As the rom-com trope goes, a woman throwing up on screen is basically a positive pregnancy test. Obvs, this isn’t true in the real world, but it does say something about nausea being one of the most well-known side effects of pregnancy.
Feeling like you’re going to throw up at any moment is not fun in general, let alone when you are creating a human from scratch in your uterus. To help ease the discomfort, we tapped functional medicine and nutrition specialist Leona West Fox CN, CH, FMCHC.
Below, she shares four tips for relieving nausea during pregnancy. (P.S. they’re also good to know even if you aren’t pregnant.)
Acupressure is a Traditional Chinese Medicine therapy where pressure is applied to certain points on the body to help release the flow of energy. And, yep, it can be used to help with nausea.
First, find what is called your P6 point. Do this by measuring two to three finger widths above the wrist crease on the inner forearm, between the two tendons located on the palm side of the arm. Using your thumb or index finger, place your finger on the P6 point, and apply steady but gentle pressure. Maintain the pressure on the point for one to two minutes or until you feel some relief from nausea.
For the best all-day relief, Leona recommends getting a pair of Sea Bands, which are elastic wristbands with a little knob on the inside that hits the nausea-relieving pressure points on the wrists. She noted that these helped reduce her first-trimester nausea by 90%.
“Don’t let your stomach get empty,” Leona says. “Eat something before bed. When you wake up, eat something before you get out of bed. This is key, I promise!”
If you experience nausea in the morning, it might be helpful to have a midnight snack. Leona advises that an empty stomach can worsen nausea and make it unbearable. This is why it is often worse in the morning when your stomach is mostly empty. She also recommends eating smaller meals/snacks every few hours throughout the day and taking a morning walk, which she says can also reduce the intensity of the nausea.
“Even though you may not be craving protein, the more protein you eat earlier in the day, the better it will stave off nausea,” Leona says. She recommends considering as many protein sources as possible, including plant-based protein from foods like beans and nut butter, as well as quality meat and dairy sources. Eggs are especially good, as they are high in B vitamins which can also curb nausea. Smoothies containing your favorite, easy-to-digest protein powder are another good option.
“The taste and smell of sour, especially lemons, can help keep nausea away,” Leona tells us. She recommends making lots of lemon water, keeping lemons around to smell, and even sniffing lemon essential oil.
Okay, now for the best part: she says sour candy can help with nausea as well. She recommends opting for healthier candies like these Sour Preggie Pops.
Pregnant individuals should always consult with their own healthcare providers before trying any alternative interventions, including acupressure.
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