Because there are so few medications that can be taken safely during pregnancy, many moms-to-be turn to alternative remedies to ease their suffering. There are actually many natural cures available that can relieve even the most severe complaints.
Morning Sickness
Typically morning sickness only causes trouble the first trimester, but some unlucky moms experience nausea their entire pregnancy. What can you do?
- Cut out excessively fatty and spicy foods.
- Avoid strong odors such as coffee, meat and garlic.
- Eat several small meals instead of three large ones.
- Try acupressure; wear sea bands three-quarters of an inch down your wrist in between tendons.
- Infuse bathwater with grapefruit, orange, mandarin or lime aromatherapy oils.
- Try ginger. If you don't like the taste of it raw, try ginger tea or invest in some all natural ginger ale at your local health food store.
- Take 1.9 mg (micrograms) of vitamin B-6 (Pyridoxine). (Women require 1.6 mg of B-6 daily. However, daily intake of over 250 mg can lead to nerve damage. Pregnant women should not take more than 1.9 mg, and nursing moms should take no more than 2.0 due to harm that pyridoxine can have on the developing fetus. As a water-soluble vitamin, B-6 must be replenished each day. Any B-6 not used is eliminated in urine, thus new sources are always needed.)
