Pregnancy - What to Expect

Nausea, with or without vomiting, is common in early pregnancy. Nausea occurs in 50-90% of pregnancies and it can be due to hormonal fluctuations.

– Use ginger (peeled or grated) on food or as a tea infusion and sparkling water with lemon.
– Eat little and often: starchy foods e.g. toast, crackers, rusks, rice, pasta or peeled almond.
– If you can’t go out of bed, eat a small piece of cracker or rusk or dry toast before standing.
– Drink little and often instead of having big quantity of water during meals.
– Eat easy and simple meals. Usually warm, bland, non-greasy foods are better tolerated.
– Avoid foods with strong odours and flavours.

Very common in the third trimester and it is usually due to the fetus that is pushing on your stomach.

– Use ginger (peeled or grated) on food or as a tea infusion and sparkling water with lemon.
– Eat little and often: starchy foods e.g. toast, crackers, rusks, rice, pasta or peeled almond.
– Eat small and frequent meals and do not snacks in 2-3 hours before bedtime.
– Avoid fatty foods and prefer something easy to be digested.
– Limit irritant foods e.g. citrus, coffee, spices, tomato, mint, chocolate, garlic and onion.
– Drink some camomile or fennel tea.
– Avoid wearing very tight clothing, or belt/tight dress on the stomach area.
– If you suffer from night-time reflux, slightly raise the headboard of the bed.– Drink little and often instead of having big quantity of water during meals.
– Eat easy and simple meals. Usually warm, bland, non-greasy foods are better tolerated.
– Avoid foods with strong odours and flavours.

Due to higher levels of progesterone, which relaxes smooth muscle tissue of your intestine.
This slows down your digestion, causing constipation. In the third trimester, the fetus is also pushing on your intestine, worsening the condition.

– Eat fruit, vegetables (especially kiwi, banana, papaya, pumpkin, leafy green), whole grains.
– Sip at least 2.5 L of water per day. Use prune water (simmer 15-20 dried prunes in 2 L of water for about 2 hours, till water turn brown color. Discard the prunes and drink the warm
water during the day).
– Try to be active and walk every day, this can help with regular bowel movements.
– Use sometimes overnight soaked chia or flax seeds and add them to your oat or milk.

Due to higher levels of progesterone, which relaxes smooth muscle tissue of your intestine. This slows down your digestion, which can lead to gas, bloating, burping, and flatulence.

– Reduce the consumption of gassy foods: beans, cabbage, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, asparagus, onions, watermelon, mango, cherry, blackberry, lychee and dried fruits.
– Avoid carbonated drinks. Drink from a cup or glass, not from a bottle or through a straw.
– Avoid artificial sweetener: stevia, sorbitol, xylitol, maltitol, mannitol, aspartame, etc…
– Take your time and chew thoroughly during meals.
– Don’t chew gum.