My niece phoned me last week for some advice. You see, she’s pregnant for the first time, and she’s feeling a little bit rough. She’s eleven weeks along and is feeling not only exhausted but quite nauseous. She’s finding that she can’t stomach the foods she used to love, and when she’s not eating regularly, she feels more nauseous. It’s a bit of a vicious cycle.
No matter how long ago it was, we all remember our first pregnancies in vivid detail. I definitely remember the excitement, nervousness, wide-ranging emotions and wildly-raging hormones! I also remember feeling like I was nursing a three-month-long hangover. Blech.
So what did I tell her? First of all, I told her to make sure she’s getting enough rest. And then I told her to get even more sleep! Secondly, I told her to eat frequently, but to stick to stuff that she knows won’t upset her tummy, and don’t eat much at any one time. Finally, I gave her my recipes for teas that will help soothe her upset stomach and help relieve her nausea:
GINGER TEA
- 4 cups of boiling water.
- 5 cm piece of fresh ginger, grated or sliced.
Place the ginger in the boiling water in a saucepan on the stove. Cover it and reduce to a simmer for 15-20 minutes. Strain the tea before drinking. Add honey and lemon to taste.
PEPPERMINT TEA
- 1 ounce fresh peppermint leaves
- 2 cups boiling water
Place the tea in the boiling water in a saucepan on the stove. Cover and reduce to a simmer for 15-20 minutes. Strain before drinking. Add honey and lemon to taste.
I had the prescription Diclectin, a combination of Vitamin B6 and antihistamine and it ended all of my morning sickness, and I needed it, I was throwing up until I dry heaved…it was awful.
I couldn’t have survived the first trimester without ginger tea. I swear! Well, that and chocolate milkshakes 😉
I too felt retched throughout my first pregnancy. The ginger tea sounds great! I wish I had an aunt to seek advise from. I know that I had a million questions during my pregnancy. My copy of ‘What to Expect When You’re Expecting’ was my like a bible to me. Having support during your pregnancy is really important; your niece is lucky to have you!