Morning Sickness

MORNING SICKNESS
(NAUSEA and VOMITING of PREGNANCY)

Has the patient been vomiting for more than 12 hours?
Is the patient becoming dehydrated?
Is there fever over 102 degrees Fahrenheit?
Have you seen blood in the vomit?

If yes to any of the above, the patient should be examined by a physician promptly.
If no, then follow the instructions below.

If there is also DIARRHEA, then see elsewhere.

ACTIVITIES: You should not stay in bed if you feel like being up.

TREATMENT and PREVENTION: Try any or all of the following:

Eat crackers before getting out of bed each morning.
Frequently eat small meals.
While nauseated, eat low-fat, bland foods, such as unbuttered rice, potatoes, noodles, crackers, toast, cereal, unbuttered cooked vegetables, soft fruits (especially bananas), poached or boiled egg, and most soups.
Drink ginger ale or ginger tea, or eat ginger snaps.
Suck on hard candy.
Eat tart and salty foods together, such as lemonade with potato chips.
Wear one or two wrist bands used for motion sickness.

MEDICATIONS: Most women will not need medications for nausea or vomiting caused by pregnancy. For persistent vomiting, you might try one of the following for 4 or 5 days:

Vitamin B₆ (pyridoxine) 25 to 50mg three times daily.
Unisom (doxylamine) 12.5 to 25mg three times daily.
Emetrol 1 to 2 teaspoons (5 to 10 ml) in the morning and every 3 to 4 hours as needed.
Ginger 250mg four times daily.

You should not take any medicines during your pregnancy without telling your doctor.

CONTACT YOUR DOCTOR FOR ANY OF THE FOLLOWING:

1. You are feeling faint, lightheaded, or dizzy.
2. You see no improvement in a few days.
3. You are losing more than a few pounds.
4. Signs of dehydration occur: Dry mouth, little or no urine.

If there is also FEVER, then see elsewhere.

Eating Right During Pregnancy
What you eat feeds your baby, so choose healthy foods and skip the junk and avoid alcohol. You need about 300 extra calories each day. Be sure to include the following in your daily diet:

2 to 3 servings of meat, fish, poultry, dried beans, eggs or nuts
3 servings of milk or dairy products
4 servings of vegetables
3 servings of fruit
9 servings of breads, cereals, rice or pasta
At least 6 to 8 glasses of water and healthy liquids

You can get all the nutrients you need through what you eat. But your doctor may suggest taking prenatal mineral and vitamin pills that include iron to help protect you against anemia, calcium to help keep your bones strong, and folic acid (especially early in pregnancy or even before you get pregnant) to help prevent serious problems with your baby's developing brain and spinal cord.

Return to the Home Page