Tend and Befriend
Tend & Befriend – The Podcast for Pregnancy, Birth & Beyond
Hosted by Deborah the Doula, a birth professional with over 20 years of experience, Tend & Befriend is your go-to source for evidence-based insights, real birth stories, and expert advice. After two decades in the birth world, I’ve learned a thing or two—and I want to make sure you have access to that knowledge.
Join me as we dive into the topics that matter most during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. Whether you're preparing for labor, navigating new motherhood, or reflecting on your own birth journey, you'll find support, wisdom, and connection in every episode.
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Tend and Befriend
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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I hope to talk to you soon!!
Hey Mamas, you're listening to Tend and Befriend, a podcast about women's mental and physical health. This is Debra. I'm a mom of two, a labor and birth coach and birth advocate, a health professional, and today I'm your host. Let's dive into today's episode. Let's dive into today's episode. Any information you hear or that is suggested or recommended on these episodes is not medical advice.
Speaker 1:Today's episode is all about something so many expecting moms experience morning sickness. Despite the name, it's not limited to mornings and for some it can feel like all day sickness. But don't worry, I've got you covered. I'll share some evidence-based hacks that have worked for moms across Canada and beyond and here in my clinic, and I'll also tell you about some handy products that can help. Before we dive into the hacks, let's quickly touch on what causes morning sickness. It's believed to be linked to the hormonal changes of pregnancy, particularly the rise in HCG and estrogen. While it typically peaks between weeks 6 and 12 of pregnancy and resolves by the second trimester, some moms experience symptoms for much longer. I was one of those moms, every single day until giving birth.
Speaker 1:Research from the Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada shows that nausea and vomiting in pregnancy affect up to 80% of pregnancies and for most it's mild and manageable. But in severe cases, known as hyperemesis gravidarum, it may require medical intervention. If you're struggling to keep any food or fluids down, please reach out to your healthcare provider. Now let's get into the practical stuff. A lot of research suggests that an empty stomach can worsen the nausea. So try keeping crackers, pretzels or plain biscuits at your bedside or with you at all times and start your day by eating a small amount before getting out of bed in the morning, and instead of three large meals, aim for five to six small meals throughout the day. Eat foods high in protein and complex carbohydrates like nuts, whole grain toast or cheese. These can help stabilize blood sugar levels and reduce nausea.
Speaker 1:Ginger is showing up in multiple studies to significantly reduce nausea in pregnancy. You can try ginger tea, ginger candies or even ginger capsules. You can also buy just real ginger and grind it up or shave it up and put it in water and drink it throughout the day. Evidence from Canadian guidelines supports the use of vitamin B6 for mild to moderate morning sickness. The typical dose is 10 to 25 milligrams every eight hours, but always consult with your health care provider before starting any supplements. There are wristbands that stimulate the P6 pressure point, like those used for motion sickness. They can also help with nausea during 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 skin and just push that pressure point without wearing a wristband.
Speaker 1:Dehydration can worsen nausea, so make sure that you're sipping on water, herbal teas or electrolyte drinks throughout the day, even if you don't want to. I know it's really hard to drink anything when you're so nauseous, but it is important. Some moms find that adding a slice of lemon or cucumber to the water makes it more palatable. You can also do strawberries or any kind of fruit. Strong smells in certain foods can make nausea worse. If cooking odors are a problem, consider preparing meals in advance or relying on cold foods like sandwiches or salads that don't require cooking.
Speaker 1:I know how important it can be to find the right products when you're feeling unwell. I have created a list of morning sickness essentials and 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 important disclaimer. As an Amazon affiliate. I earn a small commission if you purchase those products through my links, but it doesn't change the price for you. These commissions help support my podcast and I only recommend products I truly believe in and trust. You can find the links on our website and we have included them below in our show notes.
Speaker 1:Before we wrap up, I want to remind you that if morning sickness is severe, if you're unable to keep food down or liquids down, you're losing weight or you're feeling dizzy or faint, it's imperative to seek medical attention. Hyperemesis gravidarum can be serious and there are safe treatment options available to help you and your baby stay healthy. One of the medical things that they do is they give you an IV of fluids, which can really really 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 with all of the resources that we can. So I hope that these tips can help you feel a little more supported. If you enjoyed this podcast, please share it with a friend or leave a review. It will help more moms find the podcast. Until next time, take care and keep tending to yourself and those you love. Let's talk soon. Talk to you soon. Okay, let's talk soon.
