First, forget chugging. Sipping is your new best friend. Take tiny, frequent sips—like a timid mouse at a water fountain—instead of slamming eight ounces in one go. Your stomach will thank you for not surprising it with a tidal wave.
Try ice-cold or room temperature water, but figure out which one works for you. Sometimes the cold temperature shocks your stomach into calm; other times, it makes you gag. I was a “lukewarm water, with lemon” girl myself, and I felt very fancy—like a 19th-century convalescent.
Consider spiking your water (no, not with vodka—seriously, don’t). Add a splash of lemon, lime, or a slice of cucumber. Or try ginger tea, mint water, or even coconut water. The idea is to disguise the plainness that makes you want to vomit. If you can handle it, a tiny pinch of salt can also help with electrolyte balance—makes you feel like a science project, but one that works.
What about flavored sparkling water?
Be careful with bubbles. Carbonation can relieve some nausea by helping you burp (yes, gross, but true), but it can also puff up your stomach and make reflux worse. Test a small can of LaCroix and see how your gut reacts. If it’s a tragedy, stick to flat liquids.
Drinking Water While Pregnant Makes Me Nauseous at Maya Taber blog
Another pro tip: eat before you drink. Having a little food in your stomach—even a saltine or a piece of dry toast—can buffer the water and prevent that empty-stomach nausea. Drink between bites, not on an empty stomach. It’s like pre-gaming for hydration.
