Pregnancy is an exciting, life-altering experience, but it isn't without hassle. For most women, perhaps the most frequent early symptom of pregnancy is nausea-commonly known as morning sickness, though it strikes at any time of day. While very common, this discomfort often surprises mothers-to-be and can make daily life pretty tough. Take heart, though, as pregnancy nausea is by no means a rare condition, while there are indeed ways to manage it better and focus on the joy of pregnancy. In this blog, we'll explore some unexpected relief remedies for pregnancy nausea, delving into why it happens, what your body is going through, and practical ways to alleviate that queasy feeling. Whether this is your first time experiencing the symptoms of pregnancy or if you have already felt it a couple of times, these insights will definitely help you find support. Understanding Pregnancy Nausea: What's Happening in Your Body? For many women, pregnancy nausea - more commonly known as morning sickness - strikes during the first trimester, sometimes as soon as the sixth week of pregnancy. While it's mostly harmless, being aware of what's happening in your body is pretty empowering and can even spark a possible relief solution. Hormonal Changes: Your body quickly jumps the hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) that nurtures the pregnancy in the early stages. This sudden spurt of hCG is commonly linked with nausea because your body needs to adjust to this hormonal balance. This hormonal imbalance can disrupt normal stomach functions and churn out those wicked feelings of nausea and morning sickness. Sensitive Stomach: As your body diverts more of its energy towards the growth of the fetus, your digestive system becomes very sensitive. This sensitivity may lead to slowed digestion or cause one to feel bloated or gassy, leading to indigestion, which can trigger nausea. Heightened Sense of Smell: Pregnancy heightens many senses, including smell. This increase in olfactory sensitivity can trigger nausea when strong or offensive odors are encountered. For some women, even previously tolerable scents become overwhelming during pregnancy. Fatigue and Stress: Fatigue is one of the most prominent causes of pregnancy nausea and morning sickness. Since your body is working constantly to provide for you and your baby, there is added energy expenditure, which may cause more fatigue. Besides physical fatigue, stress also intensifies the unpleasant feeling associated with nausea. Five Unexpected Hacks That Can Help You Find Relief While most folklore remedies and tips for pregnancy nausea and morning sickness involve the classic rest and hydration, some lesser-known tricks can still provide surprisingly good relief. Let's discuss the five tips for managing morning sickness: Acupressure Bands: A Gentle, Non-Invasive Solution Acupressure bands are wristbands that apply gentle pressure to certain points of your wrists, the "Neiguan" point in particular, which is associated with nausea symptom relief. This non-invasive technique offers an easy-to-use, natural approach that fits in well with the holistic preferences of most expectant mothers. How It Works: Acupressure involves certain points that smooth or enhance the flow of energy, or "Qi," in the body. By stimulating these points, acupressure can help alleviate nausea. Why It's Effective: Numerous studies have supported the use of acupressure for pregnancy nausea relief. The constant, gentle pressure from these bands works subtly throughout the day, offering ongoing support for expectant mothers who may feel queasy without warning. Aromatherapy: Scents That Soothe Essential oils like peppermint, ginger, and lemon can help soothe nausea. Incorporating these oils into your daily routine through diffusers or topical applications can significantly affect how you feel. Aromatherapy is an easy-to-implement, natural option that many pregnant women find soothing. How It Works: Aromatherapy uses concentrated plant extracts to stimulate your senses and calm the body. Scents like mint for nausea work directly on your nervous system, helping to regulate nausea triggers. Why It's Effective: Aromatherapy for morning sickness is popular because of its calming effect on the mind and body. These pleasant smells can counteract some of the unpleasant odors that trigger nausea, offering an easy, safe way to control queasiness. Small, Frequent Meals: Keeping Your Blood Sugar Stable Maintaining relatively stable blood sugar levels is one of the best ways to prevent excessive nausea when pregnant. Large meals can be overwhelming to your sensitive system, while small, frequent meals can satisfy your stomach without