Friday, May 18, 2012

Week 6 ~ Dealing with Morning Sickness



Baby's now the size of a sweet pea!
Growing like crazy, baby is starting to sprout eyes, ears, nose, cheeks, and chin. Those little hands and feet -- still webbed like paddles -- might wiggle by week's end, the heart is beating (almost twice as fast as yours!), and blood is starting to circulate. (credit http://www.thebump.com/)

This 6th week is an important milestone-the baby's heart starts beating!  It's so amazing to think that something is alive and moving in inside me but I can't even feel it yet (and I've done this 5 times already, but it's just as amazing as the 1st!). 

I'm just starting to get a few waves of nausea now, but i'm actively planning my morning sickness game plan.  In past pregnancies, i have turned to milk and cheese as my staple anti-nausea food for the first 4 months, as that's all that sounds good and it's a quick and easy protein that settles the nausea.  However, when my baby's are born, their underdeveloped digestive systems can not handle any sort of dairy via my milk, so I have to go dairy-free for about 8 months.  It's very hard on both of us, but i do it because it's necessary.  My dear hubbie, mentioned after baby # 5 that maybe i created the dairy sensitivity in my babies because of my over use during pregnancy.  That, coupled with the fact that i recently read that diets high in meat and dairy can cause more nausea because of the bile that is created in your stomach, is why I will be trying something new this pregnancy.  I am going to use dairy products in moderation, but not cut them out totally.  I am also supplementing with calcium/magnesium to balance my bodies need and craving of dairy.

Another idea I'm implementing is the bean diet.  Sounds so simple and it is.  When you have old bile in your stomach it causes more nausea.  Eating beans adds phytic acid to your stomach to neutralize the bile.  I've read that it works cumulatively and instantly, so eat them regularly, every day and also a biteful or two as needed when nauseated.  Here's another blog that goes in to more detail- Life In A Shoe.

Ceramic Diffuser Necklace - Brown HeartPeppermint essential oil is another tool i use.  Last pregnancy, a friend told me to put a few drops on a tissue or cotton ball and carry it around with me (in a pocket or tucked into the waistband of a skirt), then pull it out and sniff it as needed.  This really worked well for me.  This time I purchased a little ceramic diffuser necklace from Young Living.  You just put a few drops of the oil in the hole in the necklace and inhale the oil as you wear it.  This works well because i don't have to purposely pull it out and smell it, I am breathing it in continuously.  Of course, peppermint tea is good if you can stomach it.  I haven't found a way to sweeten it that doesn't make me sick.  Lastly, Altoids peppermints are great for when you're not at home and need help quick.  As far as I've found, Altoids are the only main brand mints available that actually have peppermint essential oil in them.  Those red and white peppermints only have the flavor, no oils, which is why they don't work.  Same rule applies to ginger products.  Read the labels carefully, most ginger ale drinks have no real ginger in them, just flavoring.  Look for ginger root and peppermint oil on the label if you want to get relief from them!

Look for more morning sickness tips in Part 2!

1 comment:

  1. I am enjoying your tips! Sniffing peppermint essential oil kept me from throwing up so many times during my last pregnancy. The necklace sounds like a great idea since some of the most crucial times for sniffing it were when I was changing diapers and didn't have a free hand!

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