If you suffer from morning sickness, you may be concerned that this condition could affect your unborn child. However, morning sickness can only become a problem if you can’t keep any food or liquid down and you start to lose too much weight.
Here are some ideas to bring you relief:
o Avoid warm or hot places as heat can increase nausea.
o Open windows or run an exhaust fan when cooking and after meals.
o Using a microwave oven for cooking generally produces fewer odors.
o Carry a handkerchief on which a few drops of essential oil have been sprinkled so that you can breathe through it if you cannot escape from an odor that affects you. This is a very old but good remedy.
o Try to eat something salty before a meal, as this can be helpful.
o Try to avoid foods and smells that make you nauseated and stick with those that do appeal to you, even if this makes for a rather bland and even unbalanced diet. You may find it easier to eat food served cold or at room temperature.
o Have simple snacks at your bedside so that each time you wake up you can eat a small amount, rest for about 20 minutes before getting up, and then slowly get out of bed. Saltine crackers or dry cereal are good snacks to try.
o Eat small, frequent meals and snacks throughout the day (every 2 hours) so your stomach is never empty.
o Do not skip meals.
o Avoid spicy and fried foods.
o Eat more carbohydrates, such as baked potatoes, white rice, or dry toast.
o Other suggested foods are gelatin desserts, chicken broths, sweetened decaffeinated or herbal teas, and pretzels.
o Try to drink fluids between meals in small amounts but frequently, between 1.5 and 2 liters per day.
o Try to rest and relax as much as possible and avoid any stress. Take naps during the day.
o Make sure you get a good night’s sleep.
o Ginger ale made with real ginger (alternatively, grate some fresh ginger into hot water to make ginger tea), as it is believed to settle the stomach. A mint tea is also recommended.
o Do not skip meals.
o Take vitamin supplements later in the day instead of in the morning. Some women find that the iron in prenatal vitamin supplements causes nausea. If you think your morning sickness is related to such supplements, see your doctor.
You may find it hard to believe, but nausea is actually good for you, as nausea in pregnancy protects you from eating the wrong foods. So stay away from whatever makes you nauseated, as that is your body’s way of telling you not to have nausea.