It is a known fact that during early pregnancy, there are many women who have frequent vomiting or nausea, which is often referred to as morning sickness. For many women, morning sickness happens in the morning, but morning sickness can happen at any time during the day [1]. There are some factors that could lead to morning sicknesses, such as vitamin or mineral deficiencies, anxiety, fatigue, certain foods, and certain odors [2]. Morning sickness is a very common condition, and if you have it, then you should not be worried about it. Below are given some home remedies which can help you to combat vomiting and nausea. You need to talk with your doctor before you start using some of the below-mentioned home remedies for morning sickness if they are suitable for you as well as for the correct dosage.
18 Morning sickness treatment
Contents
- 1 18 Morning sickness treatment
- 1.1 Cheese
- 1.2 Avoid alcohol and caffeine
- 1.3 Fennel
- 1.4 Soups and bone broth
- 1.5 Peppermint
- 1.6 Healthy fats
- 1.7 Curry leaves
- 1.8 Vitamin D
- 1.9 Ginger
- 1.10 Lemon
- 1.11 Choose complex carbohydrates
- 1.12 Crackers
- 1.13 Bael juice
- 1.14 Do not drink and eat at the same time
- 1.15 Water
- 1.16 Take a walk
- 1.17 Red raspberry tea leaf
- 1.18 Avoid sudden moves
Cheese
It is recommended to eat lots of protein during pregnancy because it can help to regulate blood glucose levels. There was one study in which was found that foods that are rich in protein can help to reduce the symptoms of morning sickness, especially when you are craving more carbohydrates [3]. If you feel like you may vomit from eating anything else, then cheese is a good option for you. You can try mozzarella cheese, cottage cheese, or cheddar cheese. You can make a simple cheese salad along with fresh vegetables and fruits, and you can eat it for lunch or dinner. Also, before you go to bed, you can have some cheese or other high–protein snacks.
Avoid alcohol and caffeine
It is a known fact that alcohol can harm the embryo/fetus, and this is a reason why it should be avoided throughout pregnancy. Also, stay away from caffeinated drinks. [2]
Fennel
Fennel seeds have licorice, and aromatic taste, which can be used to calm your stomach, and they can give you fast relief from morning sickness. Fennel seeds have anesthetic components that can help to combat nausea. You should chew on one teaspoon of fennel seeds after meals because it can help you with the digestion process. Also, you can try fennel tea. You should add one teaspoon of crushed fennel seeds to one cup of boiling water. You should let it steep for a few minutes before you strain it. You should add a few drops of fresh lemon juice and one teaspoon of honey before you sip it.
Soups and bone broth
These home remedies can help you with morning sickness because they are a great source of nutrients like electrolytes and collagen.
Peppermint
Peppermint has anesthetic properties, which can calm the stomach, and will give relief from nausea [4]. You should make peppermint tea by putting one tablespoon of peppermint leaves in one cup of boiling water. You should let it steep for ten minutes and then strain it. If you want, you can add some honey or sugar to it. You should drink this tea slowly and sip it over some time. Also, you can put a few drops of peppermint essential oil in a cloth and then inhale the smell. Also, you can suck on peppermint candies because it will help you.
Healthy fats
You should have healthy fats in your diet, such as coconut oil, olive oil, avocado, seeds, and nuts, because they are easy to digest.
Curry leaves
In Ayurvedic medicine, the juice extracted from curry leaves, when it is combined with sugar and lime juice, was used as a natural treatment for nausea and vomiting due to morning sickness. You should press 15 – 20 curry leaves on a sieve to extract the juice. You should add 2 teaspoons of fresh lemon juice and one teaspoon of sugar or honey and then mix it well. You need to drink this home remedy 2 or 3 times per day. [5]
Vitamin D
We know that the best way to get Vitamin D is by spending about twenty minutes outdoors in the sun. if this is not possible, then a Vitamin D supplement can help you but talk with your doctor about the correct dosage and suitability for you.
Ginger
The ginger root has chemicals called gingerols and shogaols which can give relief from vomiting and nausea [1,4]. You should add 5 – 6 drops of ginger juice to a teaspoon of honey. You need to consume this home remedy slowly when you wake up in the morning. Also, you can boil some grated ginger in water until the water is reduced by half. You should let it cool and then add some honey to it. You should drink it on daily basis in the morning. Also, you can make ginger tea by adding ½ teaspoon of powdered ginger to one cup of boiling water. You should let it steep for 10 minutes and then strain it. You should sip this tea slowly. Pregnant women should not drink this tea more than 3 times per day. You can chew on ginger candy, or you can suck a small piece of ginger because it can give you relief from nausea.
