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Morning sickness
is common during
pregnancy and can occur any time throughout the day or night. |
Research studies
indicate 50-90% of
pregnant women will experience morning
sickness. (40) It is generally considered a first-trimester
and early second-trimester condition. (41)
Morning sickness usually subsides
at approximately 17.3 weeks of gestation;
however
15% of women are nauseous to
full term. (41) |
Because your baby’s
daily nutritional needs
can only be met through your diet, it’s
important to be proactive in gaining control
over morning sickness. With morning
sickness under control, you’ll be better
able to maintain your normal appetite and
maintain the nutritional intake important
to your healthy pregnancy. |
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| Tips for
relieving morning sickness |
If you are
experiencing morning sickness, healthcare professionals often recommend
changes in diet and daily activities to help alleviate the symptoms. (check
with your
physician) |
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When you
wake up in the morning, stay in bed for a little while and have a light snack
(i.e. dry toast, crackers etc.) |
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After you have
something to eat, get up slowly, and take your time moving around. |
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Avoid lying down
immediately after eating |
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Eat smaller, more
frequent meals spaced throughout the day and avoid letting your
stomach get completely empty |
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Have light
between-meal snacks of fruits, soda crackers, or dry toast |
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Ask your
healthcare provider about PremesisRx® for use in conjunction with a
physician-prescribed regimen to reduce morning sickness |
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| Constipation |
It is not uncommon
for women to experience constipation and stomach upset during preg-
nancy. This can be especially difficult during the first trimester when morning
sickness often occurs. It’s sometimes unavoidable because hormonal changes
cause food to pass through your body more slowly. If you are constipated, here
are some things to try: |
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Drink
lots of liquids, including fruit juices like prune juice |
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Eat foods high in
fiber, such as raw fruits and vegetables and bran cereals |
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Follow a daily
exercise routine (simply going for a walk is great) |
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| Indigestion |
Indigestion, or
heartburn, may become worse during pregnancy because hormonal changes
slow digestion and relax the muscle that keeps digested foods and acids in your
stomach. To help stop the burning: |
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Eat five
or six small meals a day instead of three large ones |
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Avoid foods that you
know cause gas |
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Sit up while eating |
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Wait an hour after
eating before lying down |
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| Fatigue |
Feeling tired during
pregnancy is common. You will probably experience more fatigue at
the beginning and end of your pregnancy. You might feel a little better if you: |
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Increase
your energy level by eating healthy |
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Eating more
carbohydrates may give you an energy boost |
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Exercise daily under
your physician’s supervision |
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| Swelling |
Usually, you will
encounter some swelling, called edema, in your legs during the last few
months of pregnancy. It’s possible to reduce the swelling if you: |
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