Morning Sickness Survival Guide

I’ve had bad morning sickness with both pregnancies. I threw up almost every day until 20 weeks with Archer and I’m 16 weeks now and still throwing up occasionally. I’m by no means a pro but I’ve started figuring out some things that are helpful-ish. None of this information is magical and it won’t get rid of pregnancy nausea but it will help!

Tell your doctor – I thought my morning sickness was totally normal because that’s just what happens when you’re pregnant, right? (throwing up all hours of the day and night every single day) but it really wasn’t. I didn’t have Hyperemesis Gravidarum and have to be hospitalized but I was borderline dehydrated for a while, just because I thought I just had to “tough it out”. Follow up tip: Take medication if you can! I was on Diclegis with Archer and Bonjesta this time around (same medicine, higher dosage this time). I have friends who have been on Zofran also. It is really helpful, even though it does add to the fatigue – the lack of nausea is amazing most of the time. (Sometimes it just straight up did nothing at all…)

Be Willing to Ask for Help – I didn’t the first time around, I just powered through and thought “I’m fine” and with toddler this time, I just can. not. do that. Find a friend who doesn’t mind you dropping your kid off to entertain with their own. Be okay with screen time. Daniel Tiger can be a co-parent for a while. It’s fine. Be okay cancelling plans for a bit if you need to be home and near a bed and a toilet. Ask friends to bring you any of the plain snacks or meals I have listed below!

Switch to Gummy Prenatals – I don’t care how “stomach friendly” vitamins are, if your stomach is empty, a normal powdered vitamin is hard on your system. I switched to these and love them (and Amazon has them cheaper than in store!)

Choose a Liquid You Can Tolerate – A gatorade flavor, ginger ale, sprite, etc. Water is great but if your electrolytes are depleted, you’ll need more of a boost. I created a hydration elixir this time around that’s been AMAZING to sip on – here’s the recipe. (Also, Naptime Kitchen has a great collagen water recipe that is similar but I just can’t do coconut water, not my fave) Whatever you decide, keep a few in the fridge to have on hand to SIP – don’t chug.

Find Something Mindless to Do – I think one of the hardest parts of morning sickness is the constant thought of “Am I going to throw up? Can I eat something? Will I throw it up? Can I leave the house?” I had to find something mindless to do to occupy my mind. A silly TV show like the Office or 30 Rock or an iphone game (I’m a Candy Crush fan, myself). Reading and writing took too much thought.

Okay now let’s talk about food, if you’re feeling sick right now, come back to this later 😉

Priority – avoid that “empty stomach” feeling. It makes nausea so much worse. So lets figure out some VERY plain snacks and foods to help keep your stomach balanced.

Find a Protein Shake You Like – I LOVE this one, I get it from Costco but I’ve seen it at Target and Central Market too. It doesn’t have a weird aftertaste and it’s easy to sip over time or drink quickly. Since it’s shelf stable I keep one in my purse if that empty stomach feeling hits me when I’m out or if I’m home and can’t think of a single food that sounds edible to me, I drink one.

Snack Ideas –
Crackers/Cookies: Graham Crackers (Target has these small stacks that are convenient in the car or your purse), Belvita Breakfast Biscuits, Triple Ginger Cookies from Trader Joe’s (AMAZING and stomach settling), Wheat Thins, Ritz Crackers, Vanilla Wafers, Peanut Butter Pretzels
GLUTEN FREE: Rice Crackers, Simple Mills Crackers, Rice Cakes.
Fruit: Berries, Precut fruit tray (make your life easier), dried fruit is good but if you’re not super hydrated, it can make your stomach feel WORSE since it’s absorbing water in your body that’s already sparse.
Cold: Popsicles, frozen fruit slightly thawed, sorbet, snow cones. (I also had a friend suggest making popsicles out of chamomile tea!)
Candy: I’m loving sweets this time around that have a sour kick to them. I feel like it kinda shocks my system and balances my stomach. No idea if that’s scientific or I’m just justifying the watermelon sour patch…Another great candy are these chewy Gin Gins, (I love the spicy apple ones and I’ve only been able to find them at Sprouts).

Keep a snack and drink by your bedside – The empty stomach feeling often hits me in the middle of the night so I’ll get up and eat a snack or drink some protein drink and it’s nice to not have to go to the kitchen.

Find a Meal You Can Tolerate – Pick one to make at home (that’s easy enough to instruct a husband to prepare ;)) and one that can be picked up from a restaurant so it’s easy to ask someone to pick up for you when you ask them to help you (because you WILL ask for help. Remember? See above). Here are a few ideas that I liked:

• Baked Potato (at home) – your family can eat it with veggies and chicken – barf.
• Baked Potato from McAlisters
• Bowl from Chipotle (with basically just beans and rice, Ha!)
• Grilled Cheese (at home) – family can eat with tomato or black bean soup.
• Grilled Cheese (off of pretty much any kids menu at a restaurant)

Some things that DIDN’T Work for me:
Preggie Pop Drops – for some reason I’ve thrown up every time I’ve eaten one. Probably just coincidence but I’ve stopped trying.
Essential oils – I literally can’t stomach smells. So unless the oils go on the bottom of my feet, I just can’t use them. Which is a bummer because I know how effective they can be!
Saltines – They were just dry and gross to me

Anything I’m missing from this survival guide?? Share in the comments below!

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