A pregnancy brings about significant changes in a woman’s body. Nausea, vomiting, acid reflux, constipation … we seem to get it all! But all these conditions can be avoided, or at least limited, with a diet adapted to pregnancy as well as a few tips which will help other pregnancy ailments.

Why do we suffer from morning sickness during pregnancy?

“Help me!! I’ve wanted to vomit for weeks now, I can’t take it anymore! “. Well, you are not the only one, only 25% of women seem to get away from it during their pregnancy.

But what are the causes of nausea? This is not so easy to understand … The truth is, we still really don’t know where morning sickness comes from. However, we do know that is very likely to be related to pregnancy hormones. The increase in their concentration, and in particular that of oestrogen and the infamous gonadotropin (HCG), can lead to disturbances in transit. Not only will you say hello to morning sickness and vomiting, but also acid reflux and constipation. To make matters worse, stress and fatigue are also common when nausea strikes as it makes your body more sensitive to changes.

Bear in mind too that your uterus ends up taking up space too, and as a result, disrupts the proper functioning of your digestive system.

When does morning sickness begin in pregnant women?

Nausea usually occurs during the first trimester of pregnancy. It is rare that it continues any longer than this, but it can…! For other conditions like constipation, it is not uncommon for you to suffer from this throughout your pregnancy.

For most mothers-to-be, nausea is felt strongest in the morning, upon waking up as blood sugar (glucose levels in your blood system) are low, but beware, it can strike at any moment in the day, and that’s where it gets complicated!

In addition to causing daily comfort, nausea associated with vomiting can end up causing a loss of vitamins and minerals, as well as dehydration.

It is therefore essential to be on the right pregnancy diet. For this, you should consult our team of qualified dietitian-nutritionists who will adapt a diet to your baby,’s development and take care of possible nausea, vomiting, gastro reflux and slow transit. Under our pregnancy program, our balanced and bespoke menus look after all the needs and ailments associated with pregnant woman, finally relieving them of the ultimate weight (excuse the pun!).

How to avoid morning sickness?

Obviously, as the saying goes, “prevention is better than cure”. With that in mind, here’s a look at how to alleviate morning sickness, even when your hormones are uncontrollable, as they often are at this time in your life.

Firstly, some rules relating to food:

• avoid meals that are rich in fat and therefore difficult and long to digest
• avoid overly spicy meals which can be aggressive on your stomach
• avoid overly odorous meals which will affect your heightened sense of smell
• nibble 2-3 crackers before getting up to avoid morning sickness and dizziness

How to treat nausea in pregnant women

Well, it’s too late … bim bam boom,  morning sickness is upon you and it could be around for the whole day….

So, what’s the best way to deal with it? Our star ally is … GINGER. Fresh, candied, powdered, however you like it, go ahead and treat yourself! You can also consume it as an infusion or as a cold drink, which will also help you avoid getting dehydrated if you are suffering from vomiting.

Lemon can also relieve you, in the form of juice or in a glass of water or as a hot drink. Mix it with ginger for an even more ‘wow’ effect with recipes adapted to pregnancy. Finally, split your daily meals up into smaller meals eating regularly throughout the day. This will prevent your stomach from being overloaded, and above all, you will avoid having an empty stomach! And yes, it’s actually often when you forget to eat that you suffer most from nausea.

And how to fight against constipation?

Because yes, it’s fine to talk about nausea, but the fight against constipation is also another unwanted factor during pregnancy.

Once again, our strongest piece of advice is to drink plenty of water! This is the most basic action to take when one is constipated. In addition, we advise you to consume more fibre: whole grains, vegetables, fruits, legumes, etc.

If you can stomach it, we also recommend you take a teaspoon of oil each morning to help lubricate the alimentary bolus.

Finally, a very simple tip: raise the height of your feet with a small step when you sit on the toilet! In a few years time, that step can be used by your little one to reach the sink so if you don’t have one already, buy one now!