6 Ways to Relieve Morning Sickness

1. Have a Cup of Tea

Nothing beats morning sickness like a cup of ginger tea. Use a ginger tea bag, available from health food shops and supermarkets, or add 1⁄2 teaspoon grated root ginger to 1 cup very hot water, leave to infuse for 5 minutes, strain and sip.

Herbal teas made with camomile, lemon balm and peppermint are also known to reduce nausea. Use 1-2 teaspoons of the dried herb per cup of hot water. However, avoid peppermint tea if you have heartburn.

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2. Drink Ginger Ale

Drink flat, room-temperature ginger ale. Although no one knows why (there’s not enough ginger in shop-bought ginger ale to have an effect), it settles morning sickness. Don’t drink ginger ale with fizz, though. The bubbles promote the production of more stomach acid, which is just what you don’t need.

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3. Put Pressure on Your Wrists

Use your fingers to apply pressure to your wrists. Turn your arm over, forearm up. Locate the point about 1 1/2 inches away from the base of your hand, dead centre between the ligaments. Press this point with your thumb while you count slowly to ten. Repeat three to five times, or until the nausea subsides.

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4. Take Vitamin B Supplements

In studies, women who took 25 milligrams of vitamin B6 three times a day (a total of 75 milligrams per day) for three days reduced nausea and vomiting associated with pregnancy. As with other vitamins, if you’re pregnant, don’t take B6 without your doctor’s consent.

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5. Get Plenty of Fluids

Water is the best medicine. Amazing as it seems, women who drink a glass of water every hour have a lot less morning sickness. Also, drink a glass of water every time you get up in the night to go to the toilet. This helps to ensure you start your day feeling as good as you can.

Check the water in the toilet before you flush. If you are drinking enough water, your urine should be almost clear. If it’s dark, sinks to the bottom or has an extra-strong smell, you need to drink more.

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6. Keep Cool

If nothing wants to stay down, treat yourself to a frozen-fruit iceblock. It helps to replace sugars lost through vomiting, and since an iceblock is made with, primarily, frozen water, it also helps to keep you hydrated.

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