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Nausea

Nausea? You're not alone

Nausea and vomiting, also called morning sickness, affects one-third to one-half of all pregnant women. It's not a sign that something's wrong; it's simply a common occurrence.

Morning sickness often begins early in pregnancy. For some women, it lasts until the third month; for others, it may go into the fourth month. In some rare cases, women may lose weight or become dehydrated and upset the body's chemical balance.

Treatment

Doctors recommend a combination of:

• Diet change
  Your doctor may prescribe a three-step process, beginning with eating small amounts every two hours with 4 ounces of liquid in between. Gradually you'll return to eating small, regular meals
• Medication
  Helps soothe the area of the brain that triggers vomiting
• Intravenous fluids
  To prevent dehydration
• Intravenous nutrition
  To ensure you're getting all of the vitamins and minerals you need for your health and baby's growth

Prevention

• Eat a diet that includes all the food groups, including complex carbohydrates such as low-fat crackers, pretzels, toast, rice and noodles
• Avoid an empty stomach by eating small amounts six to eight times a day
• Eat often, before you start to feel hungry
• Before you get up in the morning, eat dry cereal, saltines or hard candy
• Get up slowly after your morning snack
• Drink liquids slowly and in small amounts between meals. Avoid coffee, even decaf
• Avoid spicy or highly seasoned foods, gas-forming vegetables like broccoli or onions, and fatty or fried foods
• Avoid any foods that make you feel queasy
• Get plenty of rest
• Check with your doctor; it may help to temporarily stop taking prenatal vitamins

Not all of these ideas work for everyone. Experiment to find the right combination for you, talk to your doctor, and remember, you should start to feel better by the end of your third month of pregnancy.