by Brenda Moody

Created on: September 26, 2008   Last Updated: February 06, 2011

I was one of the women who didn't glow throughout my pregnancy, at least not that healthy pink glow. If I glowed at all, it was a hue of green. For some women, the first trimester is a blur of queasiness and regular vomiting that feels like an endless flu. If you search for a remedy, chances are good the only safe one you will find is the advice to "eat soda crackers". Don't lose hope, though, there are some ways to help ease your nausea. Understanding why you feel like vomiting will help you get through this phase of your pregnancy.

First, there is some good news about morning sickness. Believe it or not, your nausea is actually a protective reaction from strong hormonal changes. Your body is kicking in hormones that are actually helping you hold on to the pregnancy. Morning sickness is the result of these hormones. The extra mucus and saliva in your mouth and throat contributes to gagging and can result in vomiting. This is especially true when you stimulate mucus by brushing your teeth or eating certain foods. The advice to eat crackers is based on the theory that it help dry the extra saliva. If this doesn't work for you, there are other ways to rid yourself of the mucus. Try blowing your nose before you brush and other times throughout the day to reduce build up. It may sound gross, but spitting out extra saliva during the day will also help. Keep a tissue in your pocket and you can discreetly "wipe" your mouth when you need to.

The second impact of strong hormone change is the increase of your sense of smell. Quite suddenly, you will be aware of how strong odors are. Things that used to smell okay might cause a strong enough reaction that you to vomit when you are pregnant. Almost any scent can trigger it because things do not smell the same as they did before you were pregnant. Your senses are peaked in pregnancy. Perfumes, soaps, certain foods or cleansers are often a problem, but every person is different. If you find certain smells are too much for you, avoid them if possible. And if you can't, try covering your nose. This hyper sensitivity will mellow out in time. Until it does, enlist the support of your family. If they are using a scent you can't tolerate, perhaps they could stop using it in the house. If cleaning agents bother you, try having someone else help out with the cleaning chores for a few months.

Another way to help ease nausea is to wear comfortable, loose clothing. Help yourself feel as relaxed as possible. Stress can also trigger nausea, so if you have a hectic schedule make time for yourself. Try deep breathing techniques, reading and taking warm baths. The nausea and vomiting of early pregnancy will calm down and eventually stop. Until then try ridding extra mucus, strong scents and stress to ease the reactions of your body.

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