10 tried and tested ways to cure morning sickness

Feeling nauseous or vomiting when you are pregnant, also known as morning sickness, is very common. It affects almost half of pregnant women* and despite the name, morning sickness can strike at any time of day and vary in severity.

Most women experience morning sickness during the early stages of pregnancy, in the first trimester (between weeks 1 to 12). It’s largely due to hormonal changes in the body but can also be worsened by stress and having a particularly sensitive stomach.

Symptoms usually subside by the third month of pregnancy but morning sickness can last up to and after week 20.

Feeling sick or being sick is not nice but don’t let it get you down. There are many home remedies you can use to help control that uncomfortable feeling of nausea.

For starters, here are 10 things you can do to cure morning sickness:

1. Meditate

Morning sickness can be worsened by stress.

For many women, being pregnant – especially in the first trimester – brings mixed emotions. You will feel joy about becoming a mother but, at the same time, you will have concerns that everything is going to be ok.

Gentle meditation will help you to put those anxious feelings into perspective - helping you to relax and enjoy your pregnancy, and relieving some of those nausea pangs in the process.

2. Ginger or peppermint

Ginger has been used in Traditional Chinese Medicfine for generations to help with morning sickness. It has healing properties which help to relieve pain, constipation and nausea. To help relieve morning sickness, try drinking ginger herbal tea in the morning. You can boil fresh ginger slices for a delicious caffeine-free drink.

If you are not a fan of ginger tea, some women swear by drinking dark ginger ale as a way to cure morning sickness. Or, if you suffer from “heatiness," and consider ginger too “warming," go for a peppermint herbal tea instead – a more “cooling" drink. You can also try sucking on peppermint candy to calm those feelings of nausea – and to freshen your breath!

3. Drink lots of fluids

It’s really important that you take in the recommended amount of fluids throughout your pregnancy. Making sure you are well-hydrated can also relieve morning sickness. Water, juice and milk are all good fluids to help settle your stomach when you are suffering from morning sickness.

Drinking fluids in between meals can help as it will make sure your stomach is never empty – a real trigger for nausea. However, do be careful to not drink too much at once, so that you don’t feel hungry for food. It’s best to drink small amounts steadily throughout the day, and to use a straw if you find that sipping your drink isn’t working.

For starters, try cold and carbonated drinks, as these will be the easiest to keep down – but watch out for high sugar levels. Lemonade is also a popular drink for sufferers of morning sickness.

Be sure to include plain water in your diet too. For days when you are vomiting more frequently, a sports drink can help to 'revive' you.

4. Eat little and often

Food is known to set off waves of morning sickness, especially during the first trimester. Certain tastes and smells can affect your senses like they never have before!

Nonetheless, it’s still important to maintain a healthy diet as best you can. Avoid those foods that trigger your nausea and try to eat small meals throughout the day. This will help to keep your stomach full.

It’s also a good idea to keep a packet of plain crackers near you so that you have something to eat if you feel hungry. Lemon, curry leaves, peppermint, ginger, fennel, cheese, and other protein-rich foods, crackers and bananas are all thought to help settle morning sickness.

5. Acupressure

Acupressure is another popular method of controlling morning sickness. Located approximately 1½ inches up your wrist, there is a special acupressure point called the “inner gate."

Pressing firmly on this nerve, found between the two bones, for just 2 minutes is thought to give nausea the heave-ho. Alternatively, you can purchase a wristband from any pharmacy, which will apply this pressure for you.

They are normally used to control seasickness but it can have the same effect for pregnant women suffering with morning sickness.

6. Get plenty of fresh air

“A bit of fresh air does you a world of good…" How often have you heard this advice? Well, believe it or not, it actually does help. Just walking around outdoors for 10 minutes will help to take your mind off everything and fresh air has a way of eliminating nausea.

If you really cannot face going outside, open a window or find a fan and get air flowing towards you. Also, walking or being on the move will wake up your body and get your blood flowing. Having poor circulation can make you dizzy and your nausea worse.

7. Vitamin B6

Eating protein-laden foods can help with morning sickness because they are a good source of Vitamin B6, which helps to reduce nausea.

Foods like eggs, meat, whole grains and nuts are high in protein and Vitamin B6, but you can also take it in supplement form. Take note that it is advisable to speak with your doctor before starting any supplements when pregnant.

There is no scientific proof as to why Vitamin B6 helps with morning sickness but some believe that it is related to the way it breaks down amino acids and stimulates the production of red blood cells, which is important to overall health.

8. Sour food

Sour-flavoured foods are often a popular choice for pregnant women because the sharpness is thought to help to reduce the feeling of nausea.

Make citrus-flavoured popsicles using lemons, oranges, grapefruits or berries. The cold juice will provide some welcome relief.

You can also try preserved foods like pickles and jams. Have a few sour candies on standby in your purse for emergencies.

9. Be weary of certain scents

Many women develop a more sensitive nose when they are pregnant. This heightened sense of smell can mean certain scents will set off morning sickness. Once you know what does and doesn’t trigger your nausea, be careful to avoid those smells which do.

On the other hand, the smell of certain things like peppermint oil can help to relieve morning sickness.

Some women find that putting a few drops of peppermint oil in the bedroom, so you can breathe in its smell while you sleep, can help to ward off morning sickness the next day.

10. Rest

Tiredness and generally feeling run down can be a real trigger when it comes to morning sickness. Unfortunately, tiredness and pregnancy kind of go hand in hand, because your body is working overtime to keep you and your growing baby healthy.

Get as much rest as possible – at least 8 hours at night. If you need to nap during the day, go for it. You’ll be glad you did so when the little one finally arrives. Give yourself plenty of time to wake up in the morning too. Go to bed earlier and set your alarm a little earlier in the morning – this way you can gently get up and start your day relaxed.

Rushing and getting out of bed too quickly can make you feel sick. It’s also a good idea to have crackers handy by your bed, in case you are hungry when you wake up.

Remember to trust your instincts and if you feel like you are vomiting too much, or nothing is helping to relieve your morning sickness, visit your doctor. Don’t suffer in silence, as this will only stress you out further.