What is Morning Sickness?

In the first three months of your pregnancy, you may feel nauseated, loose your appetite, or throw-up your food. This is only temporary and is due to the hormone changes that your body is experiencing. These hormone changes help your baby grow normally. This is called morning sickness and can happen at any time of the day. Morning sickness usually occurs during the first 12 to 14 weeks of pregnancy, but may continue through the rest of the pregnancy.

Prevention

• In the morning eat dry foods such as crackers, dry cereal, or toast before getting out of bed. Place them at your bedside the night before.
• Set your alarm at least ½ hour earlier to give yourself more time, get up slowly, and take your time getting ready.
• Do not let your stomach get empty. Eat six small meals a day and try to eat something small every 2 to 4 hours. Have something to eat at bedtime and when you get up to go to the bathroom at night.
• Snacks should consist of high protein foods such as peanut butter on apple slices or celery, nuts, quarter of a sandwich, cheese and crackers, milk, cottage cheese, yogurt sprinkled with granola, and turkey or chicken slices.
• Do not eat greasy, fried, fatty, salty, or spicy foods.
• Wait at least 1 hour between eating food and drinking liquids. Sip liquids slowly.
• Avoid cooking odors and keep the house well ventilated.
• Cigarette smoke can make morning sickness worse. Do not smoke and ask your family not to smoke.

Medicines

Medicine can sometimes help in severe cases. Do not take any unless your doctor tells you to. Ask your doctor about vitamin B6 and other remedies that may help with morning sickness at your next visit.

Call Your Physician If:

• Vomiting is excessive
• You loose more than 1 or 2 pounds