Nausea and Vomiting During Pregnancy (NVP)

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

I am currently experiencing nausea and vomiting at this stage of my second pregnancy. Though usually referred to a morning sickness, mine is slightly different because it happens mostly in the afternoon. According to my research, more than 50% of women suffer from it during their pregnancy. Since each woman is different and each pregnancy is different, the difficulty of nausea and vomiting of pregnancy or NVP will vary from woman to woman.

No one knows what causes NVP, but researchers say that it is caused by the combination of many physical changes taking place in woman's body. 

Here are some helpful tips to control nausea and vomiting during pregnancy I've found on the web: 

DIET – Food
  • When you first wake up, eat a few crackers and then rest for 15 minutes before getting out of bed.
  • Get up slowly and do not lie down right after eating.
  • Eat small meals or snacks often so your stomach does not become empty (for example, every 2 hours). Try not to skip meals.
  • Do not hesitate to eat whatever you feel like eating and eat whenever you want to. However, it is best to avoid cooking or eating spicy, fatty and fried foods.
  • If cooking odours bother you, open the windows and turn on the stove fan. If possible, ask someone else to cook the meals.
  • Try eating cold food instead of hot (cold food may not smell as strong as hot food).
  • Sniffing lemons or ginger can sometimes relieve an upset stomach.
  • Eating salty potato chips can help settle the stomach enough to eat a meal.
DIET – Drinks
  • Drink small amounts of fluids frequently during the day.
  • Avoid drinking fluids during meals and immediately before or after a meal.
Food Ideas to Help Relieve Nausea
  • Salty: Chips, pretzels
  • Tart/Sweet: Pickles, lemonade
  • Earthy: Brown rice, mushroom soup, peanut butter
  • Crunchy: Celery sticks, apple slices, nuts
  • Bland: Mashed potatoes, gelatin, broth
  • Soft: Bread, noodles
  • Sweet: Cake, sugary cereals
  • Fruity: Fruity popsicles, watermelon
  • Liquid: Juice, seltzer, sparkling water, ginger ale
  • Dry: Crackers
LIFESTYLE – Rest
  • Get plenty of rest since nausea tends to worsen when a woman is tired. Try napping during the day. Typically, a pregnant woman needs more sleep in the first three months of pregnancy.
  • You may need to take some time off work or make other arrangements for household chores and childcare.
  • Enlist the support of friends and family.
LIFESTYLE – Other
  • Get plenty of fresh air and avoid warm places as feeling hot can add to nausea.
  • Acupressure wrist bands or acupuncture can be beneficial for some women. If you are considering acupuncture, consult your healthcare professional and look for an experienced and licensed acupuncturist.
  • Try ginger, an alternative remedy thought to settle the stomach. Dosages of up to 250 mg four times a day appear to be safe.
  • Try taking your prenatal vitamins (one with a lower amount of iron if that mineral makes your nausea worse) with food or just before bed. If multivitamins make your nausea worse, take folic acid alone on a daily basis.
Hope these tips will help other pregnancy women out there.


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