Week 7 ~ Dealing with Morning Sickness Part 2

Baby's now the size of a blueberry!
Baby's brain -- both hemispheres! -- is growing fast, generating about one hundred new cells every minute. Arms and legs are emerging as joints start to form, and a permanent set of kidneys (baby's third!) is now in place.  (http://www.thebump.com/)

Did you notice the amount of change in the baby from last week (week 6) to this week~amazing!  Looking more like a baby now!  My children have LOVED knowing what fruit the baby is the same size as each week.  Today, when i told them that the baby was the size of a blueberry, my 6yo quickly ran to the freezer to grab a blueberry and then ran to everyone in the house to show them the size.  Something so simple, yet will leave a concrete image in their minds of their growing sibling!

So back to Morning Sickness:

{If you missed the first part click here.}

My morning sickness usually kicks in around 6 weeks and gets gradually worse each week until it lets up around 16-20 weeks.  I mainly deal with nausea off and on or 24 hours a day but only throw-up a few times each pregnancy.  However, I have definitely noticed a difference in gender pregnancies.  My nausea is much worse with girl pregnancies than boy pregnancies, for sure.  However, i have more energy and feel better in between the nausea with a girl pregnancy.  With boys, i feel pretty blah and boring the whole pregnancy.

So far this pregnancy, I have moments of nausea and not feeling well, but the rest of the time, I feel great and have to keep reminding myself that I am pregnant.  Not sure if the bean diet is working, less dairy/meat in my diet or just a blessing from the Lord, but I am not complaining, because it may change at any moment.

One very important factor in combating nausea is REST!  Your body is working double hard and double over time to grow this amazing new human being inside you, so it would be logical that it would need extra rest.  I know it can be difficult with other children, especially little ones, but figure out a system that works so you can lay down every day.  I've spent many pregnancies on the couch resting/sleeping while little ones watch a video, lay with me, play, or look at books.  Now that i have older children, the day continues on with or with out me.  They know our schedule and follow it as best they can, until i am feeling better.  My number one rule before i lay down is to lock all of our doors and instruct everyone on what they are to do while i rest, especially to stay inside. 

I usually have 2 types of nausea~ lack of food (ie hunger makes me feel nauseated) and eating too much food.  All of the books say to not eat 3 regular meals a day, but rather, 6 smaller meals with healthy snack in between.  This is great advice!  I find that if i am not careful to eat just enough or less than i think i need, versus a little too much, then i feel really bad and only feel better after laying down to rest or sleep (even if only for a few minutes).  The hunger nausea is easily combated by eating something immediately with complete proteins ie cheese and crackers, rice and beans, a handful of nuts or seeds (i love tamari pumpkin seeds), a spoonful of almond butter or peanut butter and a few crackers or pretzels.  The longer i ignore the hunger, the longer it takes to feel better after I do get something to eat.  Of course, the advice to eat some crackers before you even get out of bed is important too.  This will make a huge difference in your morning if you just do it every day.  If crackers are too messy, get a baggie and fill it with pretzels to keep by your bed and eat a handful before getting up.  I also keep a water bottle with it to wash down those dry snacks.

Also, keep snacks with you at all times.  Don't leave home without something to eat readily available.  I usually fill baggies with nut mixes (from the bulk bins at HEB), pretzels, or cheese sticks and crackers.  I also have Altoid peppermints in my purse and water with me at all times.  It takes a little forethought and planning, but is so worth it!

Next week we'll talk about vitamins and books!

Do you have any other tips or ideas?  Leave me a comment to share!