Relief for Morning Sickness? Pregnant Moms May Try Sour Candies

Need relief for morning sickness? You're not alone! Around 70 to 80 percent of pregnant moms experience nausea or vomiting and some manage this by having sour candies stashed away in case of an episode.

Morning sickness happens during the first 12 weeks of the pregnancy because a pregnant woman's body is changing and increasing its hormone production. While it can be the most unenjoyable for some moms, there are many ways to manage the discomfort of morning sickness.

Dr. Idries Abdur-Rahman said in an interview with Romper that sour candies are safe and effective at reducing symptoms of morning sickness. These candies, as well as those flavored with lime or lemon, may increase saliva production in the mouth that curbs the urge to vomit. Dr. Kerry-Anne Perkins also explained that the acidity of sour-tasting food in the mouth may help with digestion that will fight nausea.

Risks of Eating Sour Candy While Pregnant

The experts, however, advised pregnant moms to eat sour candy in moderation since it's still filled with sugar. For moms with risks of gestational diabetes, Bumpboxes suggested an alternative sour candy variant that contains a fraction of sugar.

Pregnant women should target an ideal blood sugar level of 95 mg/dL or less before a meal and 140 mg/dL or less after a meal. If these levels are elevated moms should need to get tested for gestational diabetes as soon as possible to manage the condition and reduce their risks during the pregnancy.

Midwife Jessica Costa, on the other hand, suggested healthier options as relief for morning sickness if candies are off the list. Mothers may enjoy slices of oranges, lemons or pineapple instead. Basically, any fruit that has citric acid will help ease the feeling of nausea and aid in digestion as well. Citrus fruits are also full of vitamin C which will benefit the growing baby inside the mother's womb. It will make the baby's bones stronger and develop properly.

For some variety, doctors also recommend ginger candies, ginger water or ginger juice. Many moms swear by this basic kitchen ingredient to quell the upset stomach.

More Relief for Morning Sickness

Aside from eating, however, moms may also have more relief from morning sickness if they take B6 supplements, which have pyridoxine. According to the American Family Physician, supplements containing pyridoxine and doxylamine are commonly prescribed for morning sickness but it's up to the mom's doctor to determine the frequency of the intake.

Moms may also try aromatherapy for relief. Taking a whiff of essential oil citrus scents may be just as helpful as sucking on the candies. It could also help to drink peppermint or spearmint tea, which will also increase daily fluid intake.

There is no one-size-fits-all treatment for morning sickness and every pregnancy will also be different. For as long as the mom does not have severe morning sickness, or hyperemesis gravidarum, she can look forward to more pregnancy milestones until the birth of the baby.