Combating 'Morning Sickness'

The following tricks have helped many women who have suffered nausea in pregnancy and have lived to tell about it:

• To prevent the queasiness that comes from an empty stomach during the night, eat something (such as a sandwich) before going to bed.
• Graze on bland snacks all day. Try crackers, rice cakes, dry cereal, and pretzels.
• Don't let yourself get dehydrated. Take in lots of liquids. In addition to water and juices, don't forget things like ice pops, sorbet, gelatin desserts, bouillon, and frozen grapes.
• Before getting out of bed, prop yourself up a bit and eat a cracker or some raisins. Don't drink anything. Then wait 15 minutes or so before standing up. This bit of digested food might keep your stomach calm.
• Some women calm nausea by smelling or sucking on a fresh cut lemon.
• Eat complex carbohydrates because they're easy to digest. These include fresh fruits and whole grains, such as wheat bread and pastas.
• If your symptoms are worse at a particular time of day, head them off by eating a small meal at least 30 minutes before they kick in.
• Try one of those pressure-point wristbands developed to ease the symptoms of motion sickness and seasickness. (Most pharmacies carry them.)
• Apply acupressure to the Neiguan point. With the thumb of one hand press on the other lower arm (with palm up) three inches below the wrist. Do this four times a day for 5 to 10 minutes each time.
• Many women find relief through acupuncture.

If these home remedies don't work, talk to your doctor. She might advise you to try an antacid or a B₆ vitamin supplement. If you're still spending too much time with your head in the toilet bowl and there's risk of dehydration, she might prescribe medication to calm the stomach upset.