Morning sickness can send the bravest mums in a beeline to the nearest bathroom stall in a matter of minutes. The name itself is misleading as morning sickness occurs throughout the day. The Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, herself had to be hospitalised due to extreme morning sickness. Nausea and vomiting is suffered by a majority of women during their first trimester, marking the beginning of a long, yet ultimately rewarding, journey into pregnancy.

 

In our pregnancy forums, GeoBaby Mums share their top tips and secrets that may help you resist the urge to toss up your cookies. Here’s a round up of the most popular remedies:

 

Ginger  

Try to find foods made with real ginger, the fresher the better. Crystallized ginger treats or ginger gum can be found in traditional Chinese herb shops. Freshly grated ginger and honey makes for great ginger tea and many mothers have suggested ginger-carrot soup. Like baking? Try making ginger muffins or your own ginger snaps. There are also great recipes online to make your own fresh ginger ale.

 

 

 

Lemons

The tangy and sour properties of lemons help keep the upchuck in check and most women swear by it. Water with lemons help neutralize stomach acid and the scent of lemons have been known to be soothing when nauseous. Try some freshly squeezed lemonade or suck on some lemon slices next time you feel queasy. Vitamin C has also been said to help prevent or reduce medical complications associated with pregnancy.

 

 

Graze

Eat frequent small meals and snackingas opposed to three meals a day. Overeating causes further nausea and bloating, but not eating at all might make you feel dizzy and unsteady. Try to avoid spicy, hearty, complex fats or anything that may be difficult to digest as this can increase nausea and also cause heartburn. Avoid brussels sprouts and broccoli as they induce gas and avoid lying down immediately after a meal to prevent slow digestion or other digestive problems.

 

 

Junk food and soda 

Countless women affirm drinking certain sodas or eating potato chips (salt and vinegar being a popular flavor) have helped to quell their queasiness. If this is the cure for you, practise caution and remember that moderation is key. Comfort foods may be comforting but they are still unhealthy, and your body may be ultra-sensitive right now. Be careful about artificial or high sugar content when drinking soda and remember to up your water intake to help with any discomfort that comes with eating too much salt.

 

 

Vitamins

Vitamin B6 has been known to help with nausea and Vitamin B12 with vomiting. Consult your doctor about the correct dosage before taking these vitamins.

 

 

Lollipops

Flavored lollipops for morning sickness can be purchased online, while GeoBaby user Tinks takes the DIY route and makes her own frozen lollies made out of fresh orange juice. Try freezing Gatorade or Pocari (which have electrolytes), or other juices that you may find soothing. Cold treats have also been known to be helpful with nausea.

Acupuncture

Recent studies have found acupuncture to be significantly more effective than anti-nausea drugs in treating even extreme forms of morning sickness (hyperemesis). Many mums also found acupressure or relief wristbandshelpful during rough times. These can be purchased from drug stores such as Mannings or Watson.

 

 

Wake up slowly 

Because of low blood sugar levels during pregnancy, getting out of bed slowly will help control lightheadedness, and in turn, keep away the wooziness.

 

 

Stay away from strong smells 

This is a sure fire way to keep your nausea at bay. Your sense of smell is becoming more heightened, and with that comes a bigger gag reflex. Random triggers range anywhere from toothpaste to frying oil; but some mums found lavender and lemon to be helpful aromatherapy.

 

 

Guilt-free rest and relaxation

Feeling tired even after 7-8 hours of sleep is a common symptom with most expecting women, and many find themselves needing 10 or more hours to feel well rested. It takes a lot of energy as your baby develops within you and daytime rest can prove to be extremely helpful. Take advantage of this opportunity to kick back and soak up some classic R&R time.

 

Finally, if nothing seems to be working and you find your symptoms worsening, then you may want to consider consulting your doctor about severe morning sickness symptoms (hyperemesis gravidarum) and whether medication is right for you.

 

We have a number of resources to help you understand what your body is going through. You can check out Due Date Clubs to connect with other mums-to-be or to talk with experienced mothers with great advice. Check out our Hong Kong Pregnancy Forum for the latest tips and hints from other pregnant mums-to-be.