The question:
I'm pregnant with my second child and am in the throes of morning sickness that really lasts all day. How am I supposed to cook for my family?
Chef Mom says:
Without a doubt, cooking while you feel nauseated is an absolutely miserable experience. The first thing you need to do is change your family's meal plans for awhile.
Especially if you're the chef, avoid certain foods that are more likely to knock you over with their smell. Steer clear of strongly flavored or strong smelling foods, such as garlic, onions, broccoli and cabbage. Open a window or turn on the fan -- make sure your kitchen is well-ventilated so odors don't linger.You will also want to avoid fatty (especially fried) foods and spicy foods. These can easily cause heartburn in anyone -- and when you're pregnant, it can be that much worse.
Don't forget that old standby: cereal. I have heard of women who practically lived on cold cereal for months at a time during their pregnancies.
Whatever it takes, don't go hungry. Winnie, a visitor to ePregnancy, says, "I finally figured out if I keep cheddar cheese crackers nearby. it seems to help keep something in my stomach until I can get dinner on the table."
Doula Cindy Harmon-Jones agrees, and says you should be sure to eat small amounts of food frequently to prevent low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). "On a short-term basis, nausea is made worse by hypoglycemia, the state that occurs when a woman doesn't eat enough and her blood sugar level drops." And don't forget the fluids -- best taken in-between meals to avoid the risk of more heartburn. "Dehydration reduces the blood volume, concentrating the hormones, and also makes nausea worse. Eating and drinking are both the short- and long-term keys to controlling nausea in pregnancy," notes Harmon-Jones.
That said, be careful what you eat! Cecilia, a third-time mom, says, "With each of my kids I had awful nausea for a good two months, like from week 8 to 16 or so. And each time I found one kind of food that I latched onto. ONE food that didn't make me want to hurl... and now I cannot stomach the thought of ever eating them again." Of the burritos she craved during her last pregnancy, she says, "I tried eating one the other day. It was like --WHAM!-- I was in full morning sickness mode again."
Take this time day-by-day, and ask for your family's understanding if they're getting tired of simple meals. Perhaps you can even suggest they go out to dinner on their own -- and let you have a little quiet time. Soon enough, you'll have a new baby, and quiet time will be hard to come by!
