Nausea%20-and-%20vomiting%20in%20pregnancy Patient Education

Diet

• Pregnant women should be instructed to eat small, frequent meals that are high in carbohydrates and low in fat
• Solid foods should be bland tasting
• Salty foods such as salted crackers and potato chips usually can be tolerated early in the morning
• Sour and tart liquids such as lemonade often are tolerated better than water
• Spicy, fatty, acidic, sweet and odorous foods should be avoided
• Prenatal vitamins, when taken at night, may improve nausea and vomiting in pregnancy (NVP); taken preconception for prophylaxis
• Delaying iron supplement may help decrease NVP

Avoidance of Strong Sensory Stimuli

• Nauseous women should avoid food textures and smells that tend to cause nausea

Emotional Support

• Women experiencing NVP need reassurance and appropriate support from family members, medical and nursing staff
• Expert consultation is advised if a pregnant woman is depressed, domestic violence is suspected, or if there is evidence of substance abuse or in the presence of psychiatric illness

Other Measures

• Fatigue tends to exacerbate NVP; therefore, women should be encouraged to increase their rest periods
• Women should also be advised to avoid other triggers (eg loud noises, heat, physical or visual movement, increased pressure on abdomen)