Even before I found out that I was pregnant, I began researching into how to help with “morning sickness.” Eight years ago I suffered terribly, but it wasn’t until many years later that I found out I was following horrible advice. I absolutely hate throwing up. John says, “Just stick your finger down your throat.”
I was so glad to read that throwing up doesn’t relieve morning sickness only because I didn’t want John telling me this time to do that! I never drank very much during my “wild” teenage years (you can stop laughing if you knew me in HS; there was no such word as “wild” in my life at that time) because I didn’t want to have to go visit the toilet God. I can face cramps, gas, stretch marks, and weight gain, but please don’t give me throw up! Last time I spent so many times heaving that I can barely recall hours when I wasn’t. Of course, I would blame my hormones, but it was really the nurses at my OBGYN.
First, they told me that I needed to store saltine crackers by my bed and munch on those before rising. At the time I was living in Monterey, California-not a small town in the middle of nowhere. I believed they were well educated. I suppose their advice would have been okay if they had stopped there. But, almost in unison, the four or so regular nurses at the practice told me that a glass of orange juice in the morning would raise my sugar and help me deal with morning sickness. Every morning I was the uber* pregnant mom (may not be correct spelling, but that is what John calls me sometimes). I would eat my ten crackers; I would stumble out of bed, and down my 8oz of O.J. Everything would be fine for about an hour. Then my stomach would play with me for another hour, usually while I was in class, and then I would sprint for the bathroom. This occurred from the 2nd month to the 5th month. Gotta love those nurses. Best part about it, I kept thinking that if I waited a little longer, the wrinkles would iron out and the crackers/O.J. would start working correctly. It wasn’t until about seven years later that I was told never to drink and eat at the same time when I was feeling ill (thanks to my sister!) and that orange juice should really be avoided when one has an upset stomach because of all the acid. Gee…gotta love those nurses. I suppose that was their fun…pick on naïve pregnant women. I think it would have continued into the last part of the pregnancy except I finally ran out of crackers and switched to California grown strawberries.
Now I am a pro at this morning sickness stuff. Well, almost. There are still questions. For example, in several of the books and websites, writers warn that I should eat or drink, but not do both in the same meal. I just finished a cream of spinach soup; how does soup work in the liquids and solids department? It’s liquid, but it’s a solid. How does Vietnamese Pho work? It has a clear broth with tofu, veggies, and other interesting items floating about. Doesn’t that qualify as a liquid and a solid at the same time? I am also supposed to eat about every two hours and have small meals. Do I start the clock after I take my last bite of food or after I am finishing, with a rough estimate? Does it have to be precisely two hours? Sometimes, after one hour, I am hungry again…or is that indigestion? How can I tell the difference between hunger and indigestion? When I have eaten five Tums and there’s no change, then I suppose I could assume its hunger? What can I eat that helps avoid indigestion? And what equates a small meal? My sisters’ version of a small meal is different than mine. Is it a side salad, one small bowl of soup, and a bit of bread-or is that too big? These are questions that I ponder and when I am nausea, I question what food rule I broke.
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