More than half of pregnant women experience some degree of morning sickness, queasiness or nausea during pregnancy. It's no wonder, then, that home remedies for treating and preventing these uncomfortable symptoms abound. Unfortunately, while there are a few things you can do to decrease your discomfort, there's no surefire way to avoid nausea during pregnancy if you're prone to it.
Morning Sickness
Although it's common to hear pregnancy nausea called "morning sickness," Heidi Murkoff and Sharon Mazel point out in their book "What To Expect When You're Expecting" that queasiness can strike at any time of day or night. Your hormones are to blame -- as hormone levels increase rapidly in early pregnancy, your digestive tract slows. These factors combine to produce feelings that range from mild discomfort to frequent vomiting. Most pregnant women experience nausea during at least a portion of their pregnancies.
Soda and Nausea
You may have heard that soda is an effective way to treat or prevent morning sickness. There aren't any scientific studies verifying this, although every woman is different, and if soda sounds good to you when you're feeling queasy, give it a try. Some women find that the bubbles in soda ease sensitive stomachs, while others find that bloating from carbonation makes nausea worse.
Ginger Soda
One exception to the general rule that soda probably doesn't do much for nausea is ginger ale, especially if it's made with real ginger. Ginger contains a compound called zingerone, explain Drs. Penny Le Couteur and Jay Bureson in their book "Napoleon's Buttons." The zingerone binds to receptors in your nervous system, confusing the brain, which can't simultaneously process the hot sensation of the ginger and the feeling of nausea.
Considerations
Avoid sodas with aspartame or other artificial sweeteners during pregnancy. Murkoff and Mazel indicate that there's no scientific data showing that these artificial sweeteners are safe during pregnancy, and it's possible that they could cross the placenta. Also avoid drinking large quantities of sugared sodas, since they contain large numbers of calories and can contribute to excess weight gain.
References
- "What to Expect When You're Expecting"; Heidi Murkoff and Sharon Mazel; 2008
- "Napoleon's Buttons"; Penny Le Couteur and Jay Bureson; 2004
