Nausea is very common during a pregnancy. What causes it is unknown, but factors such as hormonal changes, emotional factors, the rapid stretching of the uterine muscles, swings in blood sugar, and so on have been pointed out as possible causes.
Nausea tends to make it rather difficult to eat, and there is a strong temptation to skip meals altogether. However, you must remember that this is not an option right now, because both you and your baby need a lot of nourishment. Instead, you can try some simple remedies to ease the nausea. Remember, these are all simple techniques that work for some people, but not for others. You need to figure out what works for you.
First of all, it is advisable to eat small meals at regular intervals, instead of eating large, heavy meals twice or thrice a day. Snacking is fine, as long as the snacks are healthy. DO not wait till you are ravenous – maintaining a schedule may be difficult, but you can at least eat as soon as you feel slightly hungry. In particular, your dinner should be substantial, and so should your breakfast. If necessary, have a snack in bed, as soon as you wake up. Eat plenty of protein and complex carbohydrates, and avoid simple carbohydrates (pastries, biscuits, colas, