Morning sickness can strike at any time during the day and usually occurs during the first three months of your pregnancy, reports the Mayo Clinic. Most cases of morning sickness are uncomfortable but do not require medication or treatment. Changing your diet by eliminating certain foods that contribute to your nausea and vomiting can help improve your symptoms and make you feel better.
Spicy Peppers
Spicy foods are one of the most common culprits that can increase your nausea and vomiting, reports Paula Ford-Martin and Elisabeth A. Aron, authors of "The Everything Pregnancy Book: All You Need to Get You Through the Most Important Nine Months of Your Life." Peppers are used in many foods that you may have enjoyed before getting pregnant, including salsa and chili, but may cause your stomach to turn when you smell or taste them. Ford-Martin and Aron recommend sticking to more bland foods such as tomatoes in place of salsa or vegetable soup in place of chili until later in your pregnancy when your morning sickness passes. Garlic and onions are additional spicy foods that can be avoided to reduce your symptoms.
French Fries
Greasy foods, such as French fries, can turn your stomach and cause you to feel more nauseated, reports the Mayo Clinic. Greasy foods are more difficult to digest and they take longer to move through your digestive system so they settle in your stomach and make you feel nauseated. Ford-Martin and Aron add that greasy foods often result in strong odors that can nauseate you and lead to vomiting. Pass on the French fries in favor of a baked potato until your morning sickness passes. Other greasy foods, such as hamburgers and onion rings, can cause a similar reaction so opt for more bland choices.
Cream Cheese
Cream cheese is high in fat, which can exacerbate your morning sickness symptoms and cause nausea and vomiting. Fatty foods are a common cause of morning sickness and avoiding them during the first trimester can help ease your discomfort, notes the Mayo Clinic. Fatty foods take longer for you to digest so they sit in your stomach and make you feel sick. Passing on the bagel and cream cheese in favor of whole wheat cinnamon toast or high-fiber breakfast cereal can reduce your nausea and ease your vomiting. Other high-fat foods, such as peanut butter, sour cream and whole milk, should also be avoided in order to reduce your instances of morning sickness.
References
- MayoClinic.com: Morning sickness
- "The Everything Pregnancy Book: All You Need to Get You Through the Most Important Nine Months of Your Life"; Paula Ford-Martin and Elisabeth A. Aron; 2007
