Spending your days concentrating on keeping your food in your stomach and never venturing far from a bathroom is probably not how you envisioned welcoming the news of a new baby. The words “morning sickness” do not do justice to the pregnancy nausea suffered by many women. First, nausea can happen during any of the 24 hours in a day. Some only experience mild sickness infrequently during the first few weeks, which miraculously vanishes at the end of the first trimester as all the pregnancy books say it should. Others spend so much time hanging over a toilet that they consider just moving into the bathroom and do not enjoy relief at the three-month mark. Several treatments are recommended by medical professionals, but the effectiveness varies by individual.
Step 1
Eat at least every two hours throughout the day. Small snacks will be easier on the stomach than large meals and help prevent dips in your blood sugar levels.
Step 2
Eat protein and healthy carbohydrates with every meal. Fluctuations in blood sugar are one cause of “morning sickness.” Protein and whole grain foods help keep blood sugar from having extreme drops. Good foods to have on hand are boiled eggs, yogurt, cheese, granola bars and whole grain pastas and breads.
Step 3
Eat and drink ginger and mint. Both are commonly used to treat stomach upset and recommended by the American Pregnancy Association. Ginger tea, ginger ale and ginger candies can be found at some grocery stores and many health food stores. Mint tea and peppermint candies are found at most any grocery retailer.
Step 4
Bring a supply of food with you at all times. Keep peppermint candies, granola bars and other filling foods in a bag for when nausea suddenly hits, and you need relief immediately.
Step 5
Take vitamin B6 and vitamin B12 with your doctor’s advice. The WebMD website reports that these supplements are known to ease pregnancy nausea and vomiting. Your doctor will tell you how much and how often to take these vitamins.
Step 6
Drink a lot of water and other fluids. You need to drink more water when pregnant and dehydration worsens nausea symptoms. Keep a water bottle with you at all times to help you get enough fluids throughout the day.
Step 7
Ask your doctor about prescription medications if your nausea is so severe you cannot stay hydrated or keep any food down. Several options are available by prescription only.
Photo Credit
- amor maternal image by Leonardo Jerez from Fotolia.com
