Ways to prevent morning sickness? « Back to Group Discussions

[samy23]

I had morning sickness for only a couple of weeks with my first child. But I'm freaking out because I'm keeping this pregnancy a secret and if I get morning sickness, I can't really make any excuse for that can I? I figure it's okay if I feel sick-ish because I can try to keep that to myself, but if I actually vomit repeatedly when with family/friends or at work, I don't know how I'll deal with that without having to tell them I'm pregnant. Stressed 

[MayasMama88]

One of the best ways to prevent (or at least minimize) morning sickness is to graze all day long. Eat foods high in protein such as eggs, pasture-raised beef and lamb, pasture-raised chicken, salmon, nuts, avocados, etc. Make soups, homemade bone broths, drink raw milk...

I am 6wks 2days today, and dealing with uncomfortable nausea. I had it from about 7 weeks to about 14 weeks with my first pregnancy, and now it started in around 4 - 5 weeks, and I'm praying that means it will subside earlier this time around, too. Never vomited, just lots of nausea. I've been making sure to graze all day and it totally helps to keep it manageable!

[SweetMama34]

I'm really struggling...we've had to admit the reason for my 'illness' to 3 people now. I'm bummed, but they were helpful. I'm probably going to have to tell a few more people if this keeps up, too - as I'm totally incapacitated until about 11am every morning (and again, struggling after dinner until bedtime...pretty much all through the night, too). :(

B6 is supposed to help...protein, eating frequently, sipping ginger ale, sour candy....

[pokeyAC]

I have heard the smell of oranges (or maybe orange oil would work) and the smell of a newspaper helped some women. 

[Murph12334]

Mint and gingerale seem to be working good.  And in the evenings when it gets worse I just try to go to sleep and it's better in the morning.

[amlikam]

Mint, ginger and sour candy help me with the immediate coping

I also find grazing with protien to be helpful.

Really my biggest help has been either juicing or a smoothie first thing in the morning. it is easy to get down and you can add mint & ginger to juice pretty easily.

Finally I find in labor most women benefit greatly from a mist of either mint oil or mint and orange oil. 

Hope you find something to make it easier for you!

[sky_and_lavender]

Exercise really helps me. Getting the heart beating, especially. Despite that when I'm feeling bad that's the last thing I feel inspired to do. It gives me usually at least a couple of hours of feeling good and clear.
 

[Jules09]

In past pregnancies, sniffing (but not drinking) a hot cup of ginger tea helped me. This time I seem to be able to keep things at bay by eating frequently (although it's only early days for me yet at 5w6d).

[Mama4life14]

Im 7w4d and I just wanted to say that for the last few days I've been eating a banana first thing in the morning, and it seems to start the day off right! Thought I'd share in case it helps someone else!

[samy23]

Originally Posted by SweetMama34 

I'm really struggling...we've had to admit the reason for my 'illness' to 3 people now. I'm bummed, but they were helpful. I'm probably going to have to tell a few more people if this keeps up, too - as I'm totally incapacitated until about 11am every morning (and again, struggling after dinner until bedtime...pretty much all through the night, too). :(

B6 is supposed to help...protein, eating frequently, sipping ginger ale, sour candy....

This is what I'm afraid of having to tell people because it's the reason I'm feeling or being sick!

It hasn't happened yet, so I'm writing a plan of everyone's ideas which I can try if it gets bad -thank you! I might actually start doing these things from tomorrow, such as grazing on protein foods throughout the day, banana with breakfast, and gingerale wishful thinking it might help me not get MS 

[amlikam]

I was feeling terrible and my friend (a midwife) said "you know most women feel better after uping their protien" I told her I have a good amoutn already and she said "I mean try doubling for a day and see." I did and so far m/s has been MUCH better.

[Mama4life14]

I am finally feeling better now. I have the odd tummy pain now and then, but for the last 2-3 days I've been feeling much better! I'm 8w5d now. The only thing I struggle with is being extremely bloated in the evenings. I look very pregnant, when in actuality the baby is still very small! Lol! But I'm just soo bloated and gassy at night. Hopefully that will come to an end soon! I can't wait to have an actual baby belly instead of a food belly! Haha!

[staycalm]

Eating a little something all throughout the day has helped so far. It definately gets worse when I start feeling hungry! Also, certain foods seem to really gross me out, and as long as I avoid foods that turn me off at that moment, I also feel better.

[SweetMama34]

Alright - a few new tips from me, as it's what's working now. (Take note, this could change in five minutes....ugh.)

Limeade - Simply brand. It creates a bit of acid, but it super soothing - even just smelling it.

Eating constantly...as in don't let your stomach empty at all. Eat whatever you can get down - it sucks for me that I'm currently craving carbs and not even healthy ones at that, but at least I'm not gagging and heaving!

So glad to hear there's someone under 9 weeks who isn't struggling as bad anymore - my fingers are crossed over here for the same!

[Mama4life14]

Originally Posted by SweetMama34 

Alright - a few new tips from me, as it's what's working now. (Take note, this could change in five minutes....ugh.)

Limeade - Simply brand. It creates a bit of acid, but it super soothing - even just smelling it.

