Dealing with those pregnancy dizzies.

As we had tackled previously, it is typical for women to experience nausea and vomiting during the early stages of pregnancy. These symptoms may be unpleasant, but the American Pregnancy Association considers morning sickness as indicative of healthy placenta development. It’s a sign your body is doing its work to grow your baby! Still, we have more ways to deal with the discomfort. No need to suffer too badly.

Snack away.

Your appetite may have gone pffft form the nausea, but you still have to get some food into your stomach. Avoid big meals and turn yourself into a snacker. Spread out your eating to six small snacks a day. Bland carbs like crackers, wheat toast, dry cereal, and pretzels have seen many pregnant women through morning sickness. Have some hard cheese for some protein. Ice cold treats like watermelon and frozen berries are good for hydration and a good dose of vitamins. Note that fatty and spicy foods tend to upset iffy stomachs, so you may want to avoid such foods.

When it comes to eating, many women find that grazing all day settles their stomach. Heidi Murkoff, author of What to Expect when You’re Expecting explains, “When your tummy is empty, the stomach acids have nothing to feast on but your stomach lining, compounding nausea. On the other hand, eating too much can overtax the digestive system, also leading to quease. Keeping your tummy a little bit full all day and all night is the best defense against morning sickness.”

Distract Yourself.

Nausea’s not easy to ignore, so you have to find something – anything  - to take your mind off it. See what works for you. Maybe reading a book, doing the crossword or going for a walk? Yoga is said to be helpful too – great for the body and mind. Some moms claim that exercise relieves their nausea, but make sure to check with your doctor first.

Lie Down.

Sometimes the best solution is just to lie down, close your eyes and take a few deep breaths. Many doctors and moms attest that sleep is a great way to escape morning sickness – and your body could use those extra zzzs! If you already have a young child or two, bring a babysitter in so you can catch up on some much needed rest. Remember, your body is working overtime growing that baby.

Try unusual remedies.

Sour lollipops or candy help some pregnant mothers. Others swear by seasick wristbands. These acupressure bands apply light pressure to a spot located inside the wrist believed to control nausea and vomiting — whether motion, sea, or morning sickness induced. Lollipops or sea bands…. Who knows? It might just make you feel a bit better. No harm in trying.

Consult a doctor.

Consider going to your doctor if the vomiting becomes frequent or contains blood or a mere drink of water makes you vomit. Abnormal heart beat, dark or very little urine also warrant a doctor’s check up. Sometimes, women have to be given medication or may need assisted feedings to survive extreme morning sickness symptoms.

Dr. Robert Atlas, chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Mercy Medical Center, says women should not shun all medicine during pregnancy, nor should they avoid medical intervention altogether. He explains, “It’s important not to let morning sickness go too far in the interest of avoiding medication at all costs because the dehydration, calorie deprivation, and starvation state is really unhealthy for the baby.”

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