Morning sickness is such a bittersweet affair. A lot of people see morning sickness as a sign of a healthy pregnancy, but try telling that to a woman who is in the thick of it.
There is nothing sweet about feeling nauseous as you try to simply get through the day. For any other reason you would take it easy if sickness came your way. You might even call in sick to work because your energy levels are so low.
With pregnancy, however, you just don’t have that option. The show must go on despite the fact that for a very long time you might be feeling extremely unwell.
Morning sickness can happen very differently from woman to woman. Some escape it completely whereas a lot of pregnant ladies experience it in a big way. It also doesn’t necessarily happen in the mornings.
Pregnancy nausea can strike at any time during the day and for some women is actually more prominent at night time. Extreme morning sickness is called hyperemesis gravidarum and can often involve a woman needing medication and periods of hospitalisation.
Food plays a big role when it comes to morning sickness. A certain food smell can be the very thing that sets it off and, equally, food can be the solution. In fact, a lot of women will claim that hunger is the fuel for morning sickness and that avoiding hunger and eating immediately when you wake up is a good way to help stave off the sickness.
There are some foods which are believed to help with morning sickness for a variety of different reasons.
Here are a couple of them!
Crackers
They’re cheap and don’t need to be refrigerated which means you can store them right beside your bed. A strange thought but this is what a lot of women do to stave off morning sickness first thing in the morning. They eat before the hunger strikes.
Ginger
Anything that contains ginger. Ginger tea, Gingerale and my personal favourite – ginger nut biscuits.
Herbal Teas
Many women find herbal teas are a great way to settle their tummy especially when their regular tea or coffee is no longer appealing. It is a warm and comforting drink but without the dairy which can be a trigger for some women.
Toast
Feel like you could live on toast? It is really common. For many, toast is one of the only things that they can stomach and therefore ends up becoming breakfast, lunch and dinner for quite some time.
Peppermint
Peppermint sweets and teas are believed to settle a sick stomach according to many women.
Coca Cola
We don’t know the science behind it but this is one of the most popular remedies. Get the full fat real stuff.
Eggs
This divides people. Many women find that they either completely go off eggs or rely on them majorly during those early pregnancy weeks. Eggs are high in protein and will keep you full so If the feeling of hunger heightens your sickness then this makes a lot of sense.
Sour Foods
Sweets that lead you to make a funny face and shudder are known to help. Go figure!
Really Cold Food
Sorbet, ice pops, yoghurt, certain cold meats and raw vegetables. Some women notice that warm food triggers their sickness and it may be linked to them having a stronger scent.