How to cope with pregnancy nausea?

You're starting your second month of pregnancy and your nausea won't go away? Nausea often comes as soon as you wake up, when your stomach is empty. But it can also strike whenever it feels like it. It often appears around the fifth week of pregnancy and can even last until the end for some pregnant women.

It can sometimes be restrictive and hard to live with. So at Premiers Moments, we've decided to explain everything and give you a few tips to help you cope with your nausea as best you can.

Nausea and vomiting: what's the difference and how often?

Nausea, also known as "feeling sick", is the urge to vomit. It doesn't necessarily mean vomiting. You can quite easily feel nauseous without being sick, just as nausea can come before vomiting.

Nausea and vomiting are very common during the first trimester of pregnancy and are not a particular cause for concern. Around 75% of mums-to-be experience nausea and 50% suffer from vomiting.

What causes my nausea?

Nausea and vomiting are thought to be caused by the hormonal changes that occur in early pregnancy. Tiredness and emotional factors could also play a part.

Our recommendations for relieving pregnancy nausea

In the medical monitoring of your pregnancy, what you notice and feel is very important. You're the best person to note when your symptoms, such as nausea, appear.

With that in mind, here are our tips for getting rid of it:

– Drink plenty of water, it's good for your circulation

– Eat a little before getting up

– Avoid very fatty and spicy dishes

– Eat foods rich in carbohydrates (wholemeal bread, rice, cereals…)

– Eat ginger (ask your doctor's advice first)

– Go for walks in the fresh air

– Relax, sleep well and lower your stress levels

– Take vitamin B6 (only on medical advice)

– Finally, some doctors may prescribe anti-nausea medication. It is effective and harmless for baby.

However, if your nausea persists throughout your pregnancy and you can't manage to eat and put on weight, quickly make an appointment with your gynaecologist or midwife. They will prescribe a number of antenatal tests to check that everything is in order.

What to avoid

It's always worth repeating, even if you probably already know it: 0 alcohol during pregnancy! Alcohol crosses the placenta and is passed on to the baby, which can have serious consequences for your child. It is therefore essential not to drink any at all during pregnancy. For more information on this subject, don't hesitate to read our article “Alcohol and pregnancy: what are the risks for the foetus?”.

What's more, some medicines, even natural ones, can also harm the development of the foetus. Don't forget to read the leaflet carefully and always ask your doctor's advice before taking anything.

Finally, rest assured, most pregnant women will suffer from nausea or vomiting during their pregnancy. It is generally harmless for you and your baby.

Dylan
Proud dad of three little ones and founder of Premiers Moments. Together with the whole team, I share our parenting tips here to support you, from pregnancy through your child's first years.