For some women, nausea is the first indicator that they might be pregnant and is what prompts them to schedule a doctor’s visit or a pregnancy test. Pregnancy nausea or morning sickness is not typically a dangerous condition, but it is aggravating and getting relief becomes a priority during its duration. Fortunately, your kitchen or bathroom medicine cabinet already provide plenty of home remedies for pregnancy nausea and we’ll discuss 15 of those in this article.
1. Increase Vitamin B6 Intake
Vitamin B6 supplementation is a great place to start when considering home remedies for pregnancy nausea. Though it is not fully understood how it works, vitamin B6 has been reported to ease morning sickness. Fortunately, vitamin B6 causes no harmful effects to the fetus and is safe to take during pregnancy as well.
What to Do
- Typical doses are 25 mg three times daily, but it is best to consult your gynecologist before taking supplements.
- In addition, consuming foods with higher concentrations of B6 will help, including: brown rice, avocados, bananas, corn, cold water fish and nuts.
One of the best ways to get an adequate amount of B6 in your diet is by finding an appropriate prenatal vitamin. You want to be sure that you can get anywhere from 10mg to 25mg of B6 three times a day.
You want to be sure not to go over 100mg per dose because this may cause some nerve damage.
2. Fennel Seed
One of the best home remedies for pregnancy nausea is fennel seed. Often used by those in the Mediterranean region to aid digestion, fennel seeds help to relax the lining of the digestive tract and reduce the sensation that you need to vomit. Its aromatic aroma and flavor has a calming effect as well.
What to Do
- Keep fennel seed nearby in the morning for when those feeling first hit.
- Thoroughly chew and swallow 1 tsp of fennel seeds as needed throughout the morning.
3. Peppermint
Peppermint is another of the effective home remedies for pregnancy nausea which you need to keep in mind. Peppermint has a calming effect on the stomach that can help to reduce the urge to vomit and bring about relaxation through its antispasmodic properties. Keep in mind that some women have exactly the opposite reaction and peppermint won’t work for them.
What to Do
- Add 1 tsp of dried peppermint or 1 Tbsp of fresh peppermint to a cup of boiling water.
- Cover the pot and allow it to steep for 5 to 7 minutes.
- Strain out the peppermint leaves and drink this tea to relieve nausea.
- An alternative is to place 2 drops of peppermint essential oil in the cup of one palm, and then rub your palms together before cupping your hands of your nose and mouth to inhale the aroma.
The method of using peppermint oil on your wrists can be a great one to use if you are at work and are looking for an inconspicuous way to deal with your morning sickness.
4. Lemon
Lemon is another way to help calm an unsettled stomach and is among the easiest home remedies for pregnancy nausea. The aroma of lemons tends to have a calming effect and the added vitamin C is a good thing for both you and your baby.
What to Do
- Extract the juicer of a lemon and mix it in a glass of warm water with a dab of honey.
- Drink this to start your morning.
- You can place a couple of drops of lemon essential oil in the cup of your palm and use it in the same way as was suggested with peppermint oil above.
One of the best ways that you ensure that you stay properly hydrated throughout the day is bt carrying around a water bottle that is infused with lemons everywhere you go. There are plenty of great water bottle infusers that will allow you to do just that.
5. Ginger
An herb that has powerful effects when it comes to home remedies for pregnancy nausea is ginger. Ginger is excellent for your digestive system as it helps block overactive acidic secretion in the stomach. In addition, the aromatic effects of ginger tend to reduce the nauseas urge.
What to Do
- Peel and slice a small piece of ginger to chew and suck on during the first part of your morning.
- You can also prepare a cup of ginger tea to help drive away the nausea and relax your stomach.
If you have a bit of a sweet tooth, then you are sure to love ginger infused hard candies. These hard candies can also have the same calming effect for a nauseated belly. If you are going to try out the hard candies, just be sure that they are actually infused with real ginger. Some candies will only have artificial. ginger flavoring which of course will not do you any good.
6. Sip Water
Sipping water is certainly the most readily available and simplest among the home remedies for pregnancy nausea. It has been discovered that women who consume a glass of water every hour during the morning have a lower incidence of morning system. It doesn’t hurt to get into the habit of keeping yourself hydrated during your pregnancy either.
What to Do
- Keep a covered glass or bottle of water beside your bed so that when you awaken it will be ready.
- Take a few sips when you first wake up and keep that going throughout the morning.
- The best way to ensure that you are drinking enough water is to keep it near you at all times, you will unconsciously reach for it every few minutes to take a sip.