overloading it. How It Works: Eating small portions throughout the day keeps your digestive system running smoothly, without blood sugar spiking and then crashing, which can trigger nausea. Why It's Effective: Keeping your blood sugar levels stable can prevent nausea from creeping in, particularly in the morning. It also prevents hunger from exacerbating your nausea, making this an easy daily habit to adopt. Hydration: The Right Way to Stay Hydrated Hydration is crucial during pregnancy, but too much water at once can upset your stomach. Instead of gulping large quantities of water, drink it slowly over an extended period. Adding a slice of ginger or lemon can also help, offering both flavor and nausea relief. How It Works: Drinking fluids slowly and steadily will help keep your stomach from becoming overwhelmed and may prevent that sloshy feeling associated with nausea. Why It's Effective: Hydration is essential for overall health, but it certainly plays an extra sensitive role during pregnancy. Taking small sips of water or herbal teas can be an easy hydration tip for controlling nausea. Low-sugar electrolyte drinks can help you rehydrate if you are experiencing nausea and vomiting. Mindful Breathing: Calm Your Body and Mind Pregnancy can be a stressful time, and anxiety can make nausea worse. Mindful breathing exercises will not only reduce stress in you but also help relax your body, which might alleviate nausea. Slow, deep breathing can help regulate blood oxygen and calm an upset stomach. How It Works: Focusing on your breath allows your body to relax and reduces tension, which can lessen the intensity of nausea. Why It's Effective: When stress contributes to nausea, mindful breathing can be a powerful tool for resetting your nervous system and regaining control. This simple yet effective technique is a great addition to your toolkit for managing pregnancy nausea relief. Stomach Settle®: Your Trusted Companion for Pregnancy Nausea Relief While these five hacks can provide significant relief, sometimes you need an extra helping hand to manage pregnancy nausea. That's where UpSpring's Stomach Settle® comes in—a natural, safe, and easy-to-use remedy for those moments when nausea sneaks up on you. Why Stomach Settle®? Whether it's morning sickness, motion sickness, or just plain old digestive discomfort, UpSpring Stomach Settle offers a variety of solutions for expectant mothers. Naturally Sourced Ingredients: The core ingredients—ginger, spearmint, and lemon—are well-known for their digestive benefits. Ginger has been used for years to fight nausea, while spearmint provides a cooling feel that will soothe the stomach after an upset. Fresh, zesty lemons would help tackle nausea triggers, and vitamin B6 can also be taken as a supplement to ease nausea relief during pregnancy. On-the-Go Convenience: One of Stomach Settle's most convenient features is its mobility. It fits in your bag conveniently, and it's easy to control and prevent nausea when you are out. You're sure to have relief within your reach regardless of the place—the office, errands, or a bit of family time with others. Fast-Acting Relief: Unlike other remedies that take time to show results, Stomach Settle® drops offer fast-acting support. Combined with a healthy, balanced diet and lifestyle, they can help control symptoms and make daily activities more comfortable. What are Stomach Settle® Drops? Stomach Settle Drops by UpSpring serves as an organic aid to diminish the feeling of nausea and digestion, which is perfect for pregnant women. With three different varieties, you can find one that fits your needs: Stomach Settle® Drops: This unique blend of ginger, spearmint, lemon, and vitamin B6 provides broad nausea relief during pregnancy. Stomach Settle® Nausea Relief Drops - Mint: With a refreshing mint flavor, these drops are a soothing option for nausea and motion sickness. Stomach Settle® Morning Sickness Nausea Relief Drops: These drops are designed to help alleviate morning sickness and reduce nausea during pregnancy. Final Takeaway Pregnancy nausea may feel inevitable, but with a few mindful adjustments and the right tools in your kit, relief is within reach. The hacks we've explored—acupressure, aromatherapy, small meals, hydration, and mindful breathing—offer natural, accessible ways to manage pregnancy nausea symptoms and maintain your well-being. When paired with safe, effective options like UpSpring's Stomach Settle®, you can approach each day with more confidence, knowing that you have multiple strategies for feeling better. Ready to take control of your nausea? Explore UpSpring's full range of Stomach Settle® products and find the solution that works for you.