What herbal teas can I take to reduce stomach aches and nausea (I am less than one trimester pregnant)?

Hello Mrs., congratulations on your pregnancy!

You were right to ask for advice, as many teas and herbal teas are not recommended during pregnancy. As an indication, Health Canada suggests 6 safe herbal teas to be consumed no more than 2-3 times a day, such as citrus or orange peel, ginger, lemon balm, rosehip or linden blossom (except for women with heart problems). For more information, you can also visit the Naitre et Grandir website; https://naitreetgrandir.com/fr/grossesse/sante-bien-etre/grossesse-cafe-the-tisane/#_Toc32395090.

Ginger is said to have a calming effect on the stomach and may decrease nausea in some people. The recommended dose to achieve this effectiveness is to take 250mg capsules 4 times a day. Unfortunately, it is difficult to predict the effectiveness of taking ginger since the quality of the products can change depending on the manufacturer. This makes it equally difficult to predict the effectiveness of a fresh grated ginger infusion, due to lack of precision on dosage.

So, I would like to offer you some effective and safe solutions for your pregnancy. First of all, in order to better advise you, have you ever tried anything to relieve your nausea and reflux?

Heartburn, acid reflux, and nausea are common things in pregnancy. In general, it is suggested to eat light meals more frequently (instead of 3 large meals a day), avoid spicy, acidic, fatty foods, caffeine or eating/drinking 3 hours before bedtime. It is however advised to raise the head of your bed by 15cm (not only with the addition of a pillow, as this will not be effective enough). This should reduce the reflux. Otherwise, if your reflux persists, you can also try taking antacids (Tums, Maalox, Gaviscon), again depending on your pharmacist's assessment of the safety of these medications with your health conditions and medication intake.

As for nausea, the most recommended anti-nausea medication for pregnant women is Diclectin. It can be prescribed by your pharmacist under certain conditions, including if you are 12 weeks or less pregnant. Otherwise, your doctor may prescribe it.

Note that if you are having trouble eating, losing weight, and are experiencing symptoms of dehydration (concentrated urine, fatigue, dizziness), it is recommended that you see your doctor.

I hope I have answered your question.

Maeva Di-Re, Pharmacy Student

Supervised by Alexandre Chagnon, Pharmacist