Pregnancy Nausea Survival Guide

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We’ve all been there. Well, like, half of us at Essence. It doesn’t stop at 12 weeks, it isn’t just in the morning. It’s leeeeterally, as we say, THE WORST. Here are some fast and furious tips to help you through until the “second tri so fly” time when you WILL eat a plant again, WE PROMISE!!

  1. Take a prenatal
  2. Stay HYDRATED! You can drink juice. Lemonade. Decaf Tea. Pedialyte. Gatorade. Just watch caffeine limits, and obv no alcohol. 
  3. The lower esophageal sphincter pressure is greatly reduced which causes stomach contents to constantly go up; even if you don’t constantly feel reflux; that’s what causes the nausea along with ALL the hormones. You can keep the pressure down by eating CONSTANTLY. Like, every 60-90 minutes. but that means eating “something”.. not necessarily a meal. “something” could be.. 10 raspberries. anything just to pushhhhh the pressure down.

Any food you can tolerate – EAT. The goal of the first trimester is to keep anything down.

  1. Suck on lemons
  2. Cheerios / Honey Nut Cheerios / Golden Grahams were winners for me; with a little milk as well; or even water to wet it. Raisin Bran was also a favorite of mine. Any cereal works.
  1. Whole milk (Personally, I could drink it straight. And it was a win because it is a great source of Calcium, Vitamin D, and protein.) 
  2. banana
  3. I couldn’t eat plain yogurt; but could get down on some sweetened yogurt. 
  4. Flavored oatmeals. Plain may just be untenable.
  5. Bagels and cream cheese or labneh
  6. Challah and cream cheese or labneh
  7. I subsisted a lot on egg rolls, wonton soup, which were “great” because they at least 
  8. Broths and Bone broths
  9. saltines
  10. pretzels + peanut butter; or peanut butter-filled pretzels
  11. peanut butter + jelly/honey sandwiches or on a bagel/english muffin
  12. matzo ball soup
  13. dairy free options like violife, myokos, daiya, kite hill etc. for cheese and yogurt exist!
  14. You will likely need to eat in the middle of the night a couple times; that’s what i had to do to keep that lower esophageal sphincter pressure down
  15. My goal for myself was one serving of animal protein a day – that’s a win
  16. ginger tea/lozenges never worked for me but… have at it.
  17. Wedderspoon manuka honey drops
  18. “Preggy Pops”

Talk to your doctor about OTC or prescription anti-nausea medications. Some work for some, some don’t. We promise; it goes away; and you will have your matcha again!