Morning sickness is a common ailment that many moms experience during pregnancy. It can be especially troublesome for those who are pregnant with their second child. Because they have to deal with the symptoms of morning sickness as well as adjust to being pregnant again. It’s that awkward time of life where you’re not sure who you are because of your pregnancy hormones fluctuated.
The first trimester is generally considered the worst time for most pregnant women. Usually, by the second time of pregnancy, they have begun to feel better. However, morning sickness can still be prevalent even during the final stages of pregnancy.
As well for pregnant women, morning sickness can also affect their work life, social life, and daily routine. So if you are pregnant with your second child and experiencing morning sickness, read on for some tips to help you through it.
What is Morning Sickness?
Morning sickness is a condition that causes nausea and vomiting during the early stages of pregnancy. Morning sickness is thought to be caused by the high levels of hormones present in early pregnancy, including estrogen and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). These hormones can cause the stomach to empty more slowly, leading to feelings of nausea and vomiting.
Many pregnant women experience morning sickness during the first trimester of pregnancy, but it can also occur later in pregnancy. The severe morning sickness varies from woman to woman, and some women experience only minor morning sickness symptoms. However, for some women morning sickness can be quite severe and can lead to dehydration and malnutrition .
Therefore, the moderate morning sickness of nausea and vomiting that occurs during the first few months of pregnancy is called early pregnancy symptoms. Treatments for morning sickness vary depending on the severity of the condition. Most women feel better after their first trimester, but some women continue to experience mild nausea and vomiting throughout their pregnancies.
According to recent studies about 50% of pregnant women suffer from morning sickness which is called hyperemesis gravidarum. However, if your health getting worse because of nausea symptoms then immediately seek medical advice. Pregnant woman experience symptoms of nausea, vomiting, and other symptoms such as diarrhea, appetite loss, or food aversion. So, to reduce nausea avoid situation of an empty stomach because that makes nausea worse.
Tips to reduce Morning Sickness in Second Trimester
Severe Morning sickness during pregnancy can be very inconvenient and uncomfortable, but there are ways to ease the symptoms. Sometimes spicy foods or other certain foods can morning sickness even worse. Knowing what can cause morning sickness can greatly reduce the severity of your symptoms. For morning sickness relief during the second trimester, try the following tips:
1. Eat frequent meals with care
To avoid mild morning sickness, eat small frequent meals and healthy snacks throughout the day instead of three large meals. This will help your stomach to digest food gradually and avoid any discomfort. And avoid fatty and spicy foods because sometimes it can be the reason to trigger nausea. Moderate nausea and vomiting in the morning are common. But it’s important to make sure that you are taking enough nutrients and vitamins for both you and your baby.
2. Get proper rest
To reduce nausea this would be the best morning sickness remedies. Try to get plenty of rest, especially in the morning. Taking a nap during the day may also be helpful. Severe nausea and vomiting may make it challenging to get the rest you need at night. But you can try different things such as sleeping with your head elevated or avoiding noise and light. If your previous pregnancy was without nausea, then you are more likely to experience it in this one. So, try your best to get enough sleep aid every night, because lack of sleep also causes morning sickness.
3. Ensure good fluid intake
It is very important to drink plenty of fluids, especially water and juice when you have morning sickness. Dehydration can worsen nausea and vomiting. Try to avoid drinking caffeinated drinks and alcohol because they can make dehydration worse. Aggravate nausea and vomiting situation can lead to some serious health complications. Avoiding dehydration is one of the best way to relieve morning sickness there is.
4. Drink peppermint or Ginger tea
Sipping on ginger or peppermint tea may help to reduce nausea. Both of these herbal teas contain compounds that are effective in reducing morning sickness symptoms. If women find hyperemesis gravidarum (severe morning sickness) is hampering their daily life, they should speak to their family physicians about prescription medications that are safe for pregnant moms.
5. Wear loose clothes
Sometimes changing your clothing can improve your morning sickness by giving you a feeling of comfort and relaxation. Loose pants will give more space for your belly and let it breathe. But make sure that you don’t wear too bulky clothes that will keep you warm. And avoid ties and belts on the waist. Wear a supportive bra that doesn’t squeeze or rub on your abdomen. It is very hard to get out of bed when you aren’t comfortable. So it would be best if you choose clothes that are easy to take on and off.
