Home Remedies for Morning Sickness

Known scientifically as nausea gravidarum, morning sickness is commonly experienced by pregnant women who are in their sixth to twelfth weeks of pregnancy. It is caused by several factors including the increase of estrogen and human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) in the body due to pregnancy, and an increased sensitivity to odors.

Morning sickness is mostly mild and manageable, causing nausea and occasional vomiting. However, some women experience excessive vomiting leading to weight loss, dehydration, hypokalemia and alkalosis. This extreme but rare condition is called hyperemesis gravidurum.

You need not resort to medication right away in order to relieve the symptoms of morning sickness. Try some safe and natural home remedies before that.

Home Remedies

Instead of eating three large meals a day, eat about five or six smaller ones evenly spaced throughout the day. This ensures that you always have food in your stomach, thereby preventing stomach upset and nausea.
Ginger has always been considered a good remedy for morning sickness. Take ginger supplements or drink ginger tea and ginger ale.
An empty stomach can cause dizziness and nausea. Prevent these symptoms by eating dry crackers on waking up. Crackers can reduce the amount of acid in the stomach. Keep some by your bed within easy reach at all times.
To prevent vomiting, drink liquids about 30 to 45 minutes after eating solid food.
If you are having a hard time keeping water or other liquids down, suck on ice cubes of water or fruit juice.
Some foods like cabbage, bananas, rice, toast, applesauce and tea relieve the symptoms of morning sickness.
Fruits like watermelon, cantaloupe, grapes, grapefruit and strawberries, which have high water content, can help with morning sickness.
Turn off the lights, lie down and place a cool cloth on your forehead. This promotes relaxation, calms the nerves, and helps eliminate the feeling of nausea.