All Archives
NOTE: Opinions and advice provided on this website are based on the personal experience of the author, Stacy Quarty. Ms. Quarty in no way claims to be a professional source of medical, psychological or statistical information.

• Alcohol Consumption

• Am I Pregnant?

• Back Pain

• Belly Issues

• Birth Control

• Bleeding

• Body Odors

• Breast Changes

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• Calculating Conception / Due Dates

• Cancer

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• Chronic Health Problems

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• Contractions

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• Diet & Exercise

• Drug Use

• Ectopic Pregnancy

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• Epidurals

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• Fertility Drugs

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• Genetics

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• Getting Pregnant

• Hair

• Harmful to the Fetus?

• Heartburn

• Heightened Thermostat

• Hemorrhoids

• Horror-monal Hysteria

• Hysterical Husbands & Partners

• Incompetent Cervix

• IVF (Invitro Fertilization)

• Labor
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• Miscellaneous

• Morning Sickness

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• Placenta Previa

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• Postpartum Depression

• Post-Pregnancy Issues

• Premature Labor

• Pre-Menopause

• Prenatal Testing

• Pregnancy Symptoms?

• Rh Factor

• Sex, Orgasms & Masturbation

• Single Parenting

• Skin Changes

• Sleep Deprivation

• STD (Sexually Transmitted Disease)

• Teen Pregnancy

• Tilted Cervix

• Unknown Pregnancy

• Unwanted Advice, Comments & Touching

• Uterine Cramps & Pains

• UTI (Urinary Tract Infections)

• Vaginal Discharge

• Vaginal Pain

• Vaginal Swelling

• Vaginal Tears

• Varicose Veins

• VBACs (Vaginal Birth After Cesarean)

• Weight Gain

• Worries During Delivery

• Yeast & Bacterial Infections

Q. I miscarried about four months ago, and now I'm pregnant again. I think I must be about nine weeks along. I have pretty bad morning sickness ALL DAY LONG. Are there certain foods I can eat to avoid so much nausea?
-Anonymous, Arizona

A. Anyone who's experienced morning sickness knows that the name doesn't give an appropriate description. Most women who have it experience it all day long. However, it can be a little worse in the morning because of an empty stomach.

Just like being sick with a virus or flu, the best foods for nausea tend to be the simplest. You can try the BRAT diet – bananas, rice, apples, tea & toast. Ginger ale and saltine crackers may also be helpful. During my bouts of morning sickness I would have my car, office, bedroom and kitchen stocked with saltines. Having a little something in your stomach at all times can help keep stomach acids under control and the nausea to a minimum.

One more thing you may want to try: I've just discovered "Preggie Pops." I haven't personally tried these lollipops, but they are getting terrific reviews for helping with morning sickness. See: preggiepop.com for more information.

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Q. I am three months pregnant and only weigh in at 109 - 110 lbs. Is that okay? I only weighed 107 at the beginning and I've had pretty intense morning sickness. I am 5'5" tall. Is this a normal weight?
-Anonymous, Idaho

A. Some women actually lose weight in the first trimester due to excessive morning sickness. On average, most women gain about three to four pounds in the first trimester, 14 to 16 pounds in the second and 10 to 12 in the third. Of course there's lots of variation from woman to woman regarding how much and when the weight gain happens.

With my first pregnancy, I gained 20lbs each trimester. My friend Carol lost 4lbs the first trimester and then gained 35lbs in the last two. Nancy gained 22lbs in the first trimester and 5lbs for the second and third. All of the aforementioned births and babies turned out just fine.

I wouldn't worry. It sounds like you are right on schedule.

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Q. Along with my morning sickness on several occasions I got what looked like hickeys all over my face and neck and had really red eyes from broken blood vessels. It usually went away a couple of days later. Fortunately, this has only happened four or five times and I'm 20 weeks now and past the worst (hopefully). Is this from an iron deficiency or just some weird problem with my skin? I don't think it was an allergy because it happened with a variety of foods or even on an empty stomach.
-Tracy, Canada

A. It is common for blood vessels to break around the face and neck while vomiting, straining or pushing during labor and delivery. While you are vomiting, many of your muscles, ligaments and tendons constrict and put a major squeeze on blood vessels trapped in the area. Under enough pressure, these blood vessels will pop and show up as red splotches on the skin or red spots in the whites of your eyes. During pregnancy, your blood vessels are much more swollen and prone to popping under pressure. Since you know the blood vessels in your face and neck are particularly sensitive, do be careful while pushing during delivery. My attending nurses always told me to push from my middle down. Don't push from the face or you'll end up looking like Rocky Balboa.

Q. I am currently in my second trimester and have been told that the worst of my morning sickness should be behind me. But, now I am 13 weeks and I feel sicker and more nauseated than ever! What's wrong with me?
-Alicia, Louisiana

A. There's nothing wrong with you. Your symptoms fall within "the realm of normality" for pregnancy. FYI, the "realm" is VERY big. During most pregnancies morning sickness usually disappears between 12 and 14 weeks as hormone levels begin to even out, making you feel less nauseous. But, not every pregnancy follows these guidelines. It can also be normal to experience morning sickness in only the second trimester, or only the third. Some women may even have it throughout. The good news is that this bothersome symptom of pregnancy can vanish at any time. You may be done with it by tomorrow. In the meantime, there are a few things you can do to help relieve some of the discomfort and nausea associated with morning sickness. See the other "morning sickness" questions for more details.