If you look at any Hollywood movie, it seems that the only sign of pregnancy (other than the obvious belly) is morning sickness. If a woman has feelings of nausea or vomiting, and we the audience have reason to believe that she could be pregnant, chances are pretty good that she is suffering from morning sickness due to being pregnant. This is not an unfair assumption, as half of pregnancies experience this symptom along its broad spectrum of severity. However, what movies don’t tell you is how to stop morning sickness. In fact, it looks as though most women are resigned to the fact, and even expect, that they will be kissing porcelain for the better part of their first trimester at the least. This doesn’t have to be the case though, ladies! With some smart planning, healthy habits, and the occasional medicinal aid, you can stop your morning sickness from your pregnancy.

Good Habits to Ease or Stop Morning Sickness

1. Don’t stuff yourself!

Eat a few small meals throughout the day. This is just a good habit to be in for weight loss and maintenance. Small frequent meals keep your blood sugar levels balanced more efficiently than large meals a couple of times a day so you can avoid the large spikes and dips that affect how food is used and stored in your body.

2. Keep hydrated!

Especially if you are throwing up, keep drinking! As your morning sickness makes you throw up, you lose fluids and electrolytes. This can be harmful to both you and your baby, especially if you let it get out of hand. Again, like with eating, small amounts of liquids throughout the day is the best way to combat dehydration. Being thirsty isn’t a good thing, that’s one of the first signs of dehydration.

relax-ease-morning-sickness3. Chill out!

Think about it, when you’re overheated, you usually feel sick to your stomach as well. Keep cool, and that should help. Just watch out for that cooling bill. Dress in clothes light in fabric, such as cotton, and in color. Also, weather permitting, let your abode get a little air circulation to cool things off. Break out the storm windows and screen doors, and air out your house. If temperature causes a disagreement or two between your partner and yourself, you will need to compromise! It’s their living space too.

4. Stop and smell the roses, or don’t if that makes it worse.

This may be obvious to some, but maybe not to others. Since smell is intimately tied to how you eat and what you eat, it makes sense that it also has affect on what stays in your stomach. If a certain smell makes your nausea worse, avoid it as much as possible. To steal a suggestion from the previous tip, keep your house aired out by opening windows and doors. This will keep bad smells moving along their merry way so they won’t bother you. Avoid cooking certain meals if you have to, and of course avoid eating them as well. Try to find substitutes where you can. Additionally, surround yourself with as many smells that don’t upset your stomach. Pop on over to Yankee Candles and grab enough Pink Sands and Fresh Laundry to last you 12 weeks. Lemon, ginger, and watermelon are helpful as well to stop morning sickness.

5. My parents know best!

Between my parents, if I’ve ever felt sick to my stomach, my mom would give me chicken noodle soup with saltines (so, sodium with more sodium) and my dad would give me ginger pills. What do you think I’m going to suggest that you do next? That’s right! Salt and ginger! Granted, ginger pills can give you some gnarly burps for a while, but take it with something flavored to lessen the edge, like chicken noodle soup with crackers! Something nice and homey to think of Mom and Dad (and maybe be babied by them too, if they’re in the vicinity) can help stop your morning sickness in no time.

6. Stay rested!

The better you take care of your body, the better you feel, and no one feels right when they aren’t getting enough sleep. Take it easy, your body is working double time, as it should be! Know anyone who has gone through a growth spurt recently? Generally they sleep a lot (or are incredibly cranky because they aren’t sleeping enough) and they eat a lot. Your body is doing the same thing, except you’re not growing your own body, you’re growing someone else’s! If you need a nap, take one! If you need to sleep in another room so you won’t be disturbed by your partner waking up at 6:30am to go to work, do it. Yes, you’re the one having the baby but chances are at least one of you has a job. Strike up a sleep schedule for who sleeps where and when if you can’t stand the idea of sleeping on the couch for the next few months.

Bad habits to break that may cause morning Sickness to be worse

1. Don’t drink!

I know, I said to stay hydrated, so why am I saying not to drink? What I’m actually saying is, don’t drink the wrong things. Water is always the best thing for you. Our planet’s surface is 70.8% percent of the good stuff, our bodies’ is a whopping 94%, so it’s got to be good! However, if you’re anything like me, drinking water can actually make you feel nauseated, especially if it isn’t at the right temperature (silly, I know!). Water is ideal, but decaffeinated teas and low-sugar/sugar-free juices can work as well. No alcohol (duh!) or caffeine. Starbucks will just have to do without your business for a few months, ladies. Besides, prenatal exposure to caffeine has been shown to increase the likelihood of behavioral disorders, such as ADHD, and we don’t want that, do we?

Stop morning sickness - don't eat2. Don’t eat!?

Okay, now I’m crazy, right? Wrong! One of the worst things you can do for your pregnancy is to not eat. Mom, you’re supposed to gain weight. I’m sorry, but it’s a fact of pregnant life. Fortunately, weight gain is usually a sign of a healthy pregnancy. If you’re gaining weight, baby is gaining weight, which means that baby is healthy and nourished. Malnourished infants are often born premature, with low birth weights, and usually other medical problems as well. Malnourishment during pregnancy can stunt their growth, mentally and physically, well past puberty. If you deprive your body of the energy and nutrients it needs to keep you and your pregnancy running at 110%, you’re not doing anyone a lick of good. Keep healthy snacks with you during the day, you need to start being in that habit anyway with a little one on the way. Also, avoid Paula Dean and that Thai restaurant with the cool underwater themed décor. Even when you aren’t pregnant, fatty foods and spicy foods can make a mess of your gastrointestinal system. Adding fluxating hormones to the mix is only asking for trouble.

3. Don’t sleep!

At least, don’t lie down after eating. I know that it seems counterintuitive, especially when you feel nauseated and all you want to do is lie down. Resist the urge though. Take your time doing anything, really. Try to go for a slow smooth transition anytime you’re switching how you move your body. The less jostling around that happens in your stomach, the less likely you’ll feel sick. Instead, stay seated when you’re finished eating for a few minutes. Gravity will help keep your food down easier if you’re sitting, as opposed to when you lie down. Have breakfast in bed, or a snack by your bed stand, to help you to stop morning sickness.

4. Don’t brush your teeth!

It sounds gross, I know, and it’s the last thing that you want to avoid doing. Just avoid doing it immediately after you’re done. Wait a few minutes for your stomach to settle back down, and even then brush carefully and slowly. You don’t want to accidentally trigger your already sensitive gag reflex.

Now, while these tips should help, there is no guarantee that these will stop your morning sickness 100%, or even 50% or 10%. However, if you’ve tried these things, and are still throwing up frequently during the day, as in, you might as well set up residency in the bathroom, a trip to your doctor may be in order. If you are experiencing weight loss, blood or something that looks like coffee grounds in your vomit, pain or fever, or vomiting and nausea past your first trimester, I highly recommend that you call your doctor. That’s what they are there for, so there’s no need to wait around until your symptoms are as bad as that anyway. Anytime you feel like something isn’t right, you should call your doctor to let them know.

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