Ugh — morning sickness. This is one of the most dreaded symptoms of early pregnancy that occurs due to the increase in hormones surging through your body. Thanks a lot, hCG. Greater than 50% of women experience it in the first trimester. This nausea and vomiting is often the worst in the morning, however, the truth is you can feel queasy and throw up any time of the day when you are pregnant. Lucky for you, I will include my five favorite methods of combating this unruly pregnancy symptom.
1) Snacks on snacks on snacks
Keep some plain crackers, a piece of chocolate, or whatever it is that you can currently keep down beside your bed. Eat this little something the moment you wake up to raise your blood sugar levels. Eating 5-6 small meals each day will also help you to avoid an empty stomach and keep your blood sugar stable.
2) Push your fluids
Maintain a healthy fluid intake, even if you don’t feel like eating solids. Although, it may help not to mix solids and fluids in the same meal. Instead, drink fluids 1/2 hour before and after a meal to prevent dehydration. Try adding some ginger products (ginger tea, ginger ale, etc) into your beverage selection, as ginger is a natural remedy for nausea.
3) B6 to prevent ‘B-ing sick’
Some midwives and nutrition experts recommend taking 50-100mg of a vitamin B6 supplement to prevent nausea. Of course, you will continue to take your prenatal vitamin as well. I have seen this work like a charm for many of my clients.
4) Rest is the best
Nausea can trigger when your body is very tired or over-worked. It can also trigger if you try to nap right after a meal. Get plenty of rest throughout your pregnancy and make it a point to go to bed nice and early, you are growing a human after all.
And most importantly…
5) Come and see me for treatment
Through my specialized training in visceral manipulation from the Barral Institute, I have learned manual therapy techniques to aid in comfort during pregnancy, including decreasing morning sickness. Gentle motility work of the liver, the organ responsible for hormone regulation, has been shown to significantly decrease and/or eliminate morning sickness…and it can be done in less than 5 minutes!
With love & light,
Full Circle Birth & Pelvic Health
