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Disease & Conditions

Nausea

Experiencing Nausea While Pregnant

Nausea:

Nausea and pregnancy go hand-in-hand. When the image of a pregnant woman comes to mind, many times it is a picture of an otherwise healthy person whose head is buried in a paper bag. Seldom does a woman go through an entire pregnancy without at least a minimum of nausea. While most will not be able to escape being nauseous, you can take some steps to lessen the unpleasant aspects of nausea.

First, an empty stomach can make nausea a little bit worse. Instead of eating large meals, try eating smaller meals more frequently. Also try to have a healthy snack at different times throughout the day. This strategy seems counterintuitive, as a nauseous mother probably doesn't want to think about eating.

However, not eating will cause the body's blood sugar to drop, which can cause morning sickness and nausea. When you eat throughout the day, it will keep your sugar levels stable. This also has the side benefit of giving you steady energy throughout the day.

When you eat small meals and snacks, stay away from simple sugars, including candy, chocolate, pastries, doughnuts, and soft drinks. Whole grains and protein are better for you and will keep your blood sugar levels from spiking. It will also keep you more full throughout the day since it takes longer to digest and stays in the stomach for a longer period of time.

Another strategy to keep nausea at bay is to drink lots of fluids. Not only will this help with your nausea, but staying hydrated is extremely important while pregnant. Stay away from coffee and soft drinks. Stick to beverages without caffeine, including water and unsweetened juices. Decaffeinated coffee and tea are also fine to drink. This is important for your health and your baby's.

Another idea to help with nausea in pregnancy is get a prenatal massage, either from your significant other or from a professional. A massage can help calm your nerves and relax you.

Exhaustion can affect a woman during pregnancy. Nausea in pregnancy can often be caused by simply not getting enough sleep. Rest and sleep whenever you get a chance. This will help you feel better and help the nausea in pregnancy subside.

Following these tips can help relieve some of the nausea in pregnancy that affects most pregnant woman at some point. As always, if the nausea in pregnancy becomes debilitating or unbearable, contact your healthcare provider immediately for help.

Find out more about pregnancy at Pregnancy Information