What to do about morning sickness?

While some breeze through pregnancy effortlessly, others have to deal with numerous ailments and that "pink cloud" seems nowhere to be found. One of the most common pregnancy ailments is nausea. Gagging, excessive saliva, and vomiting become the order of the day, and functioning sometimes seems impossible. What can be done about pregnancy nausea? You can read all about it in this blog.

About pregnancy nausea

No fewer than 70 to 85% of pregnant women experience nausea during pregnancy. Often even before having breakfast, but sometimes it persists throughout the entire day. For most women, these symptoms disappear after the 12^th or 16^th week of pregnancy, but unfortunately, there are cases where pregnancy nausea persists for 9 months.

There are also women who suffer from extreme nausea and frequent vomiting. This is the case for about 1 in 100 pregnant women, and this is referred to as Hyperemesis Gravidarum. Severe pregnancy nausea can lead to weight loss, malnutrition, and dehydration, which is why it is always important to contact your midwife, gynecologist, or GP!

The causes of pregnancy nausea

There are various factors that can trigger or worsen pregnancy nausea; this is different for every pregnant woman. Below, we discuss a number of possible causes.

1. Increased sensitivity to smells. During pregnancy, many women are much more sensitive to smells than usual, and there is a good reason for this! As a pregnant woman, you need to be alerted in time if food items might be dangerous for the baby. However, this hypersensitivity to smells can also cause you to start gagging at the smell of coffee, roasted meat, or incense.
2. Unstable blood sugar levels. Do you experience nausea after eating food high in carbohydrates and sugars but low in fiber? An unstable blood sugar level can cause fatigue and nausea after meals that are relatively high in carbohydrates and relatively low in protein and fat.
3. Organs have less space. Are you particularly nauseous in the third trimester of pregnancy? Various organs, including the stomach, have less space due to the growing uterus and can be compressed. A compressed stomach can cause nausea.
4. Higher HCG levels. In the case of a twin or multiple pregnancy, more of the pregnancy hormone HCG is produced, which means a higher chance of nausea.

What to do against pregnancy nausea

Fortunately, there are various things that may reduce your pregnancy nausea. It is a matter of trying and experiencing what works for you.

1. Ensure a stable blood sugar level. Eat smaller meals throughout the day and ensure a good balance of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. Feel free to add fiber-rich food to your heart's content, but preferably avoid sugar as much as possible.
2. Experience what works for you. Normally, we advocate for plenty of variety in a diet, but when you are experiencing nausea and vomiting, this is secondary. Do apples and raspberries always make you feel like vomiting, but plums and pears currently taste better? Then vary a little less for these few weeks and enjoy the (healthy) food that you can keep down.
3. Eat something small before you get up. An empty stomach can also worsen feelings of nausea, so keep a small snack next to your bed as a standard. This could be dry crackers, a handful of grapes, or breadsticks; here, too, the rule applies: experience what works for you!
4. Ensure sufficient vitamin B6. In some cases, vitamin B6 can help with pregnancy nausea. You will find vitamin B6 primarily in pumpkin seeds, pistachios, brown rice, salmon, hazelnuts, and walnuts. Using a pregnancy multivitamin with sufficient vitamin B6 is also an option, but always in consultation with a midwife, gynecologist, or GP.
5. Ginger. Ginger is known for its effective action against nausea and is therefore definitely worth a try! Grated ginger, ginger tea, or, in consultation with a doctor, a ginger supplement may possibly reduce your pregnancy nausea.
6. Wristbands against nausea. It is not yet scientifically proven, but a soft wristband that clears blocked energy pathways through acupressure is often used for car or seasickness and is also safe to use during pregnancy.

Conclusion:

There are various causes and possible solutions for pregnancy nausea, but it is a matter of trying what works for you. Sufficient rest, low stress, and acceptance are essential. Because just like many other pregnancy ailments, nausea also serves as a protection for mother and child.