Few things can bring fear into the hearts of pregnant women
faster than the words “morning sickness”. Everyone hopes to avoid it but most
pregnant women are not lucky enough to get through pregnancy without at least a
few episodes of morning sickness. Morning sickness can strike any time of day
and in some pregnancies it can last well beyond the first trimester. Finding
ways to cope with morning sickness is essential during pregnancy.
Hard Candy
Sucking on hard candy can help settle the gag reflex in many
pregnant women and help them keep a pleasant taste in their mouth. There are
several commercial products available such as Preggie Pops , however, any hard
candy will work. Spearmint did wonders for me during my pregnancies.
Peppermints or butterscotch may have the same effect for you. Experiment with
different flavors until you find something that works well for you personally. Be
sure to brush your teeth well if you are eating a lot of hard candy to prevent
doing damage to your teeth since teeth and gums are more sensitive during
pregnancy.
Keep Something in
Your Stomach
If you suffer from morning sickness during pregnancy, having
an empty stomach may make your symptoms worse. Eat several small, mild meals
throughout the day and carry snacks with you when you go out. Snack on
crackers, toast, fruit, or other nutritious foods between meals. If your
stomach is empty and you feel sick, the last thing you will want to do is have
a snack but sometimes that is the best cure for morning sickness. Eating
protein rich foods throughout the day can help alleviate morning sickness
symptoms and is good for a growing baby.
Keep Crackers By Your
Bed
Morning sickness, when it actually hits you in the morning,
can kick in as you start moving around in the morning. Try keeping a small box
of crackers next to your bed and snack on them before you get out of bed in the
morning. Crackers can help soak up stomach acid and quiet nausea.
Ask For Help
Pregnancy is a time to take it easy and limit your stress.
Being overly busy and stressed can exaggerate morning sickness. Ask friends and
family members to help take over some of your responsibilities and say no to
any unessential commitments. If you are working, consider cutting back on your
hours while you are feeling sick or asking to work from home part of the day.
Consider Medication
Severe morning sickness can put both you and your baby at
risk for dehydration and malnutrition. If morning sickness is consistently interfering
with the intake of food and water you may want to consider asking your doctor
to prescribe some anti-nausea medication. Most insurance companies require you
to try Phenergan first. Phenergan tends to make you tired but it does help with
morning sickness. If Phenergan does not do the trick, Zofran can be prescribed.
Zofran does not usually make you tired and does a great job of getting rid of
morning sickness.
Remember Your Goal
Some pregnant mothers like to keep a picture of a baby, even
if it is someone else’s baby, up where they can see it throughout the day. This
can help remind you of your ultimate goal of a healthy baby. The nice thing
about morning sickness is, like pregnancy, it will not last forever. In the
end, if all goes well, you will have a beautiful baby that makes everything
worth it.