Lemon
Lemon has natural calming effects that can help to get relief from nausea. You should mix one tablespoon of honey, ½ teaspoon of ginger juice, one teaspoon of mint juice, and one teaspoon of lemon juice. You should drink this home remedy 2 – 3 times per day. Also, you can mix one teaspoon of mint and one teaspoon of lemon juice with some sugar. You should consume this home remedy 3 times per day. You can squeeze a fresh lemon and mix the juice with a glass of water. You should drink this home remedy every morning to prevent nausea. Also, you can take a bite of fresh–cut lemon or you can chew lemon–flavored candy. Also, you can smell fresh lemon peels because they will ease the symptoms of morning sickness [6].
Choose complex carbohydrates
There are some foods that are easier to digest, such as pasta, bread, and potatoes. You should choose them for your meals. Also, they are soothing.
Crackers
It is a known fact that crackers are easy on the stomach, and they can help to stop the feeling of nausea. It is recommended to start your day with 1 or 2 crackers during the first few months of the pregnancy. You should eat some crackers as needed throughout the day. Eat just one cracker before you go to bed. You can keep a small supply of low–salt soda crackers, plain popcorn, or whole–wheat crackers in your purse so that when you need them, you will have them.
Bael juice
Bael fruit is also known as wood apple. The juice of this fruit can help you to get relief from morning sickness, it can prevent constipation, and it is good for digestion. You should extract the juice of one bael fruit and add 2 – 4 tablespoons of it to the cooked rice. If you have mild symptoms of morning sickness, then you should eat this home remedy once per day. If you have severe morning sickness, then you should eat this home remedy up to 3 times a day.
Do not drink and eat at the same time
You should drink your fluids between your meals instead of during meals because this can help you to avoid too much bulk in your stomach.
Water
It is very important for pregnant women to keep their bodies well hydrated because dehydration can cause morning sickness. There are some studies in which are said that women who drink a glass of water every hour have few chances to suffer from morning sickness. You should drink 8–10 water per day. If you do not like to drink water, then you can eat vegetables and fruits which are high in water content, such as oranges, pears, squash, apples, grapes, celery, tomatoes, carrots, and melons. Also, you can treat yourself to frozen fruit bars because they will keep your body hydrated.
Take a walk
There are some cases when the exercises can help to alleviate the symptoms of morning sickness. Also, exercises are good for your body. If you want to try some exercise which is not walking, then you must talk with your doctor.
Red raspberry tea leaf
You can brew yourself a cup of red–raspberry leaf tea. This type of tea is very popular for many problems of pregnancy in which is included morning sickness. It has been shown that it can help to relax the smooth muscles of the uterus [4]. You should use one to two teaspoons of dried herb per one cup of hot water. You should talk with your doctor before you start taking this home remedy because there are some cases when red raspberry leaf tea can cause uterine contractions. If you are at increased risk for miscarriage or if you want to take it later in the pregnancy, then talk with your doctor before you start taking it.
Avoid sudden moves
You should not change your posture quickly, for example, when you want to get out of bed quickly.
References
[1] Meltzer DI. Complementary therapies for nausea and vomiting in early pregnancy. Family Practice. 2000;17(6):570-573.
[2] Green MN. Nausea, pregnancy sickness and the role of dietary protein. 2010. Retrieved from ttps://www.pregnancysicknesssupport.org.uk/documents/conference_papers/MGreen-Nausea_pregnancy_dietary_protein_final.pdf
[3] Jednak MA, Shadigan EM, Kim MS, et al. Protein meals reduce nausea and gastric slow wave dysrhythmic activity in first trimester pregnancy. American Journal of Physiology – Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology. 1999;277:G855-G861.
[4] Laelago T. Herbal medicine use during pregnancy: Benefits and untoward effects. Intech Open. 2018. Retrieved from https://www.intechopen.com/books/herbal-medicine/herbal-medicine-use-during-pregnancy-benefits-and-untoward-effects.
[5] Nishan M, Subramanian P. Murraya koenigii (curry leave)- A review on its potential. International Journal of PharmTech Research. 2014-2015;7(4):566-572.
[6] Yavari kia P, Safajou F, Shahnazi M, Nazemiyeh H. The effect of lemon inhalation aromatherapy on nausea and vomiting of pregnancy: A double-blinded, randomized, controlled clinical trial. Iranian Red Crescent Medical Journal. 2014;16(3):e14360.