Chris Taylor, MD Harrison Arkansas

COPING WITH “MORNING SICKNESS”

Although there are many theories, we do not know the exact cause of the nausea and vomiting (“morning sickness”) that an estimated 80 percent of women experience during pregnancy. Symptoms often begin at around the seventh week and usually subside during the second trimester (after the twelfth week).

If you experience nausea and vomiting, Dr. Taylor recommends that you consider these strategies:

  • Sometimes prenatal vitamins can make the nausea worse, so it may help to temporarily stop taking the vitamin. You should resume taking the vitamin when you are able to better tolerate it.
  • You can absorb the nutrients you need from low-fat, high-carbohydrate foods, which move through the body quickly.  This includes bread, cereal, and potatoes.
  • Avoid fast food, pizza, and greasy foods.
  • Foods should be either very hot or very cold, as lukewarm foods are usually not well tolerated.
  • Drink liquids between meals and limit fluid intake during meals. Liquids consumed during a meal make the stomach expand and can increase nausea.
  • Avoid heavy spices, such as garlic, pepper, and chili.
  • Avoid cooking odors.
  • Eat a high-protein snack (meat, cheese, eggs) before bedtime to stabilize blood sugar.

Foods that are usually well-tolerated include:

  • Animal crackers
  • Breadsticks
  • Dry cereal (excluding granola cereal)
  • Fresh fruit
  • Hard candy (particularly SweeTarts)
  • Hot baked potato
  • Milkshakes made with yogurt and skim milk
  • Plain hard rolls or French bread
  • Plain toast, English muffin, or bagel with small amount of jelly
  • Popcorn
  • Popsicles
  • Pop-Tarts
  • Pretzels
  • Rice
  • Vanilla wafers
  • Warm pasta with a small amount of parmesan cheese
  • Frozen slush drinks

Sample meal plan:

  • Before rising from bed in the morning: Dry toast or vanilla wafers before rising from bed in the morning
  • Breakfast: ½ cup fresh fruit, ½ toasted English muffin with jelly
  • 30 minutes after breakfast: 4 oz. skim milk
  • Mid-morning: 3 breadsticks
  • Lunch: 1 cup warm pasta with parmesan cheese, ½ cup frozen yogurt
  • 30 minutes after lunch: 4 oz. skim milk
  • Mid-afternoon: 1 popsicle, 8 oyster crackers
  • Dinner: 2 oz. baked chicken, ½ cup cooked rice, ½ cup cooked green beans
  • Bedtime: 1 cup warm popcorn

In very rare cases, women require treatment for this condition because they are experiencing severe nausea and vomiting that leads to dehydration, weight loss and malnutrition. If your nausea and vomiting are severe or have any of these symptoms, it is time to call our office:

  • You cannot hold down liquids
  • You have vomited blood
  • You are not urinating very much and your urine is dark
  • Your heart feels as if it is pounding or racing
  • You feel dizzy or as if you are going to faint when you stand up