Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Control Morning Sickness

Control morning sickness!


According to the American Pregnancy Association, over half of pregnant women will experience some form of morning sickness. Contrary to popular belief, morning sickness does not always include vomiting. Instead, morning sickness is defined as any feelings of nausea caused by pregnancy hormones. Although some women only feel minor inconvenience with this condition, others are completely miserable. No matter which category you fall into, there are some steps you can take to control morning sickness and feel like yourself again.


Instructions


1. Eat small meals frequently. Instead of eating the typical three large meals a day, aim for eating smaller meals more often. Although it may seem counterintuitive, avoid skipping meals as this can make morning sickness worse.


2. Keep a snack on hand at all times to eat when nausea occurs. Crackers, watermelon, salty potato chips and products containing lemon or ginger can be particularly useful to combat morning sickness, according to the American Pregnancy Association.


3. Keep yourself hydrated by drinking frequently, but avoid drinking fluids with meals if possible. Instead, try only drinking at least one half-hour before or after a meal.


4. Stay away from foods or smells that trigger morning sickness. Asking family members or friends to cook for you may be a good idea until the worst of your morning sickness has passed.


5. Take good care of yourself. Allow yourself time to rest and relax, but also keep up a doctor-approved exercise program if possible. Both of these things can help control morning sickness.


6. Avoid laying down after eating. Also, if you have been laying down for a long period of time, it may be a good idea to snack on some soda crackers about 15 minutes before rising again.








7. Be patient. Although it can feel like morning sickness is going to last forever, many women begin feeling almost complete relief after the fourteenth week of pregnancy, according to BabyCenter.com.

Tags: morning sickness, morning sickness, American Pregnancy, American Pregnancy Association, feel like, good idea, laying down