Pregnancy nausea can be a living hell and feel like an eternal evil hangover (without the party)! I'm sorry you are suffering. It's a very personal journey and is important to find what works for you and your body at the time.
1. The most important thing to do is to become a ‘SNACK QUEEN.’ Keep something in your stomach at all times to regulate your blood sugar levels. Set an alarm every two hours to remind you. It doesn’t have to be healthy or big just something, even if it’s potato crisps.
Try snacking on almonds, crackers, miso soups (the Spiral brand sachets with seaweed are really good), noodles, pasta, dried fruit, yogurt, and white bread!
Sugary foods should be avoided as your blood sugar levels will spike> carbs are better. Eat easy to digest foods- slow cooked, baked veges (good to prep a heap of baked veges to graze on during the week), raw fruit, well cooked grains and soups.
Don’t feel bad if you hate eating vegetables and you normal diet, you can eat them for the rest of your life, the main thing is to get through this rough patch. Trust me, your passion and identity with food will return.
2. STAY HYDRATED try fresh chilled coconut water, chamomile tea, Hydralite ice-blocks , ginger tea, ginger ale or apple cider vinegar with warm water and honey. Some women love sucking on ice cubes (try coconut ones too if you like that flavour).
3. SMELLS- using peppermint or vanilla in an aromatic oil burner at home or work can help alleviate odour sensitivities. If you are vomiting into the toilet, put some peppermint drops down the loo beforehand, so you have something better to smell. Some people find smelling medical swabs does the trick, as it overrides any other scent.
4. If you feel better when you REST then do it more! Delegate as much as possible and create boundaries with your social life.
Hopefully the symptoms pass after the first trimester you can eat greens and feel human again.
5. Regular acupuncture and acupressure can help resolve morning sickness naturally:
This point (Pericardium 6) is located 3 finger breadths up from your inner wrist crease, in between the two tendons. If you put your hand into a fist and pull it towards you, it makes it easier to find the point.
Hold this spot with your opposing thumb and take some slow, deep breaths. Hold for 1-3 minutes several times a day when you feel nausea (either wrist is fine). You can also get ‘sea sickness wrist bands’ to wear over these points through out the day/ night, to reduce nausea.
Acupuncture point KD27 helps alleviate pregnancy nausea.
Hold points for 2 minutes on both sides a few times a day.
Acupuncture point KD6 can help alleviate pregnancy nausea and the desire to vomit.
Hold both points for 2-3 mins as needed.