How can I manage morning sickness at home?

The following are safe, proved treatments for morning sickness. Still, few women gain complete relief from morning sickness treatment.

• Acupressure, firmly placed on the P6 point (the inner side of your arm, in line with your middle finger and one-sixth of the way between your wrist and elbow), relieves nausea for some women.
• Dimenhydrinate is a non-prescription anti-nausea medicine. When taken as your doctor advises, it may relieve morning sickness.
• Ginger, taken regularly as a powder in a capsule, grated fresh into hot water for a tea, or in syrup or crystallized form, may relieve morning sickness after a few days of treatment.^{footnote 1}

Follow these guidelines for minimizing nausea and vomiting during pregnancy.

• Keep food in your stomach but not too much. An empty stomach can make nausea worse. Eat several small meals every day instead of three large meals.
• For morning nausea, eat a small snack (like crackers) before you get out of bed. Allow a few minutes for the snack to digest, then get out of bed slowly.
• Stay hydrated. Drink a lot of fluids. Try a sports hydration drink, as well as water, broth, or juice.
• Avoid smells and foods that make you feel nauseated. Citrus juice, milk, coffee, and caffeinated tea commonly make nausea worse.
• If you are taking iron supplements, ask your doctor if they are necessary. Iron can make nausea worse.
• Get lots of rest. Stress and fatigue can make morning sickness worse.

Contact your doctor immediately if you vomit more than 3 times a day or are unable to take fluids, especially if you also have pain, fever, or both.