When someone says pregnancy, often the first thing people think of is morning sickness. No one knows how it got that name as many experiencing their first pregnancy are surprised to find it can hit at any time of the day! Pregnancy nausea usually begins around the fourth week of pregnancy and generally goes away at the fourth month, with some people experiencing symptoms through their whole pregnancy.

Many people who suffer from morning sickness can be given prescription drugs by their doctors. However, these drugs often have side effects like drowsiness, blurry vision, headaches, urinary retention, and more. There are other, more natural remedies that can make a huge difference in some pregnancies!

1. Consider When, How, and What You Eat

It’s ironic, right when you need nutrients the most, your body rebels and eating becomes unpleasant. For most people, when, how, and what you eat can make a big difference.

Eating five or six small meals a day can help keep your blood sugar stable and prevent you from feeling too hungry or too full, which tends to make morning sickness worse.

What you should eat tends to be more personalized, with many preferring bland and easily digested foods. Smoothies are popular, along with fruit, soup, cereal, mashed potatoes, boiled rice, toast, and plain pasta. It’s also a good idea to focus on nutrient-dense foods like fish, avocados, meat, yogurt, kidney beans, whole grain breads, brown rice, nuts, and nut butters. When you can’t eat a lot, what you eat really does matter.

Don’t forget that food is only part of the battle. Drinking water can also be a challenge but staying hydrated is vital. If drinking is triggering your gag reflex, try sucking on ice cubes or popsicles. If everything is coming back up, keep an eye on your urine; if it’s dark and strong smelling that could be a sign you’re dehydrated, so call your doctor.

2. Find Daily Movement

Exercise can help with morning sickness because when you exercise your body releases endorphins, making you feel good by reducing stress and fatigue, which is good for everyone, but especially when you’re pregnant. Exercise can also be a distraction, especially when you’re able to focus on your breath and movement. Walking is a great option because it doesn’t require equipment, it’s low impact, and it can be done anywhere. Make sure to always check in with your health provider for any type of exercise you may be considering.

3. Prenatal Vitamins and Natural Remedies

There are a lot of vitamins and nutrients that your body needs when making a baby, and prenatal vitamins are recommended for everyone. One key recommendation for people suffering from morning sickness (if you don’t have iron deficiency), is to stop taking iron-containing prenatal vitamins as iron can be a trigger for nausea. You can substitute it for a lower dose iron prenatal during your first trimester. Research also suggests that vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine) can help alleviate morning sickness

One of the most popular natural remedies for nausea is ginger. Ginger originated in Southeast Asia and has been used for its healing properties for over 5000 years! Ginger has been shown to relax gastrointestinal muscles and ease nausea. It can be taken in its natural form, as a tea, via a supplement (like Prenatal Ease’s Stage 1 prenatal multivitamin), or you could try ginger ale or ginger beer (anything with real ginger)!

Prenatal Ease Multivitamins

Prenatal Ease Stage 1 is a vitamin specially formulated for people in their first trimester, with lower levels of iron compared to Prenatal Ease Stage 2 and Stage 3. This can help alleviate morning sickness and constipation that is often common during the first trimester. It contains 20 essential vitamins and minerals to support your developing baby, including vitamin B6 and the all-important ginger, which can provide digestive comfort. Prenatal Ease Stage 1 is recognized by the Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada (SOGC), specifically because of the ginger and its ease on the tummy.

Well.ca is currently offering Prenatal Ease in special bundles, tailored to where you are in your pregnancy. For those in the first trimester, check out the Prenatal Ease Triple Pack with First Trimester Bundle, which includes Prenatal Ease Stage 1 multivitamins, Prenatal Ease Omega-3 DHA and Prenatal Ease Ultimate Oil (to help combat stretch marks) for all your first trimester needs!

As you grow in your pregnancy, Prenatal Ease has other bundles to help you get what your body, and your baby needs most at each stage of your pregnancy and beyond.

What has been the most effective method of managing morning sickness in your pregnancy or pregnancies? Let us know in the comments!

[1] Jewell D, Young G. Interventions for nausea and vomiting in early pregnancy. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2002;(1):CD000145.