For many moms-to-be, morning sickness can be debilitating. See what a doctor recommends and how other moms handle the nausea and vomiting of pregnancy.
Don't wait to eat
“Don’t wait to feel hungry to eat, and opt for foods that are high in carbohydrates and low in fat. Avoid foods that are spicy, salty, or high in protein. The BRAT diet is always helpful and consists of bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast. Drink cold, clear, and carbonated beverages in small amounts as often as possible.”
— Sherry Ross, MD, OB/GYN and women’s health expert at Providence Saint John’s Health Center, Santa Monica, California
Crackers in the morning can make a difference
“Ugh, morning sickness. Crackers first thing in the morning can make all the difference. Small meals throughout the day are also good to help settle your stomach.”
— Johanna Torres, Mom.com editor and mom of three
B-6 and Unisom
“Take B-6 and 1/2 a tab of Unisom and call it a day!” [Disclaimer: This combination has been recommended by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, but always check with your medical provider before taking any medication.]
— Marie Truong, mom of three
Sniff lemons
“Carry a bag of cut-up lemons. Sounds weird, but opening that bag and having a whiff when your nausea hits can snap you back out of it.”
— Jacalyn Wetzel, MSW, LCSW-A, mom of four
'Everyone is different' so try different things
“Lots of rest! I had a lot of morning sickness with my second pregnancy, and I found just eating really bland, basic foods like bread, soup, and plain pasta helped me. Not the most nutritional, but it eased my stomach. Those ginger hard candies did nothing for me, but everyone is different. Buy a bunch and try them all!”
— Nicole Coppola, mom of two
'Drink peppermint water'
“Drink peppermint water.”
— Reba Nottingham
Sometimes medication is necessary
“Some people swear by ginger products (for a more natural cure), but it didn’t work for me, and I hated the taste. It took prescribed medication to help with my morning sickness. Zofran was a godsend. It can make you constipated, though, so mamas on Zofran need to eat fiber and drink plenty of water.”
— Bonnie Gonzalez, mom of two
Eat citrus at every meal
“I ate tangerines for every meal and snack for the first trimester. If I wasn’t eating, I felt nauseous.”
— Trang Le, mom of one
Try salty foods
“I handled my morning sickness with salty foods (plantain chips especially) and bagels.”
— Erika Greenblatt-Torres, mom of two
Wear motion sickness bands on your wrists
“I had all-day sickness with all four of my boys way past the first trimester, lasting longer with each. I was sick with my last baby up until I went into labor. Nothing made it go away completely, but motion sickness bands on my wrists helped a little, as did sour foods/drinks/candy.”
— Naomi Naughton, mom of four
*Disclaimer: The advice on Mom.com is not a substitute for consultation with a medical professional or treatment for a specific condition. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem without consulting a qualified professional. Please contact your health-care provider with questions and concerns.
