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How Do I Relieve Night Nausea?

B. Miller
B. Miller

Night nausea can be frustrating and disruptive of sleep. It is fairly common during pregnancy, however, and may occur due to other medical reasons or as a side-effect of medication. If it is due to a change in medication or a certain medical condition, asking a doctor for help or advice might be the best course of action. Otherwise, there are some steps you can take to relieve night nausea, such as by eating a small snack before bedtime and keeping a glass of fruit juice or even some ginger ale next to the bed. Some people also find that wristbands that target pressure points are very helpful for preventing nausea all day and night.

The first step to relieving night nausea is to make sure you actually have food in your stomach. Though it may seem counterintuitive, an empty stomach can actually make you feel sick, especially during pregnancy. Eating a small snack 45 minutes to an hour before bed, so it has a bit of time to digest to avoid heartburn, can be a great way to keep the blood sugar stable throughout the night and prevent nausea. Waking up and having a few crackers or pretzels before getting out of bed can then help to prevent morning nausea as well. Eating small meals throughout the day is also helpful.

Pregnant women commonly experience night nausea.
Pregnant women commonly experience night nausea.

Experts generally recommend eating a snack that has some protein, and will take some time to digest before going to bed. Some cheese or whole wheat crackers with peanut butter can be a good bedtime snack. Certain fruits also digest slowly, such as bananas and apples, and can be a good idea before bed. It is important to drink enough liquids to stay hydrated as well. A glass of water by the side of the bed is your best bet, but if this is too hard on your stomach, some fruit juice or a bit of ginger ale can be very helpful if you wake up with night nausea.

Night nausea may be a side effect of certain medications.
Night nausea may be a side effect of certain medications.

Other options for relieving night nausea might include sucking on a piece of hard candy or mints, which can boost the blood sugar a bit and settle the stomach. Some people find that wrist bands targeting pressure points are a solution. If the night nausea becomes extreme, a doctor may be able to prescribe medication to deal with it safely. Don't just suffer with night nausea thinking there isn't a solution; there are plenty of things to try that can help.

Discussion Comments

mrwormy

My wife had a lot of nausea at night during her pregnancy. We tried a lot of the home remedies, like eating a snack before bedtime and keeping the room cooler at night. I think she finally got some relief when she changed her sleep schedule and didn't try to sleep until her stomach felt settled.

Inaventu

I used to wake up with nausea every night, so I started taking over-the-counter acid reducers for relief. Sometimes they'd work, but sometimes not. I'd still get night sweats and nausea. One thing I found that works is to change sleeping positions. I ordinarily sleep on my stomach, but I found that sleeping on my back would ease my nausea and bloating.

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    • Pregnant women commonly experience night nausea.
      By: hartphotography
      Pregnant women commonly experience night nausea.
    • Night nausea may be a side effect of certain medications.
      By: Alliance
      Night nausea may be a side effect of certain medications.
    • Eating a snack before bedtime may help prevent night nausea.
      By: inesbazdar
      Eating a snack before bedtime may help prevent night nausea.
    • Drinking a glass of ginger ale may help relieve night nausea.
      By: Brent Hofacker
      Drinking a glass of ginger ale may help relieve night nausea.
    • Night nausea can be a side effect of some medicines.
      By: ftlaudgirl
      Night nausea can be a side effect of some medicines.
    • Sucking on ice chips prior to bed time can help with night nausea.
      By: Silkstock
      Sucking on ice chips prior to bed time can help with night nausea.