Coping with Morning Sickness – Some tips

About 80 percent of women have to struggle with morning sickness during the first three months of their pregnancy. Morning sickness means vomiting and nausea. And don't be tricked by the name "morning" sickness, like I was. This can strike you at any hour of the day. It is quite a nuisance. This is because, as soon as you eat a meal, you wanna throw up. Yuck!

Experts say morning sickness is due to the changes in the hormonal chemistry in our body or the lowering of your blood sugar in the early stages of pregnancy. Well, I don't care what the experts say; I just want to know how to deal with them!

The first thing I learned during pregnancy is to keep a positive attitude. Why? Because there is no use thinking negative! What is happening will continue to happen. The great part is morning sickness will pester you only for a short time period.

Here are some tips to tackle it:

• Before you get out of the bed in the morning, have some soda crackers.

• Keep yourself hydrated with fluids. But avoid water during meals. Have it 30 minutes before and after your meal.

• Instead of having two large meals a day, try to eat small frequent meals, five – six times a day.

• Do not allow your stomach to go empty. Keep healthy snacks handy to eat every two hours.

• This is not the right time to go on a diet. Eat whenever and whatever you want to eat.

• After eating, get up from your seat gradually. Also, never lie down right away. It triggers heartburn and nausea.

• NEVER SKIP MEALS.

• Refrain from having spicy and deep fried foods.

• Eat cold food rather than piping hot, since the former does not exude a strong aroma.

• Take a nap in the afternoon. Morning sickness worsens when you are exhausted.

• It is believed that having lemonade, sniffing ginger or lemon, or having watermelon helps reduce the nausea.

• Some women find salty potato chips a great help to settle the stomach down.

• Having Melba toast, or drinking club soda or carbonated ginger ale also helps.

• Keep your home well-ventilated to ward off odors that might trigger nausea.

Normally, you do not need medicines for morning sickness. But, if it's severe and followed by vomiting, you may require your doctor's advice since you might lose several pounds, which is definitely not a good idea right now.