How to Ease Morning Sickness During Pregnancy

Pregnant woman with nausea sitting in bathroom

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Being pregnant means that about 75 percent of women will feel queasy or actually vomit at some point in their pregnancy, usually very early on in the first trimester. This is called morning sickness, but it can happen at any time of the day or night.

Tips for Easing Morning Sickness

While there isn't one magic cure for morning sickness, here are some of the top tips to help ease your stomach.

Eat Two Crackers

Eat two crackers before your head leaves the pillow. This is old but wise advice. There are moms who swear by this, though some take it a bit further and say add some protein, like peanut butter. It certainly can't hurt to try it. You might even think of it as the middle-of-the-night snack. If your bladder gets you up for a trip to the bathroom, grab a cracker on your way to the bathroom.

Think Small

Smaller, more frequent meals can also help keep an ailing belly at bay. If you nibble on food all day long, you are likely to be able to keep it down, at least some of the time. Having a bit of food sometimes makes you feel better. This might be about blood sugar, or it can simply be about comfort. Grazing as a way to ingest calories is said to be very helpful.

Avoid Triggers

Avoid foods and smells that seem to trigger nausea. Sometimes nearly every food or every smell can trigger your nausea.  This may also mean that you make changes in your life like skipping perfume, switching your deodorant, and even changing toothpaste brands. Trust me, a sensitive gag reflex will thank you.

Manage Your Blood Sugar

Eat something high in protein before going to bed. It helps your blood sugar stay more level throughout the night and into the morning. Another suggestion is to leave a snack by your bed and to eat a handful of it while you're up to go to the bathroom in the night.

Keep Your Favorite Prevention Products on Hand

Ginger, teas, cookies, even the spice can be helpful in preventing nausea. There are also sucker and dandy drop versions of these products to help you. Some prefer a good old-fashioned peppermint or butterscotch.

Drink Ice Water

Have sips of ice water as the urge to purge strikes. Many pregnant people say that this helps them keep meals down as well. Sipping ice water all day will also help ensure that you stay hydrated. This can be a huge problem for some people, and not even because they are actually throwing up but because they are avoiding drinking water for fear of throwing up.

Try Acupressure

Acupressure bands can be worn like bracelets and can curb nausea while you wear them. But be forewarned, as one mom says, stand next to a bucket or toilet when you take them off! These come in a variety of styles and fashions.

Try Peppermint

Peppermint, either smelling it in aromatherapy form or sipping the tea can help curb nausea. It's also known to help with sagging energy levels. Hard candy, in general, can also help with the dry mouth and even out the excessive salivation (ptyalism) that can happen sometimes.


Take a deep breath. It might be mind over matter sometimes. This sounds hokey but actually worked for me several times when I absolutely couldn't afford to be ill. It didn't curb nausea but kept my lunch in my body. Even if this trick only works as a stop-gap measure until you get to where you can let go - it's worth it.

Eat Comfort Food

Eat what you can, if it stays down it is probably a good thing. Slowly add more foods to your diet as possible. There are certainly days when asking yourself: What could I eat today? is the best you can do. This may mean a diet of Tootsie rolls or fruit leather or juice only. It is certainly better than nothing. Remember, the first trimester is only temporary.

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Article Sources

  • American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). Nausea and Vomiting of Pregnancy. ACOG Practice Bulletin No. 52, 2004.