Gentle drinks like water, ginger tea, lemon water, and oral rehydration solutions can ease pregnancy nausea while keeping you hydrated.
Pregnancy nausea can turn a sip of water into hard work. The right drinks often make a real difference, gently soothing your stomach and keeping fluid levels steady when food feels impossible. That alone can lift your day a little.
This guide sets out drinks that help with pregnancy nausea, how to fit them into a typical day, and which drinks to limit.
Mild morning sickness is common, but severe vomiting or weight loss is not something to push through. Groups such as the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists explain that ongoing vomiting and signs of dehydration deserve medical care instead of only home fixes.
Best Drinks To Help With Pregnancy Nausea Relief
Many parents start by asking which drinks that help with pregnancy nausea are both gentle and safe. Most choices fall into a few groups: water and ice, ginger drinks, citrus based drinks, electrolyte drinks, light herbal teas, and simple broth or soups.
A quick check on medical conditions helps here. If you live with diabetes, kidney disease, stomach ulcers, or thyroid problems, ask your own doctor or midwife to check that each drink on your list fits any limits they have given you.
| Drink | How It Helps Nausea | Pregnancy Safety Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Plain water | Prevents dehydration, gentle on the stomach | Sip slowly and often instead of large glasses at once |
| Ice chips or ice water | Cools the mouth and can feel easier than plain water | Use small pieces to avoid sudden cold shocks to the stomach |
| Ginger tea or ginger infused water | Traditional choice that may ease nausea feelings | Limit to moderate amounts and discuss supplements with a clinician |
| Lemon water or lemon slices in water | Fresh scent and sharp taste can cut through queasiness | Rinse your mouth after frequent sips to protect tooth enamel |
| Oral rehydration solution | Replaces salts and fluids lost during vomiting | Follow packet or bottle directions and do not exceed daily limits |
| Electrolyte drinks | Boosts fluid and electrolytes when plain water will not stay down | Pick low sugar options and limit sports drinks with caffeine |
| Light herbal teas such as peppermint or chamomile | Warm drinks can settle the stomach and ease gas | Use herbal teas in moderation and check safety during pregnancy first |
| Clear broths and light soups | Give both fluid and small amounts of nutrients | Watch the salt content if you already have high blood pressure |
Plain Water And Ice Chips
Even when nausea feels strong, steady fluid intake matters. Small sips of water every few minutes are often more comfortable than full glasses. Ice cold water or sucking ice chips can bring quick relief when warm drinks feel heavy.
Ginger Drinks
Ginger has a long history as a nausea remedy. Research summaries and national guidelines mention ginger as one option for mild pregnancy nausea, with some studies showing benefit compared with placebo or acupressure.
Practical ginger drinks for pregnancy nausea include weak ginger tea, ginger infused water, or small sips of flat ginger ale made with real ginger. Store bought ginger candies and syrups also exist, but the sugar content can be high, so a homemade drink where you control the sweetness often works better.
Citrus And Lemon Water
Citrus scents often cut through that heavy, sick feeling. A glass of cool water with lemon or lime slices can feel easier than plain water and offers a small boost of vitamin C.
Electrolyte Drinks And Oral Rehydration Solutions
Repeated vomiting drains not only water but also sodium, potassium, and other salts. Oral rehydration solutions give these back in carefully balanced amounts. Pre mixed options and sachets you add to water both work well when you follow the label closely.
Sports drinks can help on rough days, though many contain added sugar. Choose versions without caffeine and sip slowly so your stomach has time to settle.
Herbal Teas In Pregnancy
Peppermint or chamomile tea can feel soothing after a wave of sickness. Many national health services list small amounts of these teas as reasonable during pregnancy, yet herbal products are not checked as strictly as medicines.
Stick to one brand you trust, brew the tea weak, and limit total cups each day. Avoid herbal blends that contain ingredients you do not recognise, and avoid strong teas such as large amounts of licorice root unless a pregnancy specialist has cleared them for you.
Whichever drinks feel best, keep a simple record for a few days. Write down the time, what you drank, and how your stomach felt thirty minutes later so you can spot patterns and drop drinks that never seem to sit well.
Smoothies And Gentle Milk Drinks
On days when chewing feels unpleasant, a thin smoothie can cover both fluid and nutrients. Try blending banana, yogurt, and milk or a calcium enriched plant drink with a little oat or rice cereal for energy.
