Morning Sickness Hacks

Emily Andrew • March 7, 2021

After writing about my experience with morning sickness and the effects it had on my mental health I wanted to pop a post out about some of the tips and tricks I've tried out just in case they are useful for other people!


Some things I tried and they didn't work so well, some things did - we are all different and this is by no way a list designed for you to live by! But if you try some things out and it works then that's great.



I'll always recommend first and foremost that you speak to your midwife or GP about any symptoms you're concerned about, especially if you're struggling with your mental health.

Morning Sickness Hacks


Take your folic acid in the evening before you go to bed.

This was something that my mum suggested to me early on as apparently folic acid/some pregnancy supplements can leave you feeling a bit ropey. Having my folic acid in the evening just before I go to bed also meant that I wasn't worried about throwing up at breakfast and therefore not actually receiving it's benefits. I keep mine by my bed so it's literally the last thing I do before brushing my teeth.




Ginger!

So you'll probably have heard about ginger biscuits by now if you're pregnant and although there's some differing opinion on whether it is actually an effective solution from a scientific/nutritional standpoint for me, they were the perfect go to if I was feeling rough. Ginger is proven to help with nausea so whether it's ginger biscuits, stem ginger or crystallised/candied ginger it's definitely worth a go. I used to have a ginger biscuit the minute I woke up just so that there was something in my body straight away.


Peppermint/Ginger tea

Much like ginger, peppermint also has a long association with digestion - with anti-inflammatory properties that can help with heartburn, indigestion and pregnancy nausea. Ginger can be a like it or loathe it kind of situation so if you are looking for something less polarising then peppermint can be more palatable with just as many benefits. If you, like me, couldn't stomach decaf coffee any more then peppermint/ginger teas may be your new favourite go to for a hot drink. 




Eat little and often

If you are finding stomaching big meals a bit too much then taking a grazing approach may help to keep nausea at bay and keep you and your baby provided with much needed nutrients. Snacking was really important for me in the early days of pregnancy when the sickness was really bad, that being said it's always best to listen to your body and if you're unsure of any nutritional aspects then speak to a professional.



Always have something on hand

The amount of times that I got caught short on a walk or whilst I was out was ridiculous. When your blood sugar drops it's quite common that you'll feel sick so do what I should have done and make sure to keep a cereal bar, piece of fruit or bag of dried fruit and nuts in your bag/car/walking coat. Having something to hand will mean that you avoid those awful lows which can leave you feeling pretty shaky and gross.




Keep yourself upright

As a Pilates teacher I had no choice but to exercise throughout my pregnancy - overall this was a total blessing as it's helped me stay mobile and strong. However, at the beginning of my pregnancy (before we were telling anyone) I found teaching certain movements really challenging because they'd leave me feeling dizzy or light-headed. Roll downs in particular were a bit of a no-no, as well as any movements that required me to move my head quickly or have my head lower than the rest of my body. Thankfully no one seemed to notice when I demonstrated once or twice and then opted out! If you're continuing to join in with your fitness classes it's always best to listen to your body first and foremost because you'll soon figure out what feels good and what doesn't!


Avoid certain smells

Your sense of smell is even more heightened in pregnancy, which means that normal smells that you previously tolerated or even liked can quickly become stomach churning! For me it was the smell of cooked bacon that got me - I could cook us a lovely bacon and egg bagel and the minute the bacon stopped cooking and the smell started to get slightly 'old' I'd be saying goodbye to breakfast. You'll quickly learn what smells set you off so if you can, avoid them at all costs!




Keep note of what sets you off

Whether it be certain foods, temperatures, movements, smells - the more that you take note of what is causing your nausea, the better prepared you can be to avoid those triggers. Learning to become your own student and keying into your body will also really help you throughout your pregnancy in general.




Travel bands

I'm a TERRIBLE passenger in the car which means I am always the driver, even on short trips. As a result I have been using travel bands for many years, so I don't know why I didn't think about trying them for my nausea. They work using acupressure points to restore the positive and negative ions in the body. You'll need to place them onto the 'Nei Kuan' point of your wrists - place your middle three fingers on the inside of each wrist with the edge of the third finger on the first wrist crease. The correct point is just under the edge of your index finger between the two central tendons - that's where you want to pop the bands. These may not be for everyone but as there's no adverse side effects, you may as well give them a go!




Stay hydrated

It's really important to stay hydrated during pregnancy as your body needs water to carry nutrients, form amniotic fluid, produce extra blood volume, build new tissue, help indigestion and flush out your wastes and toxins - as well as that of your baby! If you are being sick you're likely to get dehydrated quicker so it's important to try and keep topping up your water intake. If you can't drink water then try drinking it cold or even sucking ice cubes! It'll help to keep you cool as well as provide a nice relief.




Get outside

Even on the days where I felt like absolute death warmed up I always got out at least once a day to walk the dog. I cannot stress to you how much I DIDN'T want to go out some days but with a 1 yr old Irish Doodle - needs must! Even on those days though, I felt so much better for it, even if it was just 10 minutes. Getting out in the fresh air really helped me mentally and physically to recalibrate, especially after a day of having my head down a toilet. 


Try alternative therapies

It's time to stop looking at self-care as self-indulgent! Some alternative therapies that you could try out which have been effective in treating fatigue and nausea are; acupuncture, acupressure, massage and reflexology. These can not only help you to get some relief but they can also relax you and prepare for birth.

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