DIETARY GUIDELINES FOR NAUSEA AND VOMITING
Nausea and vomiting usually begin around the 6th week of pregnancy. Although common in the morning, “morning sickness” can actually happen at any time of the day. For 80% of sufferers, this condition stops around the 12th week of pregnancy although queasiness can come and go throughout pregnancy. The other 20% will suffer from nausea and vomiting for a longer period of time. Some women may even have the condition until the end of their pregnancy.Here are some guidelines to deal with pregnancy-related nausea and vomiting:
- Before you get out of bed or even lift your head in the morning, eat a few crackers, a handful of dry cereal, a piece of toast, or dry bread. Put these within your reach the night before. Allow the food to digest for 10 minutes before getting up.
- Eat 6 or more small meals a day. Try to eat something every 2-3 hours to avoid letting your stomach get empty for long periods of time.
- Separate hot foods from cold foods.
- Avoid liquids at mealtimes and save them for 1/2 hour before or after meals. This includes soups and beverages.
- Avoid chewing on ice or gum and avoid sipping through a straw. These may cause you to swallow air and become bloated.
- Avoid greasy or fried foods. They are hard to digest and may produce nausea. These include butter, margarine, mayonnaise, bacon, gravies, pie crusts, pastries, fried meats, and french fries.
- Eat lightly seasoned foods. Avoid pepper, chill, and garlic.
- Eat low-fat protein foods (lean meat, broiled or canned fish, poultry without skin, eggs, or boiled beans) and eat easily digested carbohydrates (fruit, fruit juices, breads, cereals, rice, pasta, and potatoes). These foods will help prevent low blood sugar which may cause nausea.
- If getting up during the night, have some yogurt, cottage cheese, juice, or milk.
- Take Gingerroot, l gram daily, in divided doses, and Vitamin B6 50mg once a day.
- Use Sea Bands.
- Use Emetrol as directed.
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