How to Cope With Nausea & Food Aversions During Pregnancy

Changing hormones during pregnancy can cause nausea. Though commonly called morning sickness, it may last throughout the day and night 1. Food aversions can also result from hormonal changes and may cause you to become repulsed by foods you once loved. Nausea and food aversions during pregnancy may range from mild to very severe 23. If you experience very severe nausea, or food aversions that prevent you from eating any food, contact your doctor for treatment recommendations to prevent dehydration and malnutrition, which will affect your health and the health of your unborn baby.

Add a vitamin B-6 supplement to your daily regimen. Vitamin B-6 is recommended as the first line of treatment for women with morning sickness by the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists 1. Some vitamin B-6 supplements contain an antihistamine called doxylamine which is also considered safe during pregnancy and may help ease nausea.

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Eat any foods that do not make you nauseated. According to BabyCenter, it is OK to eat anything that you can stomach, even if they don’t provide the healthiest of diets. Nausea and food aversions are often worse in the first trimester.

Go to bed a little earlier each night and take a nap during the day if you’re able. Nausea can be exacerbated by fatigue, so getting extra rest and taking care of yourself may help ease feelings of morning sickness 1.

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Take a prenatal vitamin daily, starting before pregnancy if possible. ACOG notes that women who take vitamins at the time of conception experience milder cases of nausea.

Avoid foods that cause nausea and that you have an aversion to. This may require that you avoid going to certain restaurants, or that you eat away from your coworkers at lunch. Aversions can cause nausea to come on quickly. If you can avoid the foods and keep nausea under control, you find that you can keep down other foods that settle more easily on your stomach.

Drink ginger ale made with real ginger. This type of ginger ale can be found in natural food stores and some grocery stores. BabyCenter also notes that fresh ginger grated in tea may help suppress nausea. Consult with your doctor before taking ginger supplements, as they may contain other ingredients.

Tips

If your nausea isn’t relieved by natural methods and diet changes, ask your doctor about prescription anti-nausea medications.