Nutritional Remedies for Pregnant Women

Sep 22 2007

A number of nutritional remedies work for some women with nausea and vomiting. These measures are safe and certainly worth a try, especially if you are very bothered by the symptoms.Pregnant women often vomit when they eat a big meal following several hours of not eating. If this seems to be the pattern for you, avoid large meals and, even more important, don’t let your stomach become empty. You can graze eat small amounts throughout the day. Or you can eat regular meals, but snack frequently between meals. Dry carbohydrates sometimes provide relief. Pregnant women often carry a small box of crackers with them and eat a few every 15 minutes or so.

If you really have “morning” sickness, place several dry, crisp crackers in a tin box on your bedside table before going to bed. You can also put a can of ginger ale or a container of juice and a straw with the crackers. Papaya juice has been reported to be especially good for nausea and vomiting. When you wake, eat the crackers and sip the soda or juice, without raising your head from the pillow. Continue lying on your back for 15 to 20 minutes. Get up and eat a regular breakfast.

Some women find eating a hard candy or drinking fruit juice before going to bed at night and before getting up in the morning works better than crackers. Sour flavored candy such as lemon may relieve nausea better than sweet-flavored candy.

Nutritional Remedies for Pregnant Women If brushing your teeth in the morning induces or exaggerates your queasiness, postpone that ritual until later in the day when your stomach feels settled in the interim simply rinse your mouth.

Pregnant women often find that their stomach stays calmer if they avoid eating fats and fried foods. Sometimes smells alone cause queasiness. If this is the case, of course limit foods with strong smells. You may be able to eat them, but not able to cook them. Let someone else do the cooking.

If you do vomit, make sure you have sufficient fluids throughout the day. Over a short period, fluids are more important to health than solids. Very often iced liquids are tolerated best. Many women in early pregnancy find plain water nauseating, but if a little lemon or orange juice is added it becomes drinkable. Almost all women, no matter how nauseated, can tolerate teaspoons of crushed ice flavored by fruit juice, which is a splendid source of fluid. The same may be said for sherbet or ices, which make an excellent midafternoon snack. While not really healthful, ginger ale and nondiet soft drinks are high in carbohydrates and can supply energy for you during the weeks you are bothered by nausea and vomiting. Don’t get into the habit of drinking these for the whole pregnancy, of course.