Tips for Dealing with Nausea
Nausea: 22 Tips to help you survive
Make sure you eat. Never let your stomach get fully empty. Keep a healthy snack with you at all times and remember to eat several small meals throughout the day. This will help keep your blood sugar from dipping too low and triggering nausea. Try keeping raw almonds or saltine crackers by your bed to eat when you wake up in the middle of the night or before you get out of bed in the morning. Protein is the best source of sustained energy and will be a strong ally to preventing nausea. Eat something just before bed to avoid feeling queasy in the morning.
Avoid Complex Carbs. Avoid refined grains and simple carbs like pasta, breads, and sugar. These foods have little nutrition and can often lead to low blood sugar which causes increased nausea.
Drink Plenty of Water. Dehydration is a major cause of nausea and headaches. Aim for half a gallon of water, unsweetened juices and herbal teas a day. Soda and caffeinated drinks are best avoided throughout pregnancy.
Ginger. Ginger has been clinically proven to relieve nausea. Consider taking 250 mg 3 to 4 times/day in capsule form (do not exceed 1000mg), or drink 5 to 6 cups of ginger tea through the day.
Teas. Digestive teas such as fennel, spearmint and chamomile may help if indigestion is a cause of your nausea.
Sleep. Exhaustion aggravates nausea.
Give yourself a break. Sometimes a few days curled up on the couch can make the world of difference.
Keep physically active. CO2 buildup in the blood can contribute to nausea, which can be reduced with exercise like walking or swimming.
Acupressure. Try “seabands” used for motion sickness. You can also see an acupuncturist.
Herbalist or Homeopath. Consider consulting a professional herbalist or homeopath for specialized care.
Aromatherapy. Many essential oils are off-limits in pregnancy, however lavender is safe and may be helpful.
Address your fears. Some women find there is a psychological component to their nausea and get some relief through counseling and talking with others.
Things to avoid. Avoid sucking on hard candies on an empty stomach. Although this may temporarily relieve the nausea, the digestive juices it stimulates could make matters worse.
Vitamin Supplementation. Vitamin B6 is helpful for nausea. Taking 25 mg of B6 throughout the day (not exceeding 150mg) may help shut off the nausea ‘control center’ in your brain.
Timing of Supplementation: Take your vitamins on an empty stomach. If you find a regular prenatal vitamin too harsh, forget it for a few weeks and try to start again later in your pregnancy.
Medication. There is a medication called Diclectin/Diclegis that is known to be safe in pregnancy. If your nausea is so bad that it is interfering with your life, ask your midwife to have a doctor prescribe it for you.