For many moms-to-be, the “morning” in “morning sickness” is a bit of a misnomer. While hormone levels surge to support the needs of a growing baby, a lot of women are ill throughout the day for weeks or even months at a time. While your doctor may tell you that this type of nausea is worse when you first wake up and that you’ll experience some relief as you go from the first trimester into the second, you might be wondering what you can do to feel better now.
Get plenty of rest.
While it can be difficult to find a comfortable sleeping position or the time to get enough rest if you have other little ones running around, it is so important to take care of yourself. Enlist the help of family and friends who have offered to lend a hand. Ask them to babysit or even straighten up the house while you get some shut-eye.
Be careful getting up in the morning.
Popping out of bed quickly, drinking a cup of coffee, and sitting down in front of the computer is a normal way of life for many busy women. However, all three of those things can contribute to morning sickness. Taking your time getting out of bed, choosing non-caffeinated tea, and avoiding the flicker of the computer monitor can help you keep your breakfast down.
Watch what you eat.
Avoid spicy foods (even if that late-night craving for hot wings is hard to resist), drink a lot of fluids, eat ginger, switch to a smaller prenatal vitamin, and ask your doctor if antacid medication is right for you.
Your physician may also recommend an anti-nausea medication to help you get through these first weeks and months. It is important to talk to your doctor right away if you find that you weigh much less than before you were pregnant or you are concerned about being dehydrated. While “morning” sickness may be a reality for most pregnant women, these tips are great to keep in mind for both preventing and treating it.
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