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Eating concerns in early pregnancy

Patient Education
Last reviewed

Nausea

  • Changing what you eat and drink may help.
  • Eat small meals more often. Try to not get hungry. 
  • Eat snacks between meals.
  • Low fat bread and cereal are easy to digest. They also give you energy. 
  • Try popsicles, Pedialyte Pops® or Sherbet.
  • Lemonade, lemon slices, potato chips, and crackers may help.
  • Limit drinks during meals. Get enough liquids between meals, especially water, diluted juices, and Sprite®.  
  • Eat a high-protein snack before bed to stabilize your blood sugar, such as:
    • Cottage cheese
    • Cheese and crackers
    • Half a sandwich
  • Eat right when you wake up, before rising.  This will lessen stomach acid and help with nausea.  Put a snack next to your bed, such as:
    • Crackers
    • Popcorn
    • Dry cereal
    • Vanilla wafers
  • Do not eat greasy or spicy foods. 
  • If brushing your teeth triggers nausea, wait to brush until later in the day.
  • Have someone else do the cooking.  Cooking odors can cause nausea. 
  • Avoid eating or drinking coffee or citrus. These can lead to more stomach acid.
  • Stop smoking. Smoking also leads to more stomach acid.
  • Take iron supplements only as you are told. Iron can upset the stomach. Taking the vitamin can be delayed for a few weeks if it causes nausea.
  • You may take over the counter Pepcid Complete® as needed for:
    • Heartburn
    • Indigestion
    • Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
Listen to your body. Do what works best for you.

Vomiting

Nausea can lead to vomiting. Call your care team if you are vomiting too much and feel dehydrated. Too much vomiting can be vomiting each time you eat or sip any food or drink. Signs of dehydration are not peeing as much as normal and having dark urine. You need to be seen that day if this is happening to you.  

Vomiting is common in early pregnancy. People who vomit 1 or 2 times a day, but can keep most food and fluids down, can often manage nausea at home. Try: 

  • Stopping your prenatal vitamin (PNV) until you do not have nausea. 
    • If you stop your PNV, start taking folic acid 0.4 mg. This helps prevent neural tube defects. Restart you PNV when you feel better. 
  • Take Vitamin B6 25 mg 3 times each day.
  • Take Unisom® (doxylamine succinate) 25 mg at bedtime.
    • It is a sleep aid. You do not need a prescription. It helps lessen stomach acids.
    • You can get 25 mg and 50 mg doses. Buy the 25 mg dose.
    • Generic is fine.
    • You may take 12.5 mg (1/2 tab) in the morning and afternoon if you need help with nausea during the day. 
    • It can cause drowsiness. Do not drive after taking it until you know how it affects you. 
    • It can be taken with vitamin B6.
  • If you still have problems, try: 
    • Ginger 1000 mg each day or 250 mg 3 times each day
    • Sea Bands® (These work well for some people.)
  • Eat and drink as suggested for nausea.
  • After vomiting, start sipping on fluids.  Try drinking 1 or 2 tablespoons every 15 minutes.  Start with clear liquids, such as 7-Up®, Pedialyte®, Pedialyte Pops®, popsicles or Jell-O®.  Slowly start eating bland foods.  Eat snacks every 2 hours. 
  • Eat and drink less dairy until nausea and vomiting are better. 
  • Call your care team to talk about a prescription and visit if you keep having problems. There are medicines that can be prescribed to help. 

Heartburn

  • Do not eat too much at any meal. Eat small meals often instead.
  • Do not lie down for at least 30 minutes after eating.
  • Do not take in the following, they can cause heartburn:
    • Smoking
    • Coffee
    • Foods that are spicy
    • Fried or fatty foods
    • Chocolate
    • Citrus fruits
    • Onions
  • You may take over-the-counter Pepcid Complete® (famotidine) or Prilosec® (omeprazole) as needed for: 
    • Heartburn
    • Indigestion
    • Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)

Constipation

Constipation is very common in pregnancy.

Causes may be:

  • Hormones of pregnancy that slow the movements of the intestine.
  • Not drinking enough fluids to meet the higher demands of pregnancy.
  • Not eating enough high-fiber foods.  
  • Taking iron or the prenatal vitamin.
  • Doing less activity than normal.

Constipation can be helped by:

  • Eating high-fiber foods, such as:
    • Fresh fruits (try prunes or prune juice)
    • Whole grain bread
    • Oatmeal
    • Popcorn
  • Drinking plenty of fluids. Drink at least 8 glasses each day.
  • Eat and drink less caffeine.
  • Allow time for a bowel movement. Go right away when an urge is felt.
  • Exercise 30 minutes most days, such as going for a walk.
  • Eat frequent, small meals. This is easier to digest than large meals.
  • When a laxative is needed, try Miralax® (polyethelyne glycol) or Milk of Magnesia® (magnesium hydroxide).
    • These are safe during pregnancy.
    • Buy them at most pharmacies.
    • Take as directed on the bottle.
    • Take each night at bedtime with 8 ounces of water or fruit juice.
    • Slowly take more as needed. You should have 1 bowel movement each day. These can be taken long-term without side effects. Take Colace® (docusate sodium) 100 to 150 mg by mouth up to 3 times each day as needed.
    • It works 1 to 3 days after the first dose. 
    • Take it with enough water. 

We do not often suggest enemas or suppositories during pregnancy.  A provider may suggest it in some situations.