In the article “Foods that Worsen Morning Sickness,” I told you which foods you should avoid to help alleviate nausea during pregnancy. Here, we will look at the opposite side of the coin. Which foods are most likely to calm your stomach during your first trimester?
A general rule of thumb is that anything bland is usually best. Choose foods that are not very rich, spicy, or “exciting.” Crackers are a staple food for many pregnant women during their first trimesters. Regular Saltines seem to be the most popular morning sickness aid; keep them by your bed. Certain types of cereal or oatmeal may also do the trick, as well as my personal favorite: macaroni and cheese.
You may find that a food’s texture has some effect on whether it contributes to an upset stomach. If this is the case, try smooth, creamy foods such as pudding, yogurt, mashed potatoes, or ice cream or sherbet. Smoothies are excellent because they have a soft texture and you can make them at home with the ingredients you need most for an individualized healthy diet. A quick internet search will result in thousands of healthy smoothie recipes. Creamy peanut butter is another soft food that is very filling and provides protein; consider spreading it on a bagel, which is another bland but heavy food that many morning sickness sufferers find they can tolerate.
Some people swear by canned peach or pineapple juice as a morning sickness cure. Make sure that you buy the canned peaches that come in “thick syrup,” and just drink the sugary juice as soon as you wake up in the morning. It works because of the way it coats your stomach. While this generally helps to settle your nausea quite a bit, it only lasts for about half an hour. It may help you get out of bed in the morning, though, or be a lifesaver if you only experience short periods of nausea.
Other healthy foods that help morning sickness for many pregnant women are grapes, bananas, and granola or power bars. If these work for you, great–they are very convenient to carry around and keep handy whenever the nausea hits and you need a bit to eat.
Try sucking on hard candy or mints. It won’t help get many calories into your stomach, but it may help keep them there. The tastes and smells of peppermint and lemon drops work especially well for some pregnant women. You may also be able to drown out other unpleasant smells that make you feel ill by popping a mint into your mouth.
Finally, adopt a trial-and-error experimental approach to finding what works best for you and your unique body. The suggestions above are just guidelines of things that have worked well for other women. Take comfort in the fact that morning sickness often lasts only a few weeks. Most importantly, if you cannot keep any food down for a period of twenty-four hours or you have very severe nausea that lasts more than a few days, you should discuss this with your doctor. She or he should be able to suggest other remedies or prescribe medication.
