Morning sickness is the standard by which all pregnancy experiences get measured. If a woman complains of a difficult or miserable pregnancy, she likely had severe morning sickness. If a woman brags of 40 weeks of sheer pregnancy glow and radiance, she probably didn’t spend much of her first trimester poised over a toilet.
Morning sickness is usually most unfortunate and untimely, because it happens in the early days of pregnancy before you want to tell your boss or chatty relatives. And trust me, running for the toilet every ten minutes is a big fat giveaway.
Thankfully there are some good tips to survive morning sickness. But I must say that trial and error will likely be the name of the game here. But first, let’s clear up a few myths. For one, morning sickness is a huge misnomer because it can often lasts all day and/or all night long and can strike at any time.
Second, morning sickness doesn’t afflict all women. Personally, I never had a touch of it. Studies show that only half of all expectant women get it. But when they do, you will definitely hear about it.
What it is: Morning sickness can run the gamut from occasional lightheadedness and dizzy spells, to full-fledged vomiting and nausea several times a day. The good news is, even the most severe bouts of morning sickness usually passes after the third month.
What’s behind it: Nobody knows. There have been a lot of studies on the root cause of morning sickness with no definitive answers. Doctors do know that the brain stem is the center of all the nausea and vomiting activity. But there are a number of theories about what causes this area to be overstimulated during pregnancy. Some likely suspects include the high levels of hormones, the rapid stretching of the uterine muscles, a less efficient digestive system, the excess acid in the stomach and a heightened sense of smell. But I think it’s all part of a higher plan to make sure you have a great story to tell to your kids when they misbehave years later. The one thing they do know for sure is that stress and fatigue can make morning sickness worse.
Unfortunately there is no one-size fits all cure for morning sickness. But here are some tips, tricks and products that may help:
* Eat something high in protein before going to bed. Helps your blood sugar stay more level.
* Two crackers before your head leaves the pillow is old but wise advice.
* Try Preggie Pops, which have been known to help with queasiness and come in ginger, mint, sour fruits and lavender flavors.
* Have sips of ice water as the urge to purge strikes. Many women say that this helps them keep meals down as well.
* Flat Sprite has been touted as great at keeping the stomach from churning.
* Avoid foods and smells that seem to trigger nausea. Sometimes this will be nearly every food or every smell. But do your best.
* Ginger teas and cookies, even the spice can be helpful in preventing nausea.
* Acupressure bands can be worn like bracelets and can curb nausea while you wear them. Check out my fashion forward favorites, psibands (pronounced sigh bands). The bands, created by two moms, are adjustable, drug-free, waterproof and very cute.
* Try smaller frequent meals instead of a big feast.
* Peppermint, either smelling it in aromatherapy form or sipping the tea can help curb nausea. It's also known to help with sagging energy levels.
* Try peanut butter or other protein snack before rising from your bed.
* A teaspoon of cider vinegar in a cup of warm water.
* When possible avoid hunger, it can also make your stomach upset.
