Nausea%20-and-%20vomiting Patient Education

Dietary Modifications

• Intake of food and fluids should be frequent, in small amounts, and at room temperature
• Spicy or fatty foods and cold, sweet, tart or carbonated beverages should be avoided
• Indigestible or partially digestible material should be avoided

Nausea and Vomiting of Pregnancy

• Encourage vitamin supplementation, particularly Folic acid, for pregnant women
  • Prenatal vitamins may be taken a month prior to pregnancy to decrease the incidence and severity of nausea and vomiting
• Protein-rich meals may be preferable for alleviating symptoms compared to carbohydrate- or fat-rich meals
• Crackers and dry or bland foods may be taken in the morning before getting up
• Enteral nutrition should be considered in the dehydrated patient or those with significant or persistent weight loss who are unresponsive to antiemetics
  • Parenteral nutrition can be given to pregnant women who are unable to tolerate enteral feeding
• IV Thiamine initially with the rehydration fluid then daily for 2-3 days followed by IV multivitamin or as per local protocol should be considered in women who require IV hydration and who have vomited for >3 weeks