Your Empty Stomach Is Making Morning Sickness Worse

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Pregnancy should be a time of joy and anticipation, but for the 80% of expectant mothers who experience morning sickness, it can feel like an endless battle against nausea and discomfort. What if small, strategic changes to your daily routine could make those symptoms more manageable?

Drawing on evidence from the Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada, I break down exactly why your body rebels against you during those early weeks (spoiler alert: blame those skyrocketing HCG and estrogen levels). While most women see relief by their second trimester, some—myself included—fight nausea until delivery day. The good news? You're not powerless against it.

Discover why an empty stomach might be your worst enemy and how keeping crackers on your nightstand could transform your mornings. Learn about the scientifically-backed power of ginger, the surprising effectiveness of the P6 pressure point, and why Canadian guidelines specifically recommend vitamin B6 supplementation. We explore practical strategies from hydration techniques to smell management that have helped countless moms in my birth coaching practice.

For those experiencing severe symptoms, I also address when it's time to seek medical help for hyperemesis gravidarum and what treatments might be available. Remember that your body is doing incredible work growing a new life—and with these evidence-based approaches, you can support that journey with less discomfort. Ready to reclaim some comfort during your pregnancy? Let's tackle morning sickness together.

🔗 Resources & Mentions:

Nausea Support

Preggie Pops
https://amzn.to/3YDb9LI

GinGins
https://amzn.to/3C0xmui

Peppermint Tea
https://amzn.to/3Ynsqr2

Motion Sickness Wrist Bands
https://amzn.to/4eY3nSv

Amazon Affiliate Disclaimer:
Some of the links shared in this episode may be affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases—at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products I truly love and trust. Thank you for supporting the podcast and the work I do for families like yours!

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:06):
Hey Mamas, you're listening to Tend and Befriend,
a podcast about women's mentaland physical health.
This is Debra.
I'm a mom of two, a labor andbirth coach and birth advocate,
a health professional, and todayI'm your host.
Let's dive into today's episode.
Let's dive into today's episode.

(00:29):
Any information you hear orthat is suggested or recommended
on these episodes is notmedical advice.
Today's episode is all aboutsomething so many expecting moms
experience morning sickness.
Despite the name, it's notlimited to mornings and for some
it can feel like all daysickness.
But don't worry, I've got youcovered.
I'll share some evidence-basedhacks that have worked for moms

(00:53):
across Canada and beyond andhere in my clinic, and I'll also
tell you about some handyproducts that can help.
Before we dive into the hacks,let's quickly touch on what
causes morning sickness.
It's believed to be linked tothe hormonal changes of
pregnancy, particularly the risein HCG and estrogen.

(01:13):
While it typically peaksbetween weeks 6 and 12 of
pregnancy and resolves by thesecond trimester, some moms
experience symptoms for muchlonger.
I was one of those moms, everysingle day until giving birth.
Research from the Society ofObstetricians and Gynecologists
of Canada shows that nausea andvomiting in pregnancy affect up

(01:36):
to 80% of pregnancies and formost it's mild and manageable.
But in severe cases, known ashyperemesis gravidarum, it may
require medical intervention.
If you're struggling to keepany food or fluids down, please
reach out to your healthcareprovider.
Now let's get into thepractical stuff.
A lot of research suggests thatan empty stomach can worsen the

(01:59):
nausea.
So try keeping crackers,pretzels or plain biscuits at
your bedside or with you at alltimes and start your day by
eating a small amount beforegetting out of bed in the
morning, and instead of threelarge meals, aim for five to six
small meals throughout the day.
Eat foods high in protein andcomplex carbohydrates like nuts,

(02:19):
whole grain toast or cheese.
These can help stabilize bloodsugar levels and reduce nausea.
Ginger is showing up in multiplestudies to significantly reduce
nausea in pregnancy.
You can try ginger tea, gingercandies or even ginger capsules.
You can also buy just realginger and grind it up or shave

(02:44):
it up and put it in water anddrink it throughout the day.
Evidence from Canadianguidelines supports the use of
vitamin B6 for mild to moderatemorning sickness.
The typical dose is 10 to 25milligrams every eight hours,
but always consult with yourhealth care provider before
starting any supplements.
There are wristbands thatstimulate the P6 pressure point,

(03:05):
like those used for motionsickness.
They can also help with nauseaduring pregnancy.
They're non-invasive,affordable and easy to find.
Also, that P6 pressure point,you can just buy ear seeds and
stick it right onto your skinand just push that pressure
point without wearing awristband.

(03:25):
Dehydration can worsen nausea,so make sure that you're sipping
on water, herbal teas orelectrolyte drinks throughout
the day, even if you don't wantto.
I know it's really hard todrink anything when you're so
nauseous, but it is important.
Some moms find that adding aslice of lemon or cucumber to
the water makes it morepalatable.
You can also do strawberries orany kind of fruit.

(03:48):
Strong smells in certain foodscan make nausea worse.
If cooking odors are a problem,consider preparing meals in
advance or relying on cold foodslike sandwiches or salads that
don't require cooking.
I know how important it can beto find the right products when
you're feeling unwell.
I have created a list ofmorning sickness essentials and

(04:09):
it's on my Amazon affiliate page.
Those include ginger teas,wristbands and other helpful
items that I've mentioned today,and there is also going to be a
link in the show notes.
So here's an importantdisclaimer.
As an Amazon affiliate.
I earn a small commission ifyou purchase those products
through my links, but it doesn'tchange the price for you.
These commissions help supportmy podcast and I only recommend

(04:31):
products I truly believe in andtrust.
You can find the links on ourwebsite and we have included
them below in our show notes.
Before we wrap up, I want toremind you that if morning
sickness is severe, if you'reunable to keep food down or
liquids down, you're losingweight or you're feeling dizzy
or faint, it's imperative toseek medical attention.
Hyperemesis gravidarum can beserious and there are safe

(04:56):
treatment options available tohelp you and your baby stay
healthy.
One of the medical things thatthey do is they give you an IV
of fluids, which can reallyreally help you feel a lot
better.
Morning sickness can be tough,but your body is busy.
It's doing incredible work.
It's growing a new life.
We need to support that withall of the resources that we can
.
So I hope that these tips canhelp you feel a little more

(05:16):
supported.
If you enjoyed this podcast,please share it with a friend or
leave a review.
It will help more moms find thepodcast.
Until next time, take care andkeep tending to yourself and
those you love.
Let's talk soon.
Talk to you soon.
Okay, let's talk soon.