Chris Taylor, MD Harrison Arkansas

COPING WITH “MORNING SICKNESS”

If 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 are experiencing 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 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 and pizza.
  • 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 (especially 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:

  • Dry toast or vanilla wafers before rising from bed in the morning.
  • Breakfast: ½ cup fresh fruit, ½ toasted English muffin with jelly, plus 4 oz. skim milk 30 minutes after breakfast.
  • Mid-morning: 3 breadsticks.
  • Lunch: 1 cup warm pasta with parmesan cheese, ½ cup frozen yogurt, plus 4 oz. skim milk 30 minutes after lunch.
  • 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.