Grow your Baby Not Your Weight |National Safe Motherhood Day

Durga Shakti Nagpal talks about ‘Morning Sickness’

The path of motherhood is often forged with sacrifices and bidding adieu to your individuality and career. However, Durga Shakti Nagpal, a celebrated IAS officer from the Uttar Pradesh cadre, has cracked the code for the perfect pregnancy. From holistic wellness, fitness, nutrition to several other life issues, Durga Shakti has re-defined the tropes of motherhood with her epiphanic writing. Subjects like post-partum blues, pregnancy-related myths and beliefs, and the family’s active involvement during and after pregnancy, make this book one-of-a-kind. Here she talks about her journey with Morning Sickness.

The term morning sickness is slightly misleading. The fact is, nausea and dizziness may continue intermittently throughout the day. It could even be triggered by certain smells, including the aroma of food that once used to be your favourite. The age-old lemon and honey in warm water, first thing in the morning, did wonders to soothe my nausea. The smell of lemon was an added benefit—the citrusy scent helped with the overall queasiness in my oestrogen-fueled body. Another fun trick that helped me during this time was tracking my nausea clock. For most pregnant women, there are certain times of the day, or even during the morning, when nausea hits with full force. But it can help to beat morning sickness at its own game. I quickly noticed that I tended to feel the worst when I woke up, at around 6 am. I had to rush to the bathroom immediately and began my days with a rancid taste in my mouth. I resolved to try waking up a little earlier the next day. Immediately after leaving the bed, I got myself out of the house for a quick stroll. The cool morning breeze felt heavenly on my face. The fresh air made me feel energized and ready to tackle the day ahead. I came back home after a leisurely walk of thirty minutes, and just as I had expected, I did not feel at all nauseous. The train of morning sickness had missed its station and decided to leave me behind that day. 

Walking also solved the problem of working out. During the first trimester of pregnancy, doctors advise against all forms of exercise, even mild ones like yoga. But walking is a good alternative that remains a safe option throughout pregnancy.

I enjoyed my morning walk immensely, and it took me no time at all to make this a daily habit, one that I have continued long after my pregnancy was over. Looking back, I sometimes wonder whether morning sickness had really been a blessing in disguise, allowing me to incorporate a healthy, lifelong habit. Since my childhood, my father has often quoted a German philosopher who said that ‘if you keep walking, everything will be alright.’ Meaning that all your problems would be resolved. I had agreed with his philosophical message before, but now I could appreciate its value in literal terms.I also made it a point to keep drinking water throughout the day. Hydration is vital at any given point of time, but its importance cannot be overstated during pregnancy. Water keeps nausea at bay and helps beat sleepiness and even exhaustion. Just remember, almost two-thirds of your body consists of water, and now that your body is working so much harder to create another human, keeping the water levels replenished is your supreme duty. It is the fuel, together with oxygen and food, which keep you running and your baby growing. Fruits as snacks help mitigate nausea too. My personal favourite is the banana—rich in potassium, fiber, and antioxidants, it is as tasty as it is nutritious. If you tire of eating fruit by itself, a quick dash of rock salt and a spritz of lemon can transform most humble fruits into a gourmet meal. You want to keep your meals small but frequent. A stomach filled to its brim is not your friend. In fact, I started to eat slightly less than I usually did, just to be on the safe side. Frequent, light meals chewed slowly into its most digestible form help keep your stomach happy. Ensure that the gaps in between meals don’t stretch too long, though, otherwise the acids in your stomach will go to work on the lining itself, causing you to make a beeline for the loo. And finally, don’t forget to talk to your mother. I was truly fortunate to have my mother’s Ma ke Nuskhe while dealing with pregnancy. My mother insisted that I have chaach with chia seeds. I was uncertain about this combination, until a sip left me smacking my lips and then craving more. This light curd and water drink works wonders for cooling the stomach, and the chia seeds provide the much-required fiber to help with digestion, because lest you forget, constipation is another of your lovely companions at this time!

As I adjusted to all the changes happening in my body, and consequently, to my life, I made it a priority to keep a positive outlook. Every time I felt anxiety or doubt creeping up on me, I reminded myself of the primary reason for experiencing everything that I was: I was making a baby, and I would do whatever it took to keep my child healthy and fit.