How to manage early pregnancy nausea

How to manage early pregnancy nausea

How to manage early pregnancy nausea

smelling rubbing alcohol while pregnant

Early pregnancy nausea, or morning sickness, is a common symptom that about 70 percent of pregnant people experience during their first trimester. Nausea and vomiting are early signs of pregnancy that may indicate it’s time to take a pregnancy test—if you haven’t already done so.

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No matter what your next step is, you don’t have to continue suffering through morning sickness as there are a few methods you can try to feel better. Continue reading to learn how you can manage early pregnancy nausea.

What causes early pregnancy nausea?

The exact cause of early pregnancy nausea isn’t known, but many providers point to changes in hormones as the most likely cause. Hormonal changes, such as the increase of the pregnancy hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), may affect your digestive system, leading to nausea and vomiting.

Other possible causes of early pregnancy nausea include:

  • Low blood sugar or blood glucose
  • Changes in blood pressure
  • Changes in metabolism (the process that turns food into energy to fuel your body)

Your morning sickness might worsen from things like:

  • Stress
  • Anxiety
  • Being very tired
  • Eating or smelling certain foods
  • Motion sickness
  • Heat or warm weather

Managing early pregnancy nausea symptoms

If you’re dealing with early pregnancy nausea, you likely want immediate relief from your symptoms.

Here are tips to manage, and potentially prevent, morning sickness during your pregnancy:

1. Make adjustments to your dietary habits

You may be able to reduce early pregnancy nausea symptoms by making a few changes to your diet and lifestyle habits. While these may work for many people, listen to your body to see what sounds good to you! If the thought of even bland food makes you queasy, skip it! If a food you usually enjoy sounds good to you (tacos maybe?) then it’s okay to eat.

Tips to reduce nausea during pregnancy:

  • Eat bland foods like bananas, dry toast, crackers, applesauce, or Jell-O
  • Eat foods high in protein and complex carbohydrates like nuts, seeded crackers, yogurt, or cottage cheese
  • Stay hydrated and drink plenty of fluids such as lots of water, ginger ale, ginger tea, or broth
  • Snack on a few crackers first thing in the morning to settle your stomach
  • Opt for smaller, more frequent meals instead of three large meals

This post was last modified on November 23, 2024 3:33 pm