Eating a Healthy Diet Despite Morning Sickness

Posted on Apr 9, 2012 | About Morning Sickness, Articles Category | | Print This Article
 


When you’re dealing with morning sickness, it can be difficult to focus on eating a healthy, balanced diet. At ties, you’ll find yourself just wishing you could keep anything down.

The worse your morning sickness is, though, the more important it is to make sure that you are eating a balanced diet. You will want to avoid foods and smells which make you nauseous, of course. Most women are able to find plenty of healthy foods that don’t send them running for the bathroom.

Above All, Keep Hydrated

When you vomit (whether because or morning sickness or not), you lose body fluid. It’s all the more important to keep hydrated when you are dealing with morning sickness. Make sure you drink at least eight glasses of water per day.

If you’re not able to keep water down at certain times of the day, drinking tea or ginger ale is OK. Just make sure to drink plenty of water later.

Nutrients You and Your Baby Need

It’s important to remember that you’re eating for two. That doesn’t mean you have to eat much more, but it does mean that you need to be aware of the quality of food you are eating. Eat plenty of nutritious, natural foods. Make sure your diet and/or supplements include:

  • Plenty of fruit
  • Plenty of vegetables
  • Plenty of whole grains
  • Canned or fresh fish (though you should limit fish to once or twice per week)
  • Plenty of dairy
  • Protein (can come from meat, fish, chicken, nuts, peas, milk, cheese, or tofu)
  • Vitamin C (can come from tomato juice, orange juice, fresh citrus fruit or supplements)
  • Folic acid (most pregnant women should take a supplement which includes Folic acid, especially during the first trimester when morning sickness is most prevalent)
  • Vitamin B6 (Vitamin B6 supplements have been shown to reduce the nausea from morning sickness when taken in the dosages recommended)

When to Call the Doctor

Morning sickness is normal, and doesn’t generally merit a special trip to the doctor’s office. However, if you are unable to keep down any significant amount of healthy food or fluids, you should contact your doctor. You should also contact him if you find that you are losing weight at any point in your pregnancy.




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