Follow on Twitter
Join us on Facebook
Morning sickness
Do you have any suggestions to help ease morning sickness?
Morning sickness (nausea and vomiting) is experienced at different levels of severity from a few days after conception and usually tapers off by the end of the 2nd trimester. It can be experienced during the whole day or only in the morning.
Diet tips for morning sickness
- Use herbal teas which help to calm the stomach (reducing nausea and vomiting) and increase your daily intake of water such as: Ginger, chamomile, peppermint, raspberry leaf and spearmint
- Ensure optimal hydration (at least 2 litres of water/ day) as chronic dehydration causes the liver to dry out and contributes to morning sickness. It has also been speculated that sub-optimal quantities of water consumed by the mother during pregnancy may lead to thirst from the unborn fetus and manifest as nausea
- Eat small meals regularly and adequate amounts of quality protein to help sustain your blood sugar levels throughout the day
- Consume quality proteins such as lean red meat, organic chicken and free range eggs, nuts and seeds and tofu
- Decrease your intake of saturated fatty acids as these may increase the incidence of morning sickness
- Increase Ginger in your diet, add it to vegetable juices, teas and your cooking to help reduce nausea and relieve indigestion.
Lifestyle factors for morning sickness
- Ensure adequate rest and sleep
- Manage stress
- Moderate and gentle exercise (walking, swimming, yoga)
Natural remedies for morning sickness
- Ginger and Vitamin B6 are both effective in helping to alleviate morning sickness
- Pregnancy supplements which contain the recommended daily allowance of many of the important nutrients such as Calcium, Magnesium, Iron, Folic acid, Zinc, Iodine, B Vitamins and Fish oil. This will ensure optimal levels of nutrition through out the pregnancy and reduce any deficiencies which may contribute to morning sickness