All Educational Resources

Eating concerns in early pregnancy

Patient Education
Last reviewed

Eating Concerns in Early Pregnancy

What can I do if I have nausea (feel sick to my stomach)?

  • It may help to change what you eat and drink.
  • Try to eat before you get hungry.
    • Eat small meals more often.
    • Eat snacks between meals.
  • Low-fat breads and cereals are light and easy for your body to break down. They also give you energy.
  • Try popsicles, Pedialyte® Freezer Pops, or sherbet.
  • These may help:
    • Ginger candy or ginger snaps
    • Lemonade or lemon slices
    • Potato chips or crackers
  • Limit drinks during meals. Drink enough fluids between meals, especially water, diluted juices, and Sprite®.
    • To dilute juice, add water or let ice melt into your drink to lessen how strong it is.
  • Eat a high protein snack before bed and throughout the day to help keep your blood sugar normal. Some high protein foods are:
    • Almonds
    • Cheese and crackers
    • Cottage cheese
    • Eggs
    • Fruit with nut butter
    • Greek yogurt
    • Half a sandwich
    • Hummus
    • Protein bar
  • Eat right when you wake up, before getting out of bed. This will lessen stomach acid and help with nausea.  Put a snack next to your bed, such as:
    • Crackers
    • Dry cereal
    • Ginger snaps
    • Popcorn
    • Vanilla wafers
  • Do not eat greasy or spicy foods.
  • If you get nausea brushing your teeth, wait to brush until later in the day.
  • Have someone else do the cooking. Cooking smells can cause nausea.
  • Do not drink coffee or citrus juice (like orange juice). These can lead to more stomach acid.
  • Stop smoking. Smoking also leads to more stomach acid.
  • You may stop taking your iron supplement because it can upset your stomach. You can wait a few weeks and then start taking it again when your nausea is better.
  • You may take over-the-counter Pepcid® Complete (famotidine, calcium carbonate, and magnesium hydroxide) as needed for:
    • Heartburn
    • Indigestion (stomachache after eating)
    • GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease, when stomach acid rises into your throat and causes burning)
  • Listen to your body.  Do what works best for you.

What can I do if I am vomiting (throwing up)?

Nausea can lead to vomiting.  

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 take care of their nausea at home. 

  • Stop taking your prenatal vitamin until you do not have nausea.
    • If you stop taking your prenatal vitamin, start taking folic acid 0.4 mg (milligrams). This helps prevent neural tube defects. Start taking your prenatal vitamin again when you feel better.
  • Take vitamin B6 25 mg, 3 times each day.
  • Take Unisom® (doxylamine succinate) 25 mg at bedtime.
    • This medicine helps with sleep. You do not need a prescription. It also helps lessen stomach acids.
    • This medicine comes in 25 mg and 50 mg doses. Buy the 25 mg dose.
    • Generic is fine. This means you do not have to get the brand name Unisom®. You can look for ‘doxylamine succinate’ on the bottle.
    • You may take 12.5 mg (half of a pill) in the morning and 12.5 mg in the afternoon if you need help with nausea during the day.
    • It can cause drowsiness. Do not drive after taking it until you know how drowsy or tired you get.  
    • It can be taken with vitamin B6.
  • If you still have problems, try:
    • Ginger (1,000 mg each day or 250 mg 3 times each day)
    • Sea Band®  acupressure bands
  • Eat and drink as suggested for nausea (see above).
  • After vomiting, start sipping on fluids.
    • Try drinking 1 or 2 tablespoons every 15 minutes.
    • Start with clear fluids, such as 7-Up®, Pedialyte®, Pedialyte® Freezer Pops, popsicles, or Jell-O®.
    • Slowly start eating bland foods.
    • Eat snacks every 2 hours.
  • Eat and drink less dairy (like milk) until your nausea and vomiting are better. 

Call your care team if you are still having problems with vomiting.

  • They may be able to prescribe medicine to help.
  • They may want you to schedule a visit. 

Also, call your care team if you:

  • Feel dehydrated. Signs of dehydration are not peeing as much as normal and having dark urine (pee). You may need to be seen right away.
  • Are vomiting too much, such as vomiting each time you eat food or sip any drink. You may need to be seen right away.ing problems. There are medicines that can be prescribed to help. 

What can I do if I have heartburn?

  • Do not eat too much at any meal. Eat small meals more often. 
  • Do not lie down for at least 30 minutes after eating.
  • Do not eat or drink these because they can cause heartburn:
    • Coffee
    • Foods that are spicy
    • Fried or fatty foods
    • Chocolate
    • Citrus fruits (like oranges or grapefruit)
    • Onions
  • Do not smoke. This can also cause heartburn.
  • You may take over-the-counter Pepcid Complete® (famotidine, calcium carbonate, and magnesium hydroxide) or Prilosec® (omeprazole) as needed for:
    • Heartburn
    • Indigestion
    • GERD 

What can I do if I am constipated?

Constipation (having a hard time pooping) is very common in pregnancy. Causes may be: 

  • Pregnancy hormones
  • Not drinking enough fluids
  • Not eating enough high-fiber foods  
  • Taking iron or a prenatal vitamin
  • Doing less activity than normal

These may help: 

  • Eat high-fiber foods, such as:
    • Fresh fruits (try prunes or prune juice)
    • Whole-grain bread
    • Oatmeal
    • Popcorn
  • Drink plenty of fluids. Drink at least 8 glasses each day.
  • Eat and drink less caffeine.
  • Give yourself time when having bowel movement (pooping). Go to the bathroom right away when an urge is felt.
  • Exercise 30 minutes most days, such as going for a brisk walk.
  • Eat small meals more often. This is easier on your stomach than large meals.
  • When a laxative is needed, try MiraLAX® (polyethylene glycol) or Milk of Magnesia® (magnesium hydroxide).
    • These are safe during pregnancy.
    • You can buy them at most pharmacies.
    • Take the dose (how much medicine you take) listed 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.