Pregnancy sickness is something I thought I knew about. I had heard the stories - nausea, food aversions, and that general feeling of discomfort.
But I had no idea what was coming when I found out I was pregnant. For me, as it is for a lot of women, it wasn’t just morning sickness; it was something far more intense, something I’d never even considered: Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG).
If you’re suffering from Pregnancy Sickness, you’ll know exactly what I mean when I say it’s far more than just a little nausea - it’s debilitating, overwhelming, and exhausting.
I’ve been there, lying in bed, struggling to get through each day, feeling like the world was spinning and I was unable to do much about it. But through it all, I learned what made my sickness worse and, crucially, the importance of one thing: rest.
And no, it’s not just about lying down when you feel too sick to get up (although that’s part of it!). It’s about really understanding how vital rest and self-care are during pregnancy sickness, especially when dealing with HG or any other form of nausea and vomiting in pregnancy (NVP).
In this article, I want to share what I learned about the power of rest during Pregnancy Sickness, and why it became my secret weapon for survival.
Why rest is so important when you’re dealing with Pregnancy Sickness
When you’re experiencing Pregnancy Sickness your body is in survival mode. It’s not just the pregnancy that’s hard - it’s everything that comes with it. Vomiting, nausea, fatigue... the list goes on. And with all of this, I quickly realised that trying to “push through” or “be strong” wasn’t going to work. If anything, it made everything worse.
Rest helps your body heal
When you’re constantly battling nausea and vomiting, your body is expending a lot of energy just trying to get through the day. I quickly learned that pushing through it - staying up, trying to carry on with daily tasks, or ignoring how exhausted I felt - was only making things worse.
Resting allowed my body to focus on recovery. It was like hitting the reset button, giving me a chance to heal and build up some energy.
Hydration and electrolyte balance matter more than you think
Staying hydrated is a huge part of managing Pregnancy Sickness, but if you’re vomiting constantly, it’s easy to become dehydrated. Electrolytes are key to restoring that balance.
For me, the combination of hydration and electrolyte support was essential to feeling slightly human again. During the times when I couldn’t even keep water down, resting and sipping slowly with electrolytes made all the difference.
It’s not just about drinking water - it’s about maintaining the right balance in your body, and rest gives you the space to manage that more effectively.
It’s okay to rest your mind, too
The mental toll of pregnancy sickness can be just as draining as the physical symptoms. I felt overwhelmed, frustrated, and at times, defeated. My usual optimistic, "I can do it all" attitude went out the window. But what helped me more than anything was accepting that it was okay to slow down.
Rest wasn’t just physical - it was also mental. Taking a step back, allowing myself to feel what I was feeling, and asking for help were huge parts of my coping process.
It gives you energy to tackle the day
I won’t lie - it took me a while to realise this, but it’s true: when I rested, I had more energy later on. At first, it felt like I would never get to a point where I could do anything again. But little by little, allowing myself to rest between episodes of nausea gave me the energy I needed to get through the next part of my day.
It’s a bit like charging your phone. If you keep using it without plugging it in, it’s going to die. But when you rest, even in small chunks, your energy slowly starts to come back. I needed to listen to my body and rest when it asked for it, no matter how hard it was.
My top tips for rest and self-care during Pregnancy Sickness
I’ll admit, resting when you’re dealing with Pregnancy Sickness isn’t always as easy as it sounds. Sometimes, you feel like you’re stuck in a never-ending cycle of nausea. But I promise, even the smallest bits of rest can help make a difference. Here are the things that helped me, and I hope they can help you too.
1. Create a comfortable, calming Space
At one point, I realised that my bedroom wasn’t exactly the sanctuary I needed it to be. It was filled with distractions and wasn’t helping me relax. So, I made a conscious effort to turn it into a space that would support my rest.
I set up soft pillows, dimmed the lights, and created a quiet atmosphere. Find what works for you and make your resting space a place where you can truly unwind.
2. Take naps without guilt
I used to feel guilty about napping. I thought I should be “doing something” productive, even when I was feeling horrendous. But when it comes to Pregnancy Sickness, there’s no “should” about it. If your body needs rest, take it.
Even a short nap can do wonders for your energy levels. I found that short naps - about 20 minutes - helped me feel more refreshed and less overwhelmed by the constant fatigue. And remember, rest doesn’t have to be a full night’s sleep to be effective!
3. Gentle stretching or relaxation
Sometimes, when my body felt stiff or tense from being in bed so much, a bit of gentle stretching or breathing exercises helped me feel more relaxed. I wasn’t doing any intense workouts, but simple stretches - like reaching for the sky or stretching my neck - released some of the tension.
Breathing exercises also helped centre me, calm my mind, and keep me focused on the present moment.
6. It’s okay to ask for help
I can’t tell you how many times I had to reach out for help. It felt hard at first, but I quickly realised that asking for support wasn’t a sign of weakness - it was self-care. Whether it was asking my husband to make me a cup of tea, asking a friend to pick up some shopping, or simply asking for emotional support, I had to let go of the idea that I had to do everything myself.
Pregnancy sickness doesn’t just affect your body - it affects your mental health too. So, it’s okay to lean on others when you need it.
Final thoughts
Pregnancy Sickness is challenging in ways you can’t always anticipate. But through everything, I found that the most powerful thing I could do was rest. Rest isn’t a luxury - it’s a necessity, especially when you’re facing such a tough time.
If you're struggling right now, remember this: you’re doing an incredible job, and taking time to rest is a big part of looking after both yourself and your baby. Rest when you need it, hydrate, and be kind to yourself. And don’t forget: you’re not alone. There’s a whole community of women who get it, and we're all in this together.
Don’t forget - share this with your partner so they realise how important your rest is!
Best wishes,
Laura
The Unseen Emotional Rollercoaster of Pregnancy Sickness
