Pregnancy is a beautiful, miraculous thing. But during those first several weeks, moms-to-be often feel far from miraculous. Morning sickness is no fun, and it can really put a damper on both work and play.
In most cases, medication is not advisable for morning sickness as long as it does not cause more serious problems such as dehydration or malnutrition. So it is up to us to find ways to combat the nausea and vomiting. Here are a few ways that many women have found effective.
* Eat plain soda crackers fifteen minutes before you get up each morning. These are usually well tolerated, and they settle the stomach so that we can handle other foods better.
* Drink plenty of fluids, but drink them slowly. Sipping on water or lemonade throughout the day has proved to be effective for many women. Keeping ice water on hand to sip when you feel that you are about to vomit can also keep it from happening. This may be just the thing to get you through a rough day at work.
* Ginger is great for morning sickness. You can drink it in ginger ale, sniff it, or eat ginger cookies.
* Eat frequent, small meals. Small amounts of food are tolerated better than large meals, yet it often helps to keep something on your stomach at all times. Keeping something close by to nibble on throughout the day can help keep nausea at bay.
* In a pinch, buy some salty potato chips from the snack machine. They aren’t the healthiest snack in the world, but they can reduce nausea.
* If a food turns your stomach, avoid eating it, or even smelling it. Different foods are bothersome to different women, so what sent your friend running to the bathroom in early pregnancy may be fine for you. But it is generally advisable to avoid spicy or strong-smelling foods.
* Stay cool as much as possible. Heat can make morning sickness worse, or at least much more unpleasant.
Should I Be Concerned About Morning Sickness?
Over half of pregnant women experience morning sickness at some point. It is rarely anything to worry about, and it almost always goes away on its own around the second trimester.
Occasionally, however, morning sickness is more than it seems. If you experience severe nausea, excessive vomiting, or weight loss, or your symptoms persist beyond 13 weeks, you may have hyperemesis gravidarum. This is a condition that may require medical treatment, and perhaps hospitalization. So even though morning sickness is rarely cause for concern, it is important to keep your obstetrician informed about your symptoms and share your concerns.
Morning sickness is unpleasant, but it is usually nothing more than a nuisance. Some modifications to your eating habits are often all that is needed to keep it from being a big problem. And remember, it will go away on its own eventually.