Eating constantly...as in don't let your stomach empty at all. Eat whatever you can get down - it sucks for me that I'm currently craving carbs and not even healthy ones at that, but at least I'm not gagging and heaving!

So glad to hear there's someone under 9 weeks who isn't struggling as bad anymore - my fingers are crossed over here for the same!

I am so hoping you get some relief soon!!

[taters]

I second the exercise idea.  I've been nauseous 24/7 EXCEPT for an hour or so after riding my bike the 20 minutes to and from work.  I ate a ton more protein today so we'll see if that helps.

[gitanamama]

I third the exercise---I've been feeling too exhausted to do anything, but today I took my DS out for a long walk in the Ergo and felt so much better all afternoon. 

Here's what else is helping me right now:

-limes and lemons- I squeeze them into water, drink lime flavored mineral water, and sometimes just sniff a cut lime. 

-hard mint candy or lemon candy- strangely not peppermint, or at least not the round red and white kind they have at restaurants--those make me want to vomit :(

- perfumes and scented candles- usually I'm pretty sensitive and don't like many perfumes, but right now, anything that smells clean and flowery is my friend! I carry around torn out perfume samples in my pockets (classy, I know.) They've been a lifesaver when I run into a food smell and my stomach turns inside out.

I also bought some vitamin B6 supplements today--we'll see if they help. I'm having a really hard time grazing, and as a vegetarian, I'm having an aversion all of my usual protein sources--not good!

Hopefully you won't have any nausea or morning sickness to have to hide (knock on wood!!) 

[dayiscoming2006]

Originally Posted by gitanamama 

I also bought some vitamin B6 supplements today--we'll see if they help. I'm having a really hard time grazing, and as a vegetarian, I'm having an aversion all of my usual protein sources--not good!

Maybe you already thought of this, but try smoothies with almonds or other protein mixed in. Some people like natural flavor protein powder. You can find it at good prices on amazon. Check ingredients of course. Don't know if you'd be willing to do this, but you could try eggs just during pregnancy. Organic, free range eggs are really good for you, especially during pregnancy. Maybe you could find a source on craigslist for farm fresh.

I haven't hit the nausea stage yet. But, I am appreciating all the tips for when (I hopefully) do. - Just hoping it won't be too bad.

I take B6 at 50 mg twice a day at the moment. Once I get nausea, I'll space it out to 25 mg 3-4 times a day. I exercise regularly and I'm glad to see that can help. More incentive to keep it up. :)

Red raspberry tea is supposed to help with nausea too. I'm having it twice a day right now after studying more up on it. It can potentially prevent miscarriage too (from atonic uterus or malnourishment.) If anyone decides to drink some, start slow. A cup a day at first and working up to 2 cups if you feel comfortable with it. As you go toward the end of pregnancy you can up it to up to four cups a day - (third trimester.) And you can take a bunch in labor to supposedly help make labor go more smoothly.

[gitanamama]

Thanks for the Red Rasberry leaf tea suggestion dayiscoming2006. I've heard great things about it for the third trimester---I'll have to pick some up today. 

I'm having a really hard time preparing food of any sort. I may ask DH to make me a smoothie with some almond butter in it, but today I couldn't even bring myself to make a PB&J for DS---just the sight of the peanutbutter jar made me gag. I'm also having a really hard time with eggs--- they're usually my go-to source for protein, but again, just the word makes me sick. :(

I'm hoping this won't last too long--If I remember correctly, I was only sick for about 3 or 4 weeks with DS. The idea of 2 or 3 more weeks feeling like this makes me want to cry, but I know other women deal with a lot worse, so I'm trying to be grateful and optimistic. 

[FreeRangeMama]

I am now 8w5d.  I started feeling terrible at 4w4d.  Sad to say that absolutely nothing is helping me.  I have tried every single thing mentioned here and more.  Still feel extremely nauseous/queasy nearly all the time.  RRL tea makes me feel worse.  That was my standby for ms in a previous pregnancy.  I can't exercise, too much movement makes me feel terrible.  That has been the only thing that made me move from queasy to vomit.  I will avoid it until I feel a bit better.  Ginger, mint, tons of protein, B6, none work.  Ginger ale is too sweet, can't even think about it.  I have preggy pops and b6 lozenges.  No help.  I exist in various levels of queasiness, and occasionally I am both queasy and starving.  Fun!  Whenever I have any desire to eat I eat as much as I can, and the rest of the time I graze on healthy stuff (protein mostly, fruits/veg, some carbs, whatever will go down).  It has been hard at work.  I need to be high energy in my job.  No choice, I really don't want them to know yet.  I did end up telling the kids.  They were getting worried because I have spent so much time in bed!  I figured I should probably let them know why so they didn't think there was something seriously wrong with me.

In the last day or two I have had a few hours of not feeling too terrible, it gives me hope!  I keep thinking that I am creeping closer to the end of the first trimester.  Hopefully it will let up by then!

I hope you manage to avoid it!  There are lots of really great suggestions here.  Maybe they will work better for you than they have for me......I know I will be watching for more ideas.  I am willing to try anything!