12 Natural Ways to Stop Morning Sickness (# 9 is Wicked Easy!)

Most women experience frequent nausea and vomiting in the early weeks of pregnancy. It’s often referred to as morning sickness, even though it can happen at any time of the day or night. There are several factors that play into morning sickness, including certain foods, fatigue, anxiety, certain odors, hormone imbalances, and mineral deficiencies. It’s actually very normal, and nothing to be concerned about for most women. Only one percent of women develop an extreme form of morning sickness that leads to severe dehydration and weight loss and will require a doctor’s intervention. If you have any doubts as to whether or not your morning sickness is normal, consult with your OBGYN immediately. We have compiled a list of 12 time-tested, women-tested and incredibly effective ways of dealing with morning sickness. Why 12? Because not everything works for everyone. If you don’t get relief with one method, try another. Keep reading to relief from morning sickness and start feeling normal again. 1. Lemons Lemons are incredibly calming to the body and are a great way to stop nausea. Mix one teaspoon of lemon juice with one teaspoon of mint juice and half a teaspoon of ginger juice. If this is too sour, add a tablespoon of honey. Take this mixture anytime you feel nauseas or twice a day for best results. Other women say that they have found relief by simply mixing some lemon juice with mint and a bit of sugar. Another method is to squeeze the juice of one organic lemon into one glass of water. You’d drink this every morning. Some women find that just smelling lemons calms their nausea. Keep a bottle of lemon essential oil in your pocket or purse at all times for some anti-nausea sniffing pleasure. 2. Try the BRAT Diet Some women find they have no morning sickness at all if they eat the bland BRAT diet, which includes bananas, rice, applesauce and toast. These are very bland foods that are low in fiber and easy on the digestive system. You can add some yogurt and tea to this diet and still be OK. You might also try munching on some saltine crackers as a snack. 3. Ginger The best anti-nausea root of all time! Ginger root contains chemicals called shogaols and gingerols that offer some serious relief from both nausea and vomiting. You can drink premade ginger tea, or make your own by adding 4 or 5 fresh ginger slices to a cup of boiling water. Add a bit of honey for sweetness. You can also add six drops of ginger juice to a teaspoon of honey if you feel too queasy to wait for tea. Let this melt in your mouth first thing in the morning for some instant relief. During the day, try sucking on some ginger candy to help quiet a queasy stomach. Find out about Things You Really Should Know before You Use Ginger. Continue to Page 2 4. Potato Chips Not the healthiest thing, but sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do. If you are feeling nauseous while out in public, find some potato chips. Potato chips can help stop nausea due to the overproduction of saliva. Don’t eat the whole bag -- you only want to nibble on two or three chips. 5. Water Many women find that their morning sickness comes on stronger and more often if they allow themselves to get dehydrated. It is vital to keep yourself well-hydrated. Studies have found that women who drink one glass of water every hour are much less likely to have morning sickness than those who do not. If you have not paid much attention to your water consumption, now is the time! Aim to drink eight to 10 glasses every day. 6. Curry Leaves In Ayurvedic medicine, curry leaves are crushed and juiced, then combined with lime juice and a bit of sugar as a means of stopping morning sickness. Press 15 to 20 curry leaves to extract the juice. Add two teaspoons of lime juice along with one teaspoon of sugar (or honey) and mix well. Drink the mixture two or three times each day to stop nausea and vomiting. Continue to Page 3 7. Crackers Easy on the stomach, crackers are an old fashioned remedy for nausea that really works. First thing in the morning, try munching on one or two crackers. Keep a few in your purse for relief from nausea during the day. Some women also prefer plain popcorn, whole wheat crackers or low-salt crackers. Whichever snack works best for you is the one you should keep with you. 8. Peppermint Peppermint contains an anesthetic compound that calms the stomach and the senses, reducing feelings of nausea. Try some peppermint tea with a bit of honey first thing in the morning. You can also keep a peppermint stick in your purse to suck on during the day. Try carrying a bottle of peppermint essential oil, which you can smell whenever those nauseous feelings hit you. 9. Don’t drink during meals This is one many women swear by, and it is super easy to do. Don’t drink anything 30 minutes before you eat, and then wait 30 minutes after you eat before drinking even one drop. No idea why this works, but it certainly couldn’t be easier! Continue to Page 4 10. Fennel Fennel seeds smell and taste like licorice, so if you love the scent of licorice, this might be for you. Fennel seeds are used around the world to improve digestion and calm the stomach. Chew one teaspoon of fennel seeds after meals to improve the digestion process and stop feelings of nausea. You can also try drinking a cup of fennel tea, mixed with a bit of honey and lemon, for added relief. 11. Cheese Eating lots of protein can help to regulate your blood glucose levels. Studies have shown that protein-rich foods reduce nausea and vomiting. If you feel like you will vomit if you eat anything, try a tiny bite of cheese -- cheddar, mozzarella or even cottage cheese will work. Try eating an ounce of cheese as a snack and just before bedtime. 12. Bael Juice This is a not very well-known method of stopping nausea and vomiting, but those who use it swear that it works like magic. The juice from bael fruit (sometimes referred to as a wood apple) is good for digestion and preventing constipation. Juice one bael fruit, and add the juice to two tablespoons of cooked rice. Eat this each morning for mild symptoms and up to three times a day if you are having severe bouts of nausea and or vomiting. Remember that this will end, and you will start to enjoy your pregnancy after just a few short weeks, usually between the sixth and twelfth week. When you find yourself driving the porcelain bus, just remember that this too shall pass. By the way, congratulations Mom! References: Fampra.oxfordjournals.org Rspb.royalsocietypublishing.org News.cornell.edu

12 Natural Ways to Stop Morning Sickness (# 9 is Wicked Easy!)

7. Crackers

8. Peppermint

9. Don’t drink during meals

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