Moms Talk: Coping with Morning Sickness

“How long does this morning sickness last!!!!!!!”

I felt for my newly pregnant friend Rebecca when I saw that emphatic Facebook post the other week. She and her husband are expecting their first child, and with the joy comes the big drag for so many expectant mothers—morning sickness.

The term is quite the misnomer because it usually lasts throughout the day. At least, that’s what I hear. There are currently no Ann Juniors cavorting around the PV landscape (You’re welcome!), so I have to rely on what I’ve seen and heard from other friends and family members, including my mother*.

Wanting to provide a little more help for this mom-to-be, I put this case before my Moms Council members. Read their stories and advice below, and feel free to share your own!

Christine Mawhinney Lark:

Eat crackers before she gets out of bed. Try to eat and drink whatever she is craving—don’t worry about what it is—anything is better then nothing. I liked fruit punch; the sweetness in it seemed to help me much more then water. Also, keep food in her stomach; don’t let it get empty. Hopefully around 12 weeks, she will feel better.

Joanne LaSpina:

(With the first pregnancy) I actually went on disability for two months. I threw up constantly, so I had regular appointments like every other day at the doctor to check my salt levels. They were taking blood constantly to make sure all the levels were fine. They kept explaining to me the baby was fine; the baby was taking what the baby needed. It was just that I needed to keep my strength up, but I could only eat potatoes—baked and mashed. I was worried I wasn’t getting nutrients. They kept saying, ‘It’s fine. You have the nutrients in you; the baby’s taking that.’

It probably lasted five or six months. It was a long time, which is not typical. Usually after three months, it gets better.

I definitely had morning sickness with the second one, but nothing like that.

I tried ginger root tea; I tried Sea Bands, which might have helped a little bit. Popsicles seemed to help, fruit juices. I tried to make sure I got 100-percent fruit popsicles just to get nutrients. They recommended Pedialyte popsicles; anything you would do for dehydration—really bland food. I think potatoes worked.

It did help having Saltines or crackers on my nightstand, so if I would wake up during the night, I would just suck on a cracker. Or first thing in the morning I would eat a cracker.

Words of encouragement: It will end, and it’s all worth it.

*Thank you for putting up with morning sickness—and the 16 hours of labor—for me, Mom.