6. Prenatal vitamins and supplements
Prenatal vitamins and supplements are very important during pregnancy. If you feel like nausea and vomiting are bad then should go for medical attention that can help with pregnancy nausea. To relieve morning sickness a prenatal vitamin can work like a charm. Make sure that you have a complete prenatal vitamin every day. It’s also helpful if it has Vitamin B6, which can prevent nausea and vomiting in pregnancy. It is also important to drink intravenous fluids if you are dehydrated.
7. Help for acid reflux
If you are also suffering from acid reflux, try to eat more frequent and smaller meals and avoid eating late at night. Also, elevate the head of your bed by six inches to help reduce stomach acids from backing up into your esophagus during the night. As well as an empty stomach situation, eating high acidic foods like citrus fruit that can aggravate morning sickness. The digestive tract is trying to adjust to the new hormones, so give it time. And to alleviate nausea you should eat foods like peanut butter, a plain baked potato, or carbonated drinks.
8. Avoid greasy and spicy foods
Acidic or greasy foods can cause motion sickness or nausea easily and might be an upset stomach. Try to avoid greasy, fried, and processed or prepared foods because they can cause indigestion and bloat. Too much gas in your stomach will also worsen the symptoms. You have to start eating small portions of bland foods. Ginger capsules can help reduce nausea, but you have to be careful with the amount because it may worsen nausea for some women.
9. Avoid situation of yellow dark colored urine
Research suggests that when urine becomes darker, it can be a sign of dehydration, which is why it’s important to drink more fluids. Other symptoms that may indicate mild dehydration are dry mouth or lack of saliva. If you are experiencing these symptoms, increase the intake of liquids and if the medical conditions does not improve within 24 hours then consult your physician immediately.
10. Avoid certain smells
Avoid some specific smells such as cigarette smoke, cooking foods, cleaning products, or paint smell. Sometimes the smell of these products could cause nausea. Drinking mint can help to reduce morning sickness nausea. Mint contains menthol that helps in calming the stomach muscles and reduces the puckering feeling in your stomach. For few moments after you have eaten a mint, the bad smell will go away.
11. Pay attention to aversions
You may suffer from morning sickness because you have aversions to certain foods. If you have an aversion to a particular food, don’t force yourself to eat it. Try healthy alternatives instead of food that doesn’t appeal to you. If you feel nauseous after eating a certain food or light snack, take a break for a few days and then try again. The stomach lining takes a while to heal, so be patient and don’t overdo it.
12. Avoid triggers
You may find that certain things trigger your morning sickness. It might be some foods, smells, or activities. Try to avoid these if possible. For instance, if you know that eating greasy foods makes you sick, try to stick to healthy, light meals instead. In severe cases when you feel nauseous all the time, you may need for taking medication. Many women feel better after taking ginger ale or dry cereal in some form. And acupressure point wristbands are effective in some cases.
13. Avoid weight losing
Weight loss during early pregnancy is dangerous for both the mother and baby. So if you are struggling with morning sickness, make sure to eat enough food that will provide you with the necessary energy and nutrition. The situation of lose weight can be worsened if you have morning sickness. Additionally, the ginger snaps are good for this situation because they are full of fiber, calcium, and iron that is perfect during pregnancy.
14. Chew Sugarless Gum
Chewing gum is a great way to settle down your stomach when you have morning sickness. If it’s not possible to eat something, then chewing sugary gum can help with nausea. After having a baby, a lot of women suffer from morning sickness which can be very difficult for preventive measures. But there are certain things you can try until your doctor provides you with the actual treatment to ease nausea. Generally, doctors advise morning sickness patients to take smaller meals more often during the day and to avoid fatty or acidic foods that might set off nausea.
15. Try acupuncture
Acupuncture is one of the most popular treatments in natural medicine that has been used for centuries all over the world for different conditions and one of the most common conditions is nausea. Many studies use acupuncture on women to ease their nausea and vomiting. Therefore, for sickness relief in the second time of pregnancy, you should visit your doctor to see if acupuncture is an option.
The Bottom Line
Therefore, if you are pregnant with your second child and experiencing morning sickness, read on for some tips to help you through it. Remember to eat small meals often, drink plenty of fluids, and get plenty of rest. Morning sickness can be a misery to deal with, but there are some tips you may not have considered. If you think your morning sickness is due to something other than pregnancy, talk to your doctor about what causes might apply to you. If you have any queries regarding the above context then just feel free to share with us through a comment section below.
