Many pregnant mothers experience morning sickness. Despite the name, many mothers experience the feeling of nausea and/ or vomiting at different times of the day. The good news is that morning sickness generally stops, usually by 14th week of pregnancy.
Many pregnant mothers experience morning sickness. Despite the name, many mothers experience the feeling of nausea and/ or vomiting at different times of the day. The good news is that morning sickness generally stops, usually by 14th week of pregnancy. If you experience morning sickness, especially if you are vomiting, you must ensure that you are adequately hydrated. Best way to do this is by sipping liquids throughout the day. You can choose from a variety of liquids such as water, low fat milk, juices and ginger ale. You can also relieve the symptoms of nausea by -
Limiting or avoiding foods with a strong flavour or aromas if they trigger nausea. Pregnant women often have a heightened sense of smell, making common aromas unappealing. Examples include oily, hot and spicy foods
If possible, let someone else prepare the meals during the time you have morning sickness. Cooking smells tend to trigger nausea.
Have a cold meal instead of a hot steamy one. Cold meals have less of a 'smell' compared to hot meals. You could try:
• Homemade potato salad with hard boiled eggs
• Macaroni with mixed vegetables and grilled chicken breast
• Grilled cheese sandwich
Have some starchy food (e.g. dry toast, crackers or dry cereal) about 10 - 15 minutes before getting out of bed as this helps to clear stomach acid and reduce feeling of nausea upon getting up. You could consider keeping a little jar of dry crackers at your bed side and have 1-2 pieces before getting out of bed.
Have small frequent meals / snacks. This will ensure that your blood sugar will not dip to the lower range making nausea worse. Good snacks to have would be:
• Small wholegrain sandwich
• Fruit and nut bread
• Banana, papaya, grapes
• Fruit yoghurt
• Hot chocolate
• "Pau" with bean filling
Ginger is a natural herb that may help in relieving morning sickness. It is used in many Asian cuisine. You could consider sipping on ginger tea to help alleviate symptoms.
On a positive note, although morning sickness is unpleasant, you could think of it as your body's natural way of telling you to take it easy. You and your baby may benefit from plenty of rest at this time.
Please consult your doctor if morning sickness is not manageable or you are vomiting. Your doctor may be able to prescribe some medication to help you get through this difficult period.