Pregnancy is an incredible journey filled with many milestones, but it’s not without its challenges. One of the most common challenges is morning sickness. In fact, about 70% of pregnant women experience it. Unfortunately, it’s not always in the morning, despite the name.

Morning sickness typically starts around week 6 of pregnancy and reaches its peak at 9 weeks. For most women, morning sickness will resolve itself between weeks 12 and 14. However, for some, it may persist throughout the pregnancy.

Did you know that morning sickness is proven to be genetic? If your mom or sister had severe morning sickness in their pregnancies, it’s likely that you will too. It’s essential to let your doctor know if you’re experiencing severe morning sickness, so they can provide the best advice to help you manage it.

Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to help prevent or alleviate morning sickness symptoms. One of the most effective ways is to eat smaller meals more frequently. Eating every 2-3 hours will keep your blood sugar levels stable, which can help prevent nausea.

Mint tea is also a great option to help alleviate nausea. Ginger candies or ginger tea can also help. Some women also find that eating foods high in carbs and low in fat can help reduce morning sickness symptoms.

It’s also essential to get plenty of sleep and rest during pregnancy, especially if you’re experiencing morning sickness. Lack of sleep can make nausea worse and make it harder to manage.

Lastly, try eating some crackers or dry toast first thing in the morning. This can help settle your stomach and prevent morning sickness from kicking in.

In conclusion, morning sickness is a common experience for many pregnant women. While it’s not always possible to prevent it entirely, there are things you can do to manage and alleviate the symptoms. If you’re experiencing severe morning sickness, it’s important to talk to your healthcare provider to get the best advice and support. With a few helpful tips and some self-care, you can navigate through morning sickness and enjoy a healthy pregnancy.

It’s always best to check with your doctor with your specific circumstances to see what is safe for you to take while pregnant. But to give you an idea, here are some general safe medications you can take while pregnant.

What medications can I take?

Tylenol

Claritin

Benadryl

Some medicines for depression

Tums

What medications can’t I take?

Pepto-Bismol

Phenylephrine or pseudoephedrine (during 1st trimester)

Guaifenesin (during 1st trimester)

Advil, Motrin, Aleve

We hope this list gives you a general idea of what is safe & what isn’t, but please contact your doctor for specific medications you may be taking to learn whether those are safe during your pregnancy or not!

#1 What to Expect When You’re Expecting

You are probably familiar with the title of Amazon’s #1 selling pregnancy book, What to Expect When You’re Expecting. If you’re looking for an easy, informative week-by-week read, this is the book for you! This book is full of information for first time mothers. If you don’t want to overwhelm yourself with pregnancy books & reading, just get this one.

#2 Expecting Better

If you’re looking for a data based read. The Author, Emily Oster, states many fact-driven points to help you make the right decision for YOU! This book helps you make educational choices on every major decision during pregnancy.

#3 Cribsheet

This book is another fact-driven, easy read from Oster. If you have anxiety from all the (mis) information out there, you’ll enjoy this book. It’s full of myth-busting & helps put your anxious thoughts to ease.

#4 Bumpin’

This book is a great read for first time modern moms. It states the facts without being controversial, & the author has great insights from her personal birth story. It’s a balanced mix between personal stories & educational content. This book feels more like having a conversation with a good friend rather than being talked down upon from a doctor.

#5 50 Things to Do Before You Deliver

If you’re looking for an interactive, quick read, this is it. Jill Krause gives great advice while being realistic. It’s not all strict rules, but rather an overall encouragement book for you. A reminder that what you’re doing is amazing, & you are doing a great job! This book is down-to-earth, & less clinical feeling than our other recommendations, but still has great information!

So you just found out you’re pregnant? Prenatal vitamins get you all the nutrients for a healthy pregnancy! & it’s best to start them ASAP!

Ideally, you should be taking prenatal vitamins before you even get pregnant! We suggest if you’re trying to get pregnant, it is a good idea to start on prenatal vitamins. But if you haven’t been taking prenatal vitamins & you’re pregnant now, start as soon as possible!

Why they are important:

• Folic Acid– helps with the prevention of defects with the neutral tube.
• Iron– helps support development of fetus & placenta

Here is what you should look for in a prenatal vitamin:

• Folic Acid
• Iron
• Calcium
• Vitamin D
• Vitamin C
• Vitamin E
• Vitamin A
• Zinc
• Iodine

Talk to your healthcare provider, they may suggest for you to take more dosage of some of these vitamins for your specific circumstances!

Just found out you’re pregnant? A good place to start is to find a doctor you click with. Here are a few of our top tips on finding a doctor in your area that will be the best fit for you! You can focus on growing that little one!

Get advice from friends & family

 Let’s be real, nothing is worse than not feeling like you’re being understood by your doctor. Best way to get in with an OBGYN that you click with? Ask your friends & family! Ask them what they liked about their OBGYN to see if they’d be a good fit for you. Get their information so you don’t forget to give them a call!

Choose a OBGYN that takes your insurance

It’s better to find out your coverage options right off the bat so there are no surprises down the road. Check out your insurance provider’s website to see exactly what’s covered. It’s best to get this figured out right away!

Check on locations

It may seem like an obvious statement, but the location is huge! Are they somewhere convenient for you? Are you willing to make the longer drive for someone who specializes in a specific category? These are all things to keep in mind when choosing your doctor.

Make a list of “must haves”

What are you looking for in your healthcare provider? Do you prefer a man or a woman? Do you have any specific preferences? Make a list of all of these! Put a star by the deal breakers so you know exactly what to look for! Start telling friends & family what you’re looking for too, so they can keep an ear out for you!

Know you can always switch doctors

You’re not locked in. Above all else, don’t stress about it too much! If you’re not clicking, there are always other doctors out there, happy to accept new clients! If you try out your doctor & it’s not a good fit, start calling some of those other recommendations you’ve kept from friends.

We hope you find the perfect fit for your specific needs!