My nausea kicked in pretty much from day one. I never actually vomited, so I guess that’s something to be thankful for. But let me tell you, it was far from the typical “morning sickness” you hear about. This was an all-day, every-day kind of nausea. And for anyone who says it gets better after the first trimester—well, that was a lie for me. I was nauseous right up until the day my twins were born.
What Causes Nausea?
So, what exactly causes nausea in pregnancy? It’s mostly due to the rapidly increasing levels of hormones in your body, particularly hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) and estrogen. These hormones are essential for a healthy pregnancy but can wreak havoc on your digestive system, making you feel like you’re on a never-ending merry-go-round of queasiness.
If you’re taking progesterone, which is common in early pregnancy or if you’ve gone through fertility treatments, this can also increase the likelihood of nausea. Progesterone slows down digestion and can add to that constant feeling of unease.
Remedies I Tried (and Some I Didn’t)
Ginger: Ginger is the go-to remedy that everyone recommends for nausea. I tried ginger lozenges in every flavor imaginable—ginger-peach, honey ginger, even ginger chews. Most of them were decent, but after a while, I got sick of ginger (ironic, I know). Plus, those lozenges got pretty expensive over time. I eventually switched to good ol’ Jolly Ranchers. They were cheaper, came in a variety of flavors, and did the trick for me just as well.
Finding the Right Food: Then there’s the matter of what to eat. Influencers and pregnancy books will tell you about all these nutritious foods you should be eating for the sake of your baby. But when you’re nauseous 24/7, my non-medical advice is to eat whatever you can keep down. If Ruffles with ranch dressing is the only thing that doesn’t make you want to hurl, then go for the Ruffles with ranch dressing!
I found that edamame was super helpful because it allowed me to get some protein in without feeling worse. Bone broth also became a staple—it was easy to sip on and gentle on my stomach. And, of course, there was toast. So much toast. It was simple, bland, and usually didn’t make me feel like I was on the verge of losing it.
It’s Survival Mode
When you’re dealing with constant nausea, it’s all about survival mode. You do what you have to do to get through the day, and don’t let anyone make you feel bad about it. If that means your diet is 90% carbs or that you’re sucking on candy just to get some relief, so be it. Remember, you’re doing the best you can in a tough situation, and that’s more than enough.
Here’s my list of pregnancy survival mode products that helped me get through those tough days!
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