My first trimester symptoms are long way gone by now. I am currently in the middle of the happy second trimester. Though, I didn’t have the whole vomiting all-day morning sickness in my first trimester, I did have a tough two weeks during my 6weeks to 8 weeks pregnancy when I have strong food aversions, persistent tiredness & lethargy, extreme sleepiness and intermittent nausea. I know I shouldn’t be complaining since I just had it for only  two weeks  (with occasional recurrence of symptoms a few times during the first trimester). But tell you, for me, it was tough and wondered how I can function if these persist throughout my pregnancy. Now I appreciated my mother and all the mothers for what they have to bear for all of us. Its not only the delivery, you guys, that is hard, the whole 9 months has all its challenges and surprises. So for all those in their first trimester, I feel for you and I empathise.

Morning sickness is definitely a misnomer because it doesn’t occur only in the morning. They strike anytime of the day or even all day. They should have called it, “all-day sickness“. Blame the hormone progesterone for all these symptoms but then again progesterone is a hormone that allows your body to create a good environment for your womb to carry a baby. During these times, your body works extra hard to create a placenta that allows to nourish the baby with nutrients and allow proper elimination of toxic waste. Jenny McCarthy, sexy funny comedian, compares in her book, Belly Laughs:The Naked Truth About Pregnancy and Childbirth First Trimester to ‘staying up all night, then running a marathon, then doing 300 loads of laundry and raking leaves off a football field all in one day‘. I couldn’t agree more, Jenny.

Here are some tips that may help you in elevate some of the symptoms of morning sickness.

1.  AVOID GREASY FATTY FOODS

2. STOCK UP ON SOME SALTINE CRACKERS AND POTATO CHIPS (Yes, you heard me, potato chips. An American OB-GYNE said so but in moderation of course)

3. TAKE GINGER TEA IN THE MORNING OR GINGER CANDIES THROUGHOUT THE DAY

4. TAKE SMALL FREQUENT MEALS INSTEAD OF THREE BIG MEALS

5. EAT SLOWLY

6. AVOID OFFENDING FOODS OR SMELLY FOODS

7. DON”T DRINK WATER WHILE EATING. ONLY DRINK AFTER YOU ARE DONE EATING.

8. USE PSI  BANDS (MORNING-SICKNESS BANDS) OR MASSAGE BOTH INNER SIDES OF WRIST TO LESSEN SYMPTOMS

9. TURN OFF THE TV, STAY AWAY FROM THE COMPUTER SCREEN AND PUT DOWN YOUR SMART PHONE

10. TALK A WALK. FRESH AIR WILL DO YOU A LOT OF GOOD.

11. DON’T STAY IN BED ALL DAY

12. DON’T DO ANY “DOWNWARD DOG” YOGA ASANAS FOR THE MOMENT OR ANY YOGA POSES THAT REQUIRES YOUR HEAD TO BE UPSIDE DOWN.

13. KEEP HYDRATED. DRINK TONS OF H2O.

14. TALK TO A FRIEND. IT WOULD BE NICE IF IT IS ALSO A PREGNANT FRIEND.

15. DISTRACT SELF BY HAVING QUIET NIGHTS WITH HUBBY TALKING ABOUT BABY NAMES AND PLANS FOR YOUR BABY

16. KNOW THAT ALL OF THESE ARE WORTH IT FOR OUR PRECIOUS ANGELS.

Hang in tight, girlies! Pregnancy is a different, fun and exciting journey…. You’ll get passed the first trimester and you’ll say, “Heck, I can do this!”