What Can I Do to Feel Better?

Getting Enough to Eat:

• Eat what appeals to you - no need to worry about proper nutrition for the time being.
• Eat small amounts of food every 1-2 hours throughout the day.
• Get up slowly and do not lie down right after eating.
• Do not skip meals if you feel you can help it.
• Try eating a snack before getting out of bed (crackers, dry cereal or toast).
• Avoid greasy and spicy foods unless they appeal to you and don't trigger nausea.
• Ask someone else to do the cooking, open the windows and turn on the fan above the stove.
• You may prefer cold foods especially if cooking odors bother you.
• It is often easier to take fluids in frozen form (popsicles, ice cubes made from juice).
• Try drinking fluids between meals rather than with meals.
• Suck on hard candies.
• Food suggestions that have helped other women:
  -Chips (sometimes better than crackers), pretzels, crackers
  -Lemonade or lemons (to lick or smell)
  -Broth
  -Tart apples, water melon, frozen grapes
  -Dill pickles
  -Pop, slurpees, juice, Gatorade
  -Pasta, bread, mashed or baked potatoes

Survival Strategies:

• Acupressure - seabands (also used for seasickness) are available at most pharmacies and research has shown that they are effective for some women.
• Stay cool! Being too warm can increase nausea.
• Wear loose clothing, especially around your neck, chest, and waist.
• Brush your teeth or rinse your mouth after vomiting.
• Give yourself permission to rest at least two hours more than usual.Women with nausea and vomiting in pregnancy require more sleep. Make a plan so your family can take care of some of the things that you usually do. For example, friends or family can:
  -Do the housework, shopping, cooking, laundry
  -Look after the other children
  -Run errands
  
• Avoid smells that trigger nausea (cigarette smoke, coffee, perfume).
• Most women with nausea and vomiting have a lot of saliva (spit). It usually helps to spit it out into a tissue rather than trying to swallow it.