Nausea and vomiting, or “morning sickness,” is experienced by just over half of all pregnant women. It is thought to be caused as a response by your body to the increased production of hormones that support the pregnancy. Morning sickness can actually occur at any time—day or night.  There are also various degrees nausea and/or vomiting that may be experienced during pregnancy.

Although there is no known cure for nausea & vomiting during pregnancy, there are several ways to help alleviate the symptoms:

• Eat small, frequent meals
• Always stay hydrated
• Avoid strong odors
• Avoid fried and/or spicy foods
• Use ginger to in the form of tea, candies or natural ginger ale
• Use acupressure wrist bands
• Take vitamin B₆ supplements

Nausea and vomiting usually resolves around the 12^th week of pregnancy. In some cases, nausea and vomiting can become severe enough to lead to dehydration and/or weight loss requiring medications and/or hospitalization. Please contact your physician if you start to experience symptoms later in pregnancy or if vomiting occurs more than twice a day.

Headaches during pregnancy are common, especially during the first and third trimesters. These headaches are usually caused by hormonal changes, fatigue, hunger, stress, caffeine withdrawal, sinus pressure or any combination of these. Fortunately, the frequency of these headaches significantly decreases in the second trimester.

Prevention and treatment of headaches during pregnancy depends on the cause. Methods of treatment include:

• Getting more rest
• Avoiding thirst and hunger
• Getting more fresh air
• Doing a relaxing activity (i.e. a massage or a warm bath)

Aspirin, ibuprofen and most prescription migraine medications are not recommended in pregnancy. If prevention and the use of home remedies fail, Tylenol® (acetaminophen) is recommended as a safe choice for relief. Please take as directed on the label.

Please call your doctor if:

• If your headache persists for more than a few hours
• Your headache is not relieved after trying the above treatments
• Your headache is accompanied by other symptoms such as blurryvision/visual disturbances or  puffiness of your hands and face.

Taking medication, except for prenatal vitamins, is discouraged during pregnancy without first checking with your physician. However, there are times when certain over the counter (OTC) medication may be necessary to take:

To Relieve Pain
Pain relievers, such as Tylenol® and other forms of acetaminophen, are widely considered to be safe during pregnancy. They can be used throughout pregnancy for headaches, fever, and other aches and pains. Aspirin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as Advil, Motrin and Aleve, should be avoided.

For Cold Symptoms
“Cough & Cold” medicines and decongestants including Sudafed (pseudoephedrine), Robitussin (dextromethrophan) or Guaifenesin in their original formulas (avoid multi-symptom formulas) are safe to use while pregnant.

To Treat Allergy Symptoms
For allergies, antihistamines such as Benadryl (Diphenhydramine), Claritin, or Zyrtec, have been deemed safe during pregnancy.

Alternative Medicines
Herbal supplements and teas have become popularly used as alternative medicines. Since the effect of herbs in pregnancy is not well known, the use of them should be limited.

Herbs to Avoid – borage, dong quai, licorice, cohosh, mistletoe, myrrh, sage, turmeric, vitex, ephedra, fenugreek, and ginseng. These herbs affect hormone levels and can potentially induce uterine contractions.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends the flu shot for every woman who will be pregnant during the flu season, which typically runs October through March.

Pregnancy changes your immune system and puts extra stress on the heart and lungs. This puts pregnant women at an increased risk of serious complications from the flu including pneumonia and respiratory distress. In addition, complications of the flu may cause miscarriage or preterm labor.

Studies show that flu shots in pregnancy also protect your baby after he or she is born. Babies whose mothers were vaccinated during pregnancy had a 41% lower risk of developing a flu infection.

You should get a flu shot even if you have had it in previous years because it is adjusted depending upon the different strains of flu predicted to come around each year. The 2010 flu vaccine also includes H1N1. Pregnant women should NOT receive the nasal spray flu vaccine, which is made with live virus.

What can you do to ensure a more comfortable flight? Take these precautions:

• Avoid sitting in a cramped position for extended periods oftime to help prevent swelling of the legs and blood clots—an occasional complication of pregnancy, due in part, to hormonal changes.
• Request an aisle seat and spend about 15 minutes each hour walking around the cabin, when airline personnel indicate it is safe to do so.
• Prior to flying, avoid foods that produce intestinal gas. Expansion of intestinal gas in flight can be particularly uncomfortable during pregnancy. Drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration caused by low humidity in the aircraft.

How can you make car travel safe and comfortable? As with air travel, long hours of sitting can leave an expectant woman with a backache and swollen ankles and feet, and at increased risk of blood clots. You can avoid these problems by stopping and walking around at least every two hours. It’s best to plan a leisurely trip without too many hours of driving in one day because travel during pregnancy tends to be more tiring.

It is especially important that you wear a seat belt. The leading cause of death in pregnancy has nothing to do with pregnancy complications—it is automobile accidents. To protect your self and your growing baby, position the lap belt below your abdomen, as low as possible on your hips, and fasten the shoulder harness above the uterus.

Sunscreens that penetrate the skin are perfectly safe for pregnant women because they enter in small concentrations. Not only are they safe, but if you spend lots of time outside, you’d be remiss not to wear it.

Many women find that their skin is more sensitive while they’re carrying, so you might want to consider a strong sun block such as zinc oxide or titanium dioxide if you’re going to be outside for a long time.

Even while you’re wearing sunscreen, you would be wise to avoid the sun in the hours around midday and to wear a sun hat, sunglasses, and protective clothing while you’re at the beach or on a picnic. Remember to reapply every two hours.

Apply sunscreen 20 minutes before venturing into the sun to prevent sunburn. Pregnant skin tends to be more prone to burning and blotching in the sun due to hormonal influences.

Good hydration is extremely important for a healthy pregnancy and postpartum period. Water flushes waste products from the cells and aids in liver and kidney function for both mom and the baby. During pregnancy, water is also needed for the body’s expansion as mom’s blood volume increases significantly. Insufficient water intake can be a factor in constipation, preterm labor, and miscarriage, and even slight dehydration can cause or contribute to fatigue.

Pregnant women typically need between 8-12, eight-ounce glasses per day, even higher if the weather is warm or you are exercising. Caffeinated and high-sugar beverages are actually dehydrating and should not count in your daily total of fluids. If you feel fatigued, increase your water consumption for a few days and see if you feel better.

• Run errands, go for walks, and do outdoor tasks in the morning or evening when it’s cooler.
• Wear light-colored cotton clothing that reflects sunlight. Dark colors will make you feel hotter.
• Stick to wearing natural fabrics such as cotton or linen that allow quick evaporation of moisture and allow your skin to breathe.
• Drink plenty of cool liquids. It’s especially important for you to remain hydrated when you’re pregnant in the surmner heat.
• If you feel lightheaded or dizzy, get out of the sun. Minimize your exposure to direct sunlight during the hours of 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
• Always sit in at least partial shade to keep from overheating.
• Take quick showers frequently to keep cool.
• Put your feet up often to alleviate swelling and improve circulation.
• Minimize salt intake to decrease swelling due to water retention.