Pregnancy & Baby 

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Severe morning sickness

It is of no help to tell you that despite its prevalence, its cause is still a mystery. Several theories abound. However, treating the cause is not an option, but treating the symptoms is. It is important to eliminate anxiety. At this point, do not worry about your wife’s nutritional intake, with the exception of a supplement prescribed by her doctor. What will stay down, is what should be eaten. Your wife should find those foods, however few they may be, that she can tolerate, and focus on those. Find out the strategies that work for eating, while minimizing the vomiting and nausea. The following are a few tips – I hope some of these help.

• Always keep a little something in your stomach. Hunger seems to heighten the nausea, and then eating to appease the hunger exaggerates it. This means eating a small amount about every two hours.
• Limit intake of sweet foods, which may enhance nausea.
• Include foods that have a concentrated caloric and nutrient density in order to maximize intake in a small volume.
• Avoid fatty or greasy foods. They take longer to digest
• Drink beverages separate from eating foods.
• Keep dry, complex carbohydrates around to nibble on, especially before getting up in the morning.
• Some women find that low sugar, carbonated beverages help. Try soda water mixed with a little juice.
• Drink slowly, a few sips at a time.
• Drink ginger ale or ginger tea, or nibble on ginger snaps. Researchers who have studied ginger have found it to work as well, or better than, some pharmaceuticals in fighting motion sickness and morning sickness.
• Be sure to drink in order to avoid dehydration.
• Keep in touch with your doctor in order to avoid any complications that may arise as a result of the vomiting or lack of eating.
• Try wearing an acupressure wrist band - the type worn by boaters to avoid seasickness.
• Ask your doctor about a vitamin B6 supplement. This has been found effective in women with severe morning sickness.
• Find which foods you can tolerate, the times at which you can best eat, and then go with that. For now try not worry that you are living on plain rice and dry cornflakes.

You can help by offering support and sympathy. Take over the jobs that are apt to heighten her nausea, such as cooking the meals, feeding baby number one, nappy changing, feeding the cat, grocery shopping or cleaning the bathroom. Help her to avoid fatigue, as that can make it worse. Encourage her to get as much rest as possible. That might mean taking a nap when she gets home from work, or getting some extra sleep in the morning. I hope that this pregnancy is different from the first and that she finds some relief after the first trimester is over.

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