit from trying a few of these tactics. While you are pretty much guaranteed that your sickness will continue at least until the 12th week (if not longer, but let’s not talk about that nonsense), you might find a trick that can make your first trimester a bit more tolerable for you and Baby.
Eat When You Can
If you’re like me, you might find that you can stomach food for an hour or two sometime during the day. Grab whatever sounds good during this time and enjoy the nausea-free feeling. Carry a few snacks in your purse or desk to be sure that you always have something nearby when you actually want to eat.
It Starts With Your Nose
Quite a few of my friends swear by specific smells when it comes to pregnancy related nausea. My friend Molly carried around a bottle of peppermint essential oil to smell whenever she felt sick, which was almost all the time. But a quick and deep sniff of peppermint stopped her from throwing up, which was a big bonus. Another friend, Karen, found luck with a specific grapefruit candle that she found at Target. She didn’t burn the candle, just smelled it and felt immediate relief. She had those candles everywhere throughout her house, her car, her desk at work, and even her purse. But hey, it worked, so high five to her.
Drink, or Eat, Your Water
Staying hydrated is key during your first trimester of pregnancy, but it can be hard to stay hydrated when you feel like you are going to be sick all the time. Work hard on getting your fluids in, and make a conscious effort to sip water throughout the day. Set a phone alarm to remind you to take a few sips. Water is best, but any hydration is beneficial to your body. I had great luck with hot tea and lemon throughout my first trimester, and other friends found that big chunks of watermelon or grapes kept them hydrated and healthy without making them feel sick.
Know When to Ask For Help
Mama, asking for help is a good skill to start working on while you are pregnant, because you are going to need to be comfortable asking for help as you raise your child. While morning sickness affects about 70% of women, you need to be honest with your partner and doctor when discussing how it is making you feel. Your doctor will want to monitor you more closely if you are having a hard time keeping foods and fluids down. Severe morning sickness, hyperemesis gravidum, can lead to hospital visits.
If you are struggling with morning sickness, you are in good company. Moms have been puking and avoiding foods like the plague since the beginning of time. Take one day at a time and soon you will be able to entertain your friends with tales of your morning sickness adventures and aversions. Hang in there!
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