Drinks That Help With Pregnancy Nausea Throughout The Day
Planning nausea friendly drinks around your daily routine keeps nausea from catching you by surprise. Think in short windows instead of three large meals.
First Thing In The Morning
Keep a covered cup or small bottle beside your bed. Take a few sips of water, ginger tea, or oral rehydration before you sit up fully. Add a dry snack such as a cracker if your care team agrees, then stand slowly.
During Work Or Busy Days
Carry a bottle with a drink that feels reliable for you, such as lemon water, diluted fruit juice, or an electrolyte drink. Set gentle reminders on your phone so you remember to sip every ten to fifteen minutes.
Evening And Bedtime
Nausea often returns when you feel tired. In the evening, lighter drinks such as water, ginger tea, or weak peppermint tea are usually more comfortable than milk based drinks. Stop larger drinks an hour before sleep if late night bathroom trips disturb your rest, but still keep a few small sips within reach.
Sample Daily Plan For Pregnancy Nausea Friendly Drinks
Every body is different, yet a plan shows how to spread drinks through the day without overloading your stomach. Adjust amounts and choices with your own midwife or doctor.
Use the plan as a loose guide, not a strict schedule. On good days you might add extra milk drinks or smoothies; on rough days you may lean more on ice chips and oral rehydration until medicine brings relief.
| Time Of Day | Drink Option | Why It Helps |
|---|---|---|
| On waking | Small sips of water or ginger tea by the bed | Gently wakes the stomach and replaces fluid after sleep |
| Mid morning | Lemon water or ice chips | Fresh taste can cut through queasiness between snacks |
| With lunch | Half glass of oral rehydration solution | Replaces salts lost earlier in the day |
| Afternoon | Peppermint tea or clear broth | Warm liquid settles the stomach without heavy fat |
| Early evening | Thin fruit smoothie or milk drink | Adds calories and protein when solid food feels hard |
| After dinner | Water with a squeeze of citrus | Helps digestion and keeps you hydrated |
| Before bed | Small sips of water | Prevents overnight dehydration without a heavy stomach load |
Drinks To Limit Or Avoid With Pregnancy Nausea
Not every drink that looks tempting on the shelf will be kind to a queasy pregnant stomach. Some can worsen nausea or carry safety concerns during pregnancy.
Strong Caffeine Drinks
Coffee, energy drinks, and strong black tea can irritate the stomach and raise heart rate. Many guidelines suggest keeping total caffeine intake below a set daily limit in pregnancy, and lowering it even more when nausea runs high.
If you enjoy the taste, try half strength coffee, decaf options, or milder teas such as rooibos. Swap one high caffeine drink at a time for a pregnancy friendly option from your pregnancy nausea friendly drinks list.
Sugary Sodas And Fruit Juices
High sugar drinks can cause sharp swings in blood sugar and may trigger more nausea. Fizz can also add bloating and burping. If soda sounds appealing, pour it into a glass, stir to remove some bubbles, and mix with water.
Unpasteurised Or Raw Drinks
Pregnancy raises the risk from food borne infections. Skip unpasteurised juices, raw milk, and homemade drinks left sitting at room temperature. Chilled, pasteurised products with clear dates on the label stay safer.
Alcohol
Health agencies advise avoiding alcohol in pregnancy because no safe amount is known. Alcohol can also worsen nausea and dehydration. Reach for sparkling water with citrus slices or a ginger mocktail instead.
When To Get Medical Help For Pregnancy Nausea
Home drinks and snacks work well for many people, yet some face a more serious condition called hyperemesis gravidarum. This level of sickness can lead to weight loss, dehydration, and the need for hospital treatment.
Call your midwife, obstetric team, or local urgent care line promptly if you notice any of these signs:
- You cannot keep any drinks down for more than twenty four hours.
- Your urine turns unusually dark, or you pass only a small amount during the day.
- You feel dizzy, faint, or unable to stand for long.
- You see blood in vomit.
- Abdominal pain, fever, or headache joins the nausea.
These signs do not always mean something serious, yet they are strong reasons to ask for medical review. Hospital teams can give fluids through a drip, check salts and vitamins, and offer anti sickness medicines that are considered safe in pregnancy.
Once symptoms calm, keep using drinks that help with pregnancy nausea alongside any medicine your team prescribes.
