Raise your hand if you’ve been pregnant and felt sick at some point… chances are high that you have, in fact, statistics show that 7 out of 10 women get morning sickness during their first trimester, and some women have it through their entire pregnancy. While it might come up as a joke on TV sitcoms or in memes where we see the mother-to-be always by a toilet while her partner is off playing golf, the truth is that morning sickness (or anytime sickness) can become a big problem and lead to things like missing or having to quit work, loneliness from having to stay home in bed so often, and a sense of losing one’s self.
We wanted to share some ideas and tips we’ve found that help many people. Please note that we know these won’t help all women and that nausea and sickness might need medical intervention for some. We are not doctors so please don’t take this as medical advice… it’s just practical advice from moms who have been there and hope to soften this season for others.
Things to do that might help:
- Eat a small meal throughout the day. Meals that are high in carbs are also a must.
- Always take vitamins with a small snack or meal.
- When drinking fluid with meals, take small sips. Avoid filling up on liquids instead of needed nutrients from food.
- Have a water bottle with you throughout the day so you can sip on it and not become dehydrated
- Store crackers like saltines next to your bed and have a few of them 15 minutes or so before you get up in the morning
- Don’t stick to set eating times… eat when you’re hungry and can keep food down.
- If you have someone in your life that can cook for you, ask them to. Especially if odors bother you. Eat outdoors, open windows, and run fans to get rid of any lingering food smells.
- Take lots of naps and rest during the day as you can.
- Keep cool! Use fans and drink cold water to keep yourself at a cool temperature. Warm weather, cars, and homes can sometimes bring on nausea.
- Sniff peppermint oil (pure oil only, additives can cause nausea), and suck on peppermint or ginger candy to settle your stomach.
- Oddly enough, salty potato chips and french fries have been known to help combat nausea.
Things not to do:
- Do not lie down immediately after eating. If you have to, make sure the head of your bed is raised.
- Don’t skip meals.. if you can at least try to get in some protein, even if it’s in the form of a smoothie. Whatever your body can tolerate.
- Do not let this condition go untreated. If your nausea gets worse or you feel dehydrated, call your doctor immediately.
We hope that some of these ideas help you… remember you aren’t alone in this and if you are starting to feel like you need someone to talk with our advocates are available. Give us a text or call at 360-524-2480
