One of the worst parts about pregnancy is the dreaded morning sickness. Of course, "morning" is just a misnomer - the sickness can occur at any point of the day! Most women experience this part of pregnancy to some degree during their first trimester. Some women, however, seem blessed not to have it at all! However, if you're like most and the nausea just seems overwhelming, there are ways to help calm the feeling!
One of the most common theories about morning sickness being worse in the morning is that when you wake up, you have low blood sugar. For some women, going eight hours without food is just a bad idea. You might find that it's helpful to eat a high protein snack before bed. If you get up in the night for frequent bathroom breaks, you might eat a bite each time you get up. Some women have to eat something while still lying down. Putting a plate of something beside your bed makes this easier. And don't just jump out of bed! Eat your snack slowly, then lie still for a few minutes. Slowly get up and immediately go to the kitchen and eat another bite. Protein should be emphasized.
Any food that causes rapid blood sugar shifts, such as fruit juice, sugary snacks, and processed cereal, should be avoided, as they cause your blood sugar to rapidly rise, then come crashing down. Meat, cheese, eggs, nuts and nut butters, veggies, and whole grains should be your staples during this time.
You may feel as though eating just is not appealing. Try to coax yourself to eat a little every two hours. Don't leave the house without carrying snacks with you!
If drinking water makes you feel sick, try alternatives like smoothies or citrus fruits. Very ice cold water with a bit of lemon or lime, or a weakly brewed tea with lemon can also help.
Smells that make you sick should be avoided. Have someone else take out the trash. Don't be shy about telling someone who has bad breath or a horrible perfume about your condition and need for fresh air. If it's cooking smells that make you sick, cut out onion and garlic recipes, and make meals that won't fill the kitchen with a strong odor. Main dish salads and sandwiches are a good idea.
We always hear about aromatherapy in just about everything we do - but this stuff works! Put a couple of drops of lavender, mint, or lemon essential oil on cotton balls and keep them in locations you visit often. Take a whiff whenever you start to feel sick.
Surprisingly, exercise can help. If you're pregnant, this is the last thing you want to think about when you can barely make it to the toilet, but if you force yourself to take even something as short as a ten minute walk, it will help.
Take it easy! Try to avoid stress as much as possible and rest as much as you can. When you feel a bout of nausea coming on, try to lay down for a few minutes in a dark room with your eyes closed. Sometimes, this will help the episode to pass.
Try eating candied ginger or sipping on a ginger tea. Ginger capsules tends to be a little bit harsh on your sensitive stomach and hurts terribly if it does come back up. Brewer's yeast capsules are said to work for some moms. Sipping mint tea or chewing a mint gum will help calm nausea. Another neat trick is to try sucking on lemon slices when you feel that wave of nausea coming on.
Avoid getting overheated or chilled. Extreme changes in temperature can trigger nausea. Tried everything and can ease your sickness? Try motion sickness wrist bands! They work!
No matter what, you should always go with your cravings. They don't steer you wrong. Every pregnancy is different and tips that work for you for one pregnancy might not work for another. The only real way to know for sure is through trial and error, but it won't take you long at all to find out what you need to help calm your nausea! And remember - this will pass!

About the Author
Amanda Baker writes for All Things Pondered: http://AllThingsPondered.com