7. Red Raspberry Leaf
Among the less common home remedies for pregnancy nausea is red raspberry leaf. According to many herbal practitioners, these leave help to prevent nausea and vomiting during pregnancy by helping to relax the smooth muscles of the uterus. They also contain B vitamins, calcium, magnesium and iron, all beneficial nutrients for pregnancy.
Note: Some women experience the opposite effect or experience contractions from this remedy, so proceed with caution.
What to Do
- Pour 1 cup of boiling water over 1 to 2 tsp of dried red raspberry leaves.
- Cover and allow this tea to steep for 5 to 7 minutes before straining out the leaves.
- Consume this tea before eating or drinking anything else in the morning.
8. Snack on Crackers
Snacking on crackers is among the most common home remedies for pregnancy nausea. Bland in flavor and rich in carbohydrates, crackers tend to soak up the excess stomach acids that build up during the night and help to relieve those nauseas urges.
What to Do
- Keep a sleeve of crackers beside your bed.
- When you awaken, eat two or three crackers and allow them to settle in your stomach before getting out of bed.
- Snack on them throughout the morning as well.
9. Take Regular Walks
Light exercise, like walking is also helpful when it comes to home remedies for pregnancy nausea. The increase of the progesterone hormone is responsible for the nauseas feelings you are having and walking helps to dilute the progesterone hormone building up in your system.
What to Do
- After your evening meal, spend 15 to 20 minutes walking.
- This is best in the open air, but can be accomplished on a low-speed treadmill as well.
10. Acupressure
To quickly keep down the urge to vomit, acupressure is another of the effective home remedies for pregnancy nausea. There is a certain point on your wrist where the application of pressure helps to relax your stomach and reduce nausea.
What to Do
- You can purchase and make use of an acupressure wrist band throughout your pregnancy.
- If you don’t have an acupressure wristband, you can achieve the same effect by locating the pressure point and applying gentle pressure.
11. Oranges
Another of the most effective home remedies for pregnancy nausea includes oranges. The fresh citric odor of oranges helps to calm and sooth nausea. Oranges also happen to be one of the most craved foods during pregnancy.
What to Do
- Peel and section an orange and place it in a sealed container beside your bed.
- Consume a couple of sections of the orange and allow it to settle a few minutes before getting out of bed.
- Snack on orange sections throughout the morning.
- Orange essential oil can also be used following the same methods as the peppermint and lemon remedies above.
12. Cinnamon
A pungent spice which tends to be helpful among the home remedies for pregnancy nausea is cinnamon. Cinnamon does all sorts of great work in your body for regulating hormones and it also help to settle nausea and aids digestion.
What to Do
- Add a cinnamon stick to 1 1/2 cups of boiling water and allow it to simmer for 7 to 10 minutes.
- Strain out the tea, add a little honey if you like, and drink it first thing in the morning.
- Sucking on cinnamon discs or cinnamon toothpicks can also help.
- You can also use cinnamon essential oil in the same manner as other remedies above.
13. Wheat Germ
Wheat germ is also among the most effective home remedies for pregnancy nausea. Wheat germ is rich in vitamin B6, which we discussed earlier. It is a great way to get a concentrated amount of this vitamin without having to take a supplement.
What to Do
- Mix 2 to 3 tsp of wheat germ in 1 cup of warm milk.
- You can add some honey to taste and stir until the mixture becomes smooth.
- Consume this 2 to 3 times throughout the day.
14. Cloves
Also among those pungent spices that are effective home remedies for pregnancy nausea are cloves. The chemical compound eugenol is what gives cloves such a strong flavor and aroma. It is this chemical which also acts as an antispasmodic and aids in reducing the buildup of digestive acids.
What to Do
- Place 2 to 3 whole cloves in 1 ½ cups of boiling water.
- Allow them to simmer for 7 to 10 minutes before straining out the tea.
- Drink the tea with a dab of honey first thing in the morning and a couple of times throughout the day.
15. Yogurt
Last among our home remedies for pregnancy nausea, but certainly no less effective, is yogurt. The probiotics in yogurt help to encourage the production of beneficial bacteria in your intestines to aid in digestion. That extra assistance can be the difference in your nauseous symptoms in the morning.
What to Do
- Select unsweetened and unflavored yogurt.
- Consume 8 to 10 oz. daily.
- If you want to add flavor, add your own fresh fruits and vegetables or spices from the remedies listed above.
Wrapping Up
Though pregnancy nausea signals that you are about to add a new member to your family and is exciting, morning sickness is not and finding relief is a priority. Making use of one or several of our 15 home remedies for pregnancy nausea, you can find daily relief and have more time for the pleasant tasks of preparing for your new little one. If you have additional remedies to add, have questions or comments; please feel free to add them below.