I’m so glad I discovered this trick early on this pregnancy. It’s been a real lifesaver!
Previous to this discovering this trick, I was doing the same things I’d done with my other two pregnancies to ease nausea – I would keep saltine crackers next to the bed and eat a few if I woke up during the night. I would also eat a few crackers before getting out of bed in the morning. The crackers were mildly comforting in the short term although it became a bit of a chore to choke the dry crackers down each time. Never mind the mess that came from eating crackers in bed!
I read that eating protein is excellent for nausea associated with pregnancy. Proteins make one feel fuller, longer. Part of the problem with morning sickness is that it seems exaggerated on an empty stomach. And once that nausea hits, it becomes difficult to eat anything and the nausea persists.
The big trick that’s been working for me is drinking serving of Carnation Instant Breakfast in the morning before getting out of bed. I am lucky – my husband mixes the shake for me when he gets up for work. I drink it in bed and then go back to sleep until the kids wake up. By the time I get up for the day, I have something in my tummy (and not just empty calories), but I also immediately eat a regular breakfast – usually cereal – to keep on top of my hunger.
The Carnation Instant Breakfast mix comes in canisters or individual pouches and are mixed with 1 cup of milk. One serving contains as much protein as two eggs, and among other vitamins, it even contains vitamin B6 that is recommended for morning sickness. And of course, the calcium in milk is essential for pregnant and nursing women. The mix is available in a variety of chocolate flavors, but also strawberry and vanilla. I love chocolate so that’s the flavor I opt for, and let me tell you, it tastes SO GOOD going down in the morning. The chocolate flavors do contain very small amounts of caffeine but not in harmful amounts – about as much as in a serving of decaffeinated coffee.
It’s still sometimes a chore for me to continue to eat enough throughout the day, but starting off on the right foot makes everything easier. I still have some nausea, but it’s usually later in the day when I haven’t been eating enough. In other words, it’s usually my fault when I start feeling green again.
I’ll also have a Carnation Instant Breakfast drink as a snack during the day if I feel like I need something nutritious and am not in the mood to cook or prepare anything else. It’s a great pick-me-up!