Coping with Nausea while Pregnant

Nausea can be a debilitating feeling. Although ‘morning sickness’ is typically a fairly short-term pregnancy symptom, it can feel never-ending. Here are some natural and pregnancy safe remedies for curbing nausea. 

Eat Often and Eat Small
It can be counterintuitive to eat food when you feel nauseous, but actually, an empty stomach can cause nausea. Eating small, frequent meals will help you avoid nausea. For some pregnant people, this means eating a quick snack before they get out of bed in the morning. For others, this can mean filling up on a smoothie before bed, or even waking up for a midnight snack. It’s best to keep snacks with you, on the go, so you don’t get caught without food. Packing some apple sauce or peanut butter packets, and a few granola bars can make a world of difference. Depending on the severity of the birther’s nausea, the frequency of meals will need to be adjusted.

Ginger
The most common natural anti nausea remedy is ginger, and it really works! There are tons of ginger remedies sold specifically for nausea and pregnancy. Ginger chews, ginger ale, ginger lozenges. There’s not one that’s better than the other, so it’s really personal preference. You can buy these anywhere, and they also make tasty treats even when you aren’t nauseous. 

Sour
Another great flavor for controlling nausea is sour. A lot of pregnant people love sour chews. One client of mine would suck the sour coating off of Sour Patch Kids when she first woke up in the morning, and that was the only way she could start her day without feeling nauseous. There are also many sour products targeted specifically for pregnant people, so these are easy to find. 

Mint
Mint can help with nausea as well. A very useful and effective mint nausea remedy is diffusing peppermint essential oil. This can be particularly useful in households, or in offices, where other options may not be as easily accessible. As always, check with your doctor about essential oil safety during pregnancy. 

Smoothies Instead of Solid Food
Sometimes solid food can be too harsh on a sensitive stomach. And eating saltines and toast isn’t sustainable nutritionally for a developing baby and pregnant person. A fantastic way to get nutrients and eat without nausea, is to make smoothies! Combine your favorite fruits and veggies along with a protein powder and scoop of almond butter, mix together with milk or dairy free substitute, and blend! Sipping on a smoothie can help you get the nutrients your body needs, without worrying about solid food causing additional nausea during digestion. 


Vitamin B6
Increasing Vitamin B6 intake can be incredibly effective at treating pregnancy nausea. A typical dosage is 10-25 mg a few times a day. Always ask your doctor before taking any vitamins during pregnancy. Even though Vitamin B6 in standard doses is not harmful to the fetus or birther, large quantities of any vitamin can be unsafe. Luckily, with a doctor regulated dose, Vitamin B6 is incredibly effective, inexpensive, and doesn’t require a prescription.

Motion Sickness Bracelets
Motion sickness bands have mixed reviews amongst pregnant people, but if other options are not working, they’re definitely worth a try. Motion sickness bracelets are bracelets that apply light pressure to an acupressure point on the inner wrist, which reduces nausea. These can be great in combination with other methods, as they’re minimally invasive and have no side effects or safety regulations.

Acupressure / Acupuncture
Acupressure and acupuncture are so phenomenal for pregnant people for so many reasons, but are wonderfully life changing when it comes to nausea. Some insurance plans even cover acupuncture visits for pregnant people, so be sure to look into that! As always, check with your doctor before scheduling a visit with an acupuncturist, and be sure to tell your acupuncturist how far along in your pregnancy you are, as triggering some pressure points could result in early labor.