Morning sickness is a common discomfort among pregnant women. In fact, according to the American Pregnancy Association (APA), more than half of all pregnant women have some form of morning sickness.http://www.americanpregnancy.org/pregnancyhealth/morningsickness.html While there is no guaranteed cure that works for all women, there are numerous steps pregnant women can take to reduce the symptoms of morning sickness.

Typical morning sickness consists of nausea and/or vomiting during the first few months of pregnancy. It is triggered by the changes, both physical and hormonal, that happen in a woman’s body during pregnancy. Unlike the name implies, morning sickness does not always occur in the morning. It is often at its worst at the beginning of the day, but may happen at any time or continue for the entire day. Morning sickness differs for each pregnant woman and for each pregnancy.http://www.babyzone.com/pregnancy/health_wellness/symptoms/article/morning-sickness-solutions Some women have little to no symptoms, while others experience morning sickness for the duration of their pregnancy. For most pregnant women, nausea and/or vomiting occur only for the first few months and then ceases. While it is inconvenient and uncomfortable, it is not harmful to the mother or unborn child.

If you experience severe and prolonged morning sickness symptoms, it is important that you discuss the issue with your physician. Pregnant women who deal with extreme nausea and vomiting, weight loss and are unable to keep food in their stomachs may have hyperemesis gravidarum, which can be harmful if left untreated because it creates an imbalance of necessary electrolytes and nutrients.http://www.webmd.com/baby/managing-morning-sickness

Morning sickness is not exclusive to first thing in the morning, but it tends to be stronger then. When the stomach is empty, the nausea is worse. Prior to getting out of bed, eat a light breakfast to help settle a queasy stomach.http://www.webmd.com/baby/managing-morning-sickness Leave a small bowl of dry cereal or crackers on the bedside table the night before or ask a family member to bring it to you.

Pregnant women often develop odor aversions. Strong scents like cigarette smoke, cooking meat and coffee are common triggers.http://www.babyzone.com/pregnancy/health_wellness/symptoms/article/odd-pregnancy-symptoms Basically, if it makes you nauseous to smell it, avoid it as much as possible.

It’s sometimes tempting to lie down when you’re not feeling well, but lying down flat will actually make the nausea or heartburn worse. Instead, when your stomach is unsettled it is best to sit, stand or prop your head and upper body with a pillow or wedge.http://www.survivemorningsickness.com/Morning-sickness-key-facts/morning-sickness-causes.asp# This will cause stomach acid to stay down where it belongs and will help queasiness to settle quicker.

Morning sickness is stronger when the stomach is empty. Keep your meals light and avoid greasy or spicy foods because they will increase heartburn and nausea. Do away with the idea that you should only eat three meals a day. Between the needs of the baby and your body’s own needs, food is being used up quickly. To keep nausea at bay, try breaking your meals into five or six nutrient rich mini-meals. This will also help to keep your energy levels from dipping low by providing a constant source of replenishment. You won’t be eating more, simply more often.http://www.parenting.com/article/Pregnancy/Symptoms-and-Fixes/New-Thoughts-on-Nausea

During pregnancy, extra saliva can build up in your mouth. This may also bring on feelings of nausea. http://www.babyzone.com/pregnancy/health_wellness/symptoms/article/odd-pregnancy-symptoms Keep spit under control by chewing gum or sucking on mints. Brushing your teeth often will also help, if it doesn’t trigger your gag reflex.

Try to consume at least six and eight 8 oz. glasses of water a day. Limit the amount of caffeinated or carbonated drinks because they may cause heartburn and nausea. Also, your pregnant body requires more water and depriving it of the proper amount could cause dehydration. Dehydration will increase feelings of nausea and may also be dangerous to you and your baby.http://www.survivemorningsickness.com/Diet-Tips-for-morning-sickness/nutrition-for-morning-sickness.asp