Combat morning sickness
Nausea during pregnancy, often referred to as morning sickness, is triggered by the hormonal and physical changes taking place in a woman's pregnant body. In spite of the name, morning sickness can occur at any time of day. The intensity of the nausea is also varied. Pregnant women may escape with little or no nausea, experience only a month or two of morning sickness, or suffer severe nausea and vomiting throughout the entire pregnancy. Although there is no guaranteed cure for morning sickness, you can do a few things to help fight nausea and bring comfort to an unsettled stomach during pregnancy.
Instructions
1. Eat a small amount of banana, dry fortified cereal or crackers before getting out of bed in the morning. Nausea tends to be stronger when you first wake up because your stomach is empty. Keeping these items by your bed will help ward off the morning queasiness.
2. Break food servings into five or six small meals instead of three large ones. During pregnancy, your growing baby and your own body are both demanding larger quantities of food from you. By eating small and frequent portions, you replenish the food supply and keep your stomach from becoming completely empty. Also, mini-meals and snacks will help reduce the risk of heartburn and will be easier for a nauseous stomach to digest.
3. Drink eight to twelve 8-ounce glasses of water each day and try not to consume carbonated drinks. The carbonation may cause heartburn, which will upset your stomach. It's important to drink enough water during pregnancy. Not doing so could lead to dehydration, which will increase nausea and may also pose health risks for you and your baby.
4. Stay away from foods or other items with strong odors. It is not uncommon to develop odor aversions during pregnancy. Cigarette smoke, coffee, frying meat and wet dog food are just a few examples of strong odors that may trigger nausea. If a certain smell seems to bother you, avoid it if at all possible. Strong odors may increase your morning sickness.
5. Sit or stand when your stomach is upset. Lying down will only intensify the queasy feeling. When you experience heartburn or nausea, the stomach acid is attempting to travel up your body. Sitting or standing will help keep stomach acid in your belly where it belongs. Also, when you do lie down, slightly elevate your head and upper body by lying your upper body on a wedge or pillow.
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