Nausea and pregnancy go
hand-in-hand. When the image of a pregnant woman comes to mind, many
times it is a picture of an otherwise healthy person whose head is
buried in a paper bag.
Seldom does a woman go through an
entire pregnancy without at least a minimum of nausea. While most will
not be able to escape being nauseous, you can take some steps to lessen
the unpleasant aspects of nausea.
First, an empty stomach can make nausea a little bit worse. Instead of
eating large meals, try eating smaller meals more frequently. Also try
to have a healthy snack at different times throughout the day. This
strategy seems counterintuitive, as a nauseous mother probably doesn't
want to think about eating.
However, not eating will cause the body's blood sugar to drop, which can
cause morning sickness and nausea. When you eat throughout the day, it
will keep your sugar levels stable. This also has the side benefit of
giving you steady energy throughout the day.
When you eat small meals and snacks, stay away from simple sugars,
including candy, chocolate, pastries, doughnuts, and soft drinks. Whole
grains and protein are better for you and will keep your blood sugar
levels from spiking. It will also keep you more full throughout the day
since it takes longer to digest and stays in the stomach for a longer
period of time.
Another strategy to keep nausea at bay is to drink lots of fluids. Not
only will this help with your nausea, but staying hydrated is extremely
important while pregnant. Stay away from coffee and soft drinks. Stick
to beverages without caffeine, including water and unsweetened juices.
Decaffeinated coffee and tea are also fine to drink. This is important
for your health and your baby's.
Another idea to help with nausea in pregnancy is get a prenatal massage,
either from your significant other or from a professional. A massage can
help calm your nerves and relax you.
Exhaustion can affect a woman during pregnancy. Nausea in pregnancy can
often be caused by simply not getting enough sleep. Rest and sleep
whenever you get a chance. This will help you feel better and help the
nausea in pregnancy subside.
Following these tips can help relieve some of the nausea in pregnancy
that affects most pregnant woman at some point. As always, if the nausea
in pregnancy becomes debilitating or unbearable, contact your healthcare
provider immediately for help.
The Compleat Mother Magazine
