What Causes Morning Sickness?
Best Morning Sickness Remedies
Eat foods that are rich in vitamin B6: According to Kipping, “the first line of ‘treatment’ for nausea is increasing foods high in vitamin B6 such as bananas, pistachios, oranges and chicken.”
Try cold food: To reduce nausea, Kilgore suggests pregnant people try eating cold foods, such as smoothies or yogurt and cool bubbly drinks like seltzer. Weiss adds that “colder foods have less odor, which makes them easier to tolerate than hot food.”
Load up on carbs: Snacks that are rich in carbohydrates (think: crackers, pretzels, dry toast and cereal) are easy to digest and keep down. Kipping recommends following this type of food with a source of protein, though, as “not eating enough protein, especially with your carbohydrates, could cause blood sugar spikes, leading to increased nausea.”
Eat small meals more often: Avoiding food altogether is a bad idea as it can make nausea worse. Kilgore suggests trying to eat smaller meals more frequently throughout the day to mitigate nausea and avoid having an empty stomach.
Ginger. It’s a classic remedy for a reason—ginger works! Research shows that this ancient root is an effective and safe treatment for nausea and vomiting during pregnancy. Kilgore suggests incorporating ginger tea or natural ginger-ale into your diet to help alleviate symptoms. If you don’t like the taste, it’s also possible to buy ginger root capsules. Always consult your doctor before adding a new supplement to your regimen.
Acupressure. According to Weiss, acupressure bands can help relieve nausea by stimulating the P6 pressure point found on the inside of the wrist.
Aromatherapy: Just as certain smells trigger nausea, other scents can help alleviate it. “Try placing a cotton ball infused with essential oil, such as mint, lemon or orange under the nose,” suggests Kilgore. Kipping also recommends diffusing essential oils in the air or lighting a candle that smells good to help ease morning sickness symptoms.
Acupuncture: Studies have found that acupuncture is another effective alternative morning sickness treatment. Like acupressure, this therapy works by stimulating key pressure points on the body. In general, it’s considered safe in pregnancy; just make sure your practitioner knows you’re expecting and get the green light from your doctor beforehand.
