If you've ever been pregnant and felt that familiar wave of nausea roll in before you've even gotten out of bed, someone has probably already handed you a ginger ale. It's one of those remedies that gets passed down like a family heirloom. But does it actually work, or is it just something people say because they don't know what else to do?
Let's break this down honestly, because morning sickness is no small thing and you deserve real answers.
What Is Morning Sickness, Really?
Morning sickness is the term most people use for the nausea and vomiting that comes with early pregnancy, though calling it “morning” sickness is a bit misleading. It can hit at any time of day or night, and for some women it lasts well into the second trimester or beyond.
The signs and symptoms vary widely. Some women experience mild nausea without vomiting. Others can barely keep water down. A small percentage develop a more serious condition called hyperemesis gravidarum, which causes severe vomiting and dehydration and often requires medical treatment.
The hormone changes driving all of this are significant. Rising levels of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and estrogen are believed to play a major role, though researchers are still working to fully understand why pregnancy triggers such intense stomach distress in so many women.
So What's the Deal With Ginger Ale?
The idea behind reaching for ginger ale during pregnancy comes from ginger itself. Ginger has a long history of use as a stomach remedy, appearing in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries and studied in modern clinical settings for its anti-nausea effects. Ginger tea, ginger candies, and ginger capsules have all shown some promise in reducing nausea for pregnant women.
The problem with most commercial ginger ale is simple: there's very little actual ginger in it.
Most popular ginger ale brands are made with artificial ginger flavoring, not real ginger root. That means you're mostly drinking carbonated water and sugar, with minimal therapeutic benefit from ginger itself. The carbonation might offer some temporary relief, but the drink itself is not a treatment for morning sickness.
Does Carbonation Help With Nausea?
Carbonation is a bit of a mixed bag. Some women find that sipping something fizzy helps settle their stomach, at least momentarily. The bubbles can create a sense of fullness or mild distraction from nausea, which may explain why ginger ale feels helpful even when the ginger content is negligible.
That said, carbonated drinks can also trigger heartburn and bloating, which are already common complaints during pregnancy. If your stomach is already sensitive, adding a lot of carbonation might make things worse, not better.
If carbonation does seem to help you, it's worth trying sparkling water or a drink with actual ginger rather than leaning heavily on sugary soda.
The Sugar Problem
Here's something that doesn't get talked about enough. Most ginger ale is loaded with sugar. Drinking it frequently throughout the day adds up quickly, and excess sugar intake during pregnancy is something worth monitoring carefully for your own health and your baby's nutrition.
A diet consistently high in sugar can contribute to blood sugar spikes and increased fatigue, and overall sugar intake is one of several factors doctors consider when discussing gestational diabetes risk. It also does nothing to support the steady prenatal nutrition your body needs right now.
If you're sipping ginger ale all day as a nausea strategy, you may be trading one problem for another.
What Actually Helps With Pregnancy Nausea?
There are several approaches that have more evidence behind them, and most are simpler than you'd expect.
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Eat small, frequent meals. An empty stomach tends to make nausea worse. Keeping something light in your system throughout the day, even just a snack between meals, can help stabilize blood sugar and reduce the intensity of nausea. Bland foods like crackers, toast, and plain rice are often easier to tolerate.
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Protein matters more than you think. Foods like peanut butter, plain yogurt, strained yogurt, and eggs can help ease nausea more effectively than carb-heavy snacks alone. Protein helps slow digestion and keeps blood sugar more stable.
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Real ginger in useful forms. Ginger tea made with actual ginger root, ginger chews, or ginger capsules are better options than commercial ginger ale if you want the genuine therapeutic benefit. The dose matters, and these forms are more likely to deliver it.
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Lemon. Many pregnant women find that the scent or flavor of lemon helps reduce nausea. Sipping lemon water or even just smelling a lemon can offer mild relief for some people.
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Rest. Fatigue and nausea often feed each other. Sleep and rest won't eliminate morning sickness, but running on empty tends to make everything feel worse.
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Vitamin B6. This is one of the few nutritional interventions with clinical backing for pregnancy nausea. Some doctors recommend it alone or in combination with other therapies. Ask your doctor before starting any supplement regimen.
When Should You Talk to a Doctor?
If your nausea is so severe that you can't keep food or fluids down, it's time to contact your doctor. Serious dehydration during pregnancy is not something to push through on your own.
If lifestyle changes and diet adjustments aren't enough, your doctor may recommend anti-nausea medication. Several options exist, and your doctor is the right person to weigh the benefits and any risks based on your symptoms and how far along you are.
Organizations like the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the HER Foundation offer additional information and support for women dealing with severe nausea and vomiting during pregnancy, including hyperemesis gravidarum. You don't have to manage this alone.
What About Prenatal Vitamins During Morning Sickness?
Taking a prenatal vitamin when you're already nauseous can feel impossible. Large pills are hard to swallow on a good day, and during a wave of morning sickness, even the thought of it can be unbearable. This is a real and common barrier to staying consistent with prenatal nutrition.
That's exactly why Storkling was designed this way. Rather than a pill you have to choke down, it's a daily powder you mix into a drink and sip at your own pace. It was developed with OB, RD, and midwife guidance, designed to be gentle on the stomach, and built for the messy reality of pregnancy. Getting your prenatal nutrition in a nausea-friendly format makes it far easier to stay consistent, which matters more than most people realize.
Storkling is a prenatal nutrition supplement, not a treatment for nausea or morning sickness, and it isn't a substitute for medical care. Always talk with your healthcare provider about what's right for you, especially if you're managing severe symptoms.
What to Remember About Ginger Ale and Pregnancy Nausea
Ginger ale is more comfort than cure. The real ginger in traditional remedies has genuine value, but most commercial versions fall short. Focus on small meals, real ginger, protein-rich snacks, and staying hydrated. And if prenatal pills have been hard to stomach, a nausea-friendly prenatal supplement can make staying consistent easier, alongside guidance from your healthcare provider.
Your consistency with prenatal nutrition is one of the most important things you can do right now. Explore a nausea-friendly prenatal supplement that works with your body instead of against it. Join the Storkling waitlist to be the first to know when it launches.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your doctor or healthcare provider with any questions about your pregnancy or symptoms.