Morning Sickness

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:

Morning sickness is nausea (upset stomach) and vomiting (throwing up) that may happen during pregnancy. It happens most often in the morning, but it can happen any time of day. Morning sickness is most common during the first 12 to 14 weeks of pregnancy. Although morning sickness is unpleasant, it is usually harmless. The nausea and vomiting of morning sickness usually goes away by the second half of pregnancy.

INSTRUCTIONS:

Medicines:

• Keep a current list of your medicines: Include the amounts, and when, how, and why you take them. Take the list or the pill bottles to follow-up visits. Carry your medicine list with you in case of an emergency. Throw away old medicine lists. Use vitamins, herbs, or food supplements only as directed.
  
  
• Prenatal vitamins: Take your prenatal vitamin every day. If taking your prenatal vitamin makes you nauseated, try taking it after a meal, or later in the day.

Ask for information about where and when to go for follow-up visits:

For continuing care, treatments, or home services, ask for more information.

Home care:

• Activities:
  
  
  • Getting fresh air may help you feel better. Take a short walk, turn on a fan, or try to sleep with the window open. When you are cooking, open windows to get rid of smells that may cause nausea.
    
    
  • Do not smoke cigarettes. Ask other people not to smoke around you.
  
  
• Sleeping:
  
  
  • Eat a small snack, such as yogurt, milk, bread, dry cereal, or a small sandwich before going to bed.
    
    
  • Keep crackers by your bed. Eat a few of them or a slice of bread or toast before getting out of bed in the morning. You may also need to eat during the night to keep you from being nauseated in the morning.
    
    
  • Get out of bed slowly. Sudden movements could cause you to get dizzy and nauseated.
  
  
• Food:
  
  
  • Try to eat smaller, more frequent meals. Eat small amounts of food every two to three hours, even if you are not hungry. Keeping food in your stomach may decrease your nausea. Eat low-fat protein foods such as lean meat and poultry (chicken or turkey) with the skin removed.
    
    
  • Eat carbohydrates that are easy to digest, such as white rice, dry toast, plain baked potato, and pasta.
    
    
  • Avoid fried foods, spicy foods, and other foods that cause you to feel nauseated.
    
    
  • The smell of some foods may make you feel nauseated. Avoid these foods, especially when they are being cooked.
  
  
• Liquids: Drink at least eight (8-ounce) cups of healthy liquids each day. Healthy liquids include milk, water, or juice. Drink them slowly and between meals. This will keep you from eating large amounts during meals, which can cause nausea and vomiting. Crushed ice or frozen ice pops may also decrease nausea. Avoid liquids that have caffeine in them such as coffee, tea, and soda pop. Do not drink liquids that contain alcohol, such as beer, wine, and mixed drinks.
  
  
• Other treatments: Other treatments your caregiver may suggest include acupressure wristbands, medicines, or nutritional supplements (such as ginger or vitamin B6). Do not try these treatments or any other home remedy without talking to your caregiver first.

CONTACT A CAREGIVER IF:

• You are throwing up more than 3 to 4 times daily.
  
  
• You are throwing up blood or liquid that looks like coffee grounds.
  
  
• You begin to lose weight.
  
  
• You have signs of dehydration, such as dizziness, dry mouth, urinating less, and dry, cracked lips.

SEEK CARE IMMEDIATELY IF:

• You have pain in your stomach.
  
  
• You have a fever.
  
  
• You have a bad headache.
  
  
• You have changes in your vision.
  
  
• You faint, or feel like you are going to faint.

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The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

Learn more about Morning Sickness (Aftercare Instructions)