Striking more than half of all pregnant women during the first trimester, morning sickness is a nauseous feeling, sometimes accompanied by vomiting. It may be the result of hormonal changes in the woman's body, although the exact cause is undetermined. Although it frequently strikes just after awakening, in some women it lasts all day. While the only sure cure for morning sickness is to let it run its course, some foods may be helpful in reducing the discomfort.
Crackers and Bland Foods
The old standby for morning sickness, soda crackers, may help ease the early morning stomach flip-flops if eaten while you are still in bed. Place the crackers on the bedside table and eat two or three, without drinking any water, as soon as you wake up, then go back to sleep for 15 or 20 minutes.
Soda crackers may also be helpful during the day if you eat one or two every hour or so just to keep something in your stomach. Alternately, other bland dry foods may be beneficial, including dry toast, zwieback crackers, unseasoned croutons and baked potato chips.
Complex Carbohydrates and Protein
Foods high in carbohydrates and protein may reduce the symptoms of morning sickness in some women. Eat these foods in small amounts frequently during the day to keep something in the stomach at all times.
Helpful foods in this category include cheese, milk, nuts, celery, yogurt and cottage cheese. Peanut butter may also be beneficial. Avoid foods high in grease or fat.
Ginger
This aromatic spice is available in a variety of food items and it may ease the nausea of morning sickness. Sip on carbonated ginger soda or munch ginger cookies during the day and right before bedtime. A cup of hot ginger tea may soothe an upset stomach and hard ginger candies offer a sweet way to reduce morning sickness.
Vitamin B6
Foods rich in vitamin B6 may reduce the symptoms of morning sickness. Choose low fat foods, such as legumes, nuts, peas and seeds. In addition, try taking your prenatal vitamin before going to bed to ease tomorrow's nausea.
Warning
While morning sickness is common, if you lose weight, vomit more than three times in one day or vomit blood, consult your doctor.
