Morning Sickness

More than half of pregnant women have nausea and vomiting, especially during the first trimester. Despite its name, you can have morning sickness any time of day. It doesn't mean your baby is sick, and it doesn't hurt you or your baby.

 Pregnancy nausea is probably caused by the sudden increase of hormones in your body. It's usually mild and goes away about midway through your pregnancy. Some women never feel nauseous during their pregnancy.

Call Doctor If:

• You have flu-like symptoms, which may be a sign of illness.
• You feel dizzy or lethargic.
• You have severe vomiting constantly or several times a day.
• You can't keep down any fluids or foods and are losing weight.
• You think your nausea may be caused by iron in your prenatal vitamin.
• You want to take anti-nausea medication or try a treatment like acupuncture.

Step-by-Step Care:

• Eat five or six small meals instead of three big ones to avoid having an empty stomach.
• Take a multivitamin regularly. This may make morning sickness less severe. Don't take your vitamin on an empty stomach because it may worsen nausea.
• Avoid smells that upset your stomach.
• Eat saltine crackers, dry toast, or dry cereal before you get out of bed to calm your stomach.
• Avoid spicy and fatty foods.
• When you feel nauseous, eat bland foods that are easy to digest, like rice, bananas, chicken broth, gelatin, or Popsicles.
• Suck on ice or sip water, weak tea, or clear sodas when you feel nauseous.