Morning Sickness Remedies (and Advice) to Try

Are you struggling with morning sickness during pregnancy? Trust us, we know morning sickness is no joke. Before your baby actually formed, visions of being hungover with your head in the toilet probably sprung to mind when the thought of morning sickness cropped up. We’re sorry to announce that it is likely worse, and probably all the time too. (Unless you’re one of those lucky goddesses that float through their pregnancy without so much as an off day. If that’s you, humbly close out of this tab and try not to gloat too much about your superior early pregnancy symptoms.) 

Quick disclaimer: We are total baby experts at LittleList, and we sure do know our bassinets from our Baby Bjorns, but we are not medical professionals. If you can’t keep anything down for 24 hours, have very dark urine or haven’t weed in more than 8 hours, feel severely weak, dizzy or faint when standing up, have tummy (abdominal) pain, a high temperature or vomit blood - please call your GP or 111. 

Whether you’re actually vomiting or simply feeling constantly nauseous, morning sickness can feel like a nightmare that never ends, but there is hope. (And plenty to look forward to!) Typically, it’s all gone by 16 to 20 weeks, and often a fair bit sooner. To help you survive the next 10 weeks, we’ve got our tried and tested sickness remedies that’ll soothe your stomach. 

Understanding morning sickness

Morning sickness can vary from mild nausea to severe vomiting and typically occurs during the first trimester of pregnancy. It's important to note that it can affect anyone, and there are various factors that may increase your likelihood of experiencing it:

• you're having twins (or more!)

• you had severe sickness and vomiting in a previous pregnancy

• you tend to get motion sickness (for example, car sick)

• you have a history of migraine headaches

• morning sickness runs in your family

• you used to feel sick when taking contraceptives containing oestrogen

• it's your first pregnancy

• you're a plus-sized person (your BMI is 30 or more)

• you're experiencing stress

You could also be experiencing morning sickness if none of that relates! It’s like the worst raffle in the world where the prize is being unable to get out of bed. 

But let’s work on getting you up and mobile, shall we? 

Food and drink for morning sickness

Staying hydrated is important for all the regular reasons, but it’s even more important to stay hydrated when you’re experiencing morning sickness. Dehydration can make your symptoms even worse so it’s essential that you find a liquid you can stomach. 

If water isn’t working for you, keep an open mind and dive into a new beverage.  Some pregnant people find that black tea works for them, whereas others find a new love for fizzy drinks. It can take a bit of trial and error, but you’ll eventually find something that sits nicely in your stomach - promise!

The same goes for food. Your usual favourites might suddenly bring you more dread than wearing a backpack in a china shop. Cravings are always good indicators of what your stomach feels like tolerating that day, so make sure to lean into them.

Complementary therapies for morning sickness

Placebo or total magic? If it works, who cares! Plenty of pregnant people swear by acupressure and other complementary therapies for morning sickness. For a cheaper alternative than acupressure mats or a round of acupuncture (which, to be honest, always looks a bit Final Destination-y to us,) you could try one of those anti-sea-sickness bracelets that you might have knocking around if you’ve been on a cruise. 

Make your surroundings work for you

There’s nothing worse than sitting under fluorescent lights, radio blaring, and looking at a bright laptop screen when you’re sick. Treat your morning sickness like a migraine and curl up in a dark, quiet room away from screens. 

That’s all well and good, but it can be tricky to achieve that zen day-to-day if you work in an environment that you can’t control. Invest in some sound-proof headphones and don’t be afraid to rock your sunnies - everyone will think you’re super cool and mysterious, trust. 

Consider medication for morning sickness

Morning sickness is a very common symptom in early pregnancy, but there is a point when it becomes a serious concern. If you just can’t seem to keep anything down for 24 hours +, it’s time to contact your doctor to receive medication. You can read up on severe morning sickness (or hyperemesis gravidarum, as it’s properly known,) here on the NHS’ website.

Talking it out

As you begin your pregnancy journey, you undergo a huge amount of physical changes and identify shifts. Your entire life is about to change (no pressure!) and morning sickness is typically the first physical manifestation of that fact. It’s normal to feel all new levels of anxiety about that. 

Then there’s also the just plain rubbish-ness of being sick all the time. That takes a toll on your mental health as it is, even without the added pressure of being in charge of a whole new human. 

Talking to someone who gets it is a great outlet for all these new, all-consuming emotions: a trusted friend, family member, or even a therapist that specialises in working with pregnant people. 

Make a morning sickness survival kit

There’s nothing worse than the feeling of needing somewhere to be sick right then and not having any options. (Other than the floor, that is.) Pack a morning sickness survival kit and keep it on you on those days when you’re feeling extra dodgy to avoid the worst. 

We’d recommend having a bottle of water, a fresh t-shirt, mouthwash/a toothbrush and a plastic bag (or other sick-container of your choice) to make sure you’re fully covered. If they’ve been helping fight your nausea, having some plain crackers or pretzels is a good shout to help prevent sickness too.

Tracking your morning sickness

Even after you’ve found food and drink that you can actually keep down, nausea can still strike at the strangest of times. Paying attention to when that green wave strikes will help you identify patterns. Once you know what’s causing your sickness, you can, hopefully, avoid them. It’s also handy to track your nausea if you plan on discussing morning sickness with your GP or midwife. 

There’s no way around it. This is definitely a less enjoyable bit of pregnancy. Take care of yourself, rest up lots, and remember this is a temporary state that will pass.