Ways to Manage Nausea in Pregnancy

Well over half of pregnant women will experience nausea in pregnancy, and while Mini + Me’s founder Keira Rumble knows all too well that sometimes “morning sickness” isn’t just “morning sickness” and it can be Hyperemesis Gravidarum (known as HG), we also know how debilitating morning sickness can be. 

We sat down with one of our Mini + Me Expert’s, Dr Bronwyn Hamilton, for some tips from a Specialist Obstetrician and Gynecologist on ways to manage morning sickness and nausea. 

What is morning sickness? 

Morning sickness can occur anytime of the day (not just the morning!) and is usually worse between weeks 6-12 of pregnancy. The nausea is thought to be due to the hormones of pregnancy as well as low glucose due to placental uptake of glucose, reduced gut motility due to progesterone and increased sensitivity to smells.

Top tips to assist with nausea in pregnancy

1. Avoid an empty stomach 
   Snack on plain foods such as bread, crackers, cereal, fruit, noodle soup and pasta. Eating small meals regularly can make a significant difference. 
2. Stay hydrated
   Hydration in pregnancy is very important. Usually plain water is hard to get (and keep) down when you feel unwell so flavoured clear fluids such as Hydramama can definitely help! The less hydrated you are, the more nauseated you will be.
3. Try to get plenty of rest
   You will find the more you sleep you can manage, the less nauseated you will be.
4. Check your pre-natal ingredients
   Some pregnancy multivitamins can contribute to your nausea  (especially the iron component) - talk to your healthcare professional about different options here.
5. Eat foods rich in Vitamin B6
   Ginger, peppermint tea and foods rich in vitamin B6 can also help ease the nausea. Green leafy vegetables, bananas, tuna, chicken are natural sources of Vitamin B6.
6. Consider medication
   Vitamin B6 as well as some other over-the-counter medications can also be helpful - such as Doxylamine which is an anti-histamine with great anti-nausea properties. Chat to your care provider about these and if these fail, there are stronger anti-nausea medications available with a script. Did you know that Hydramama has B6 in our formulation? 

Still not feeling well? What to do next.

If you think your morning sickness is more than just morning sickness and is significantly impacting your quality of life, and you are not keeping down fluids or meals on an ongoing basis for an extended amount of time, we recommend speaking to your healthcare provider urgently, heading to Hyperemesis Australia to seek some support or taking the PUQE test which can be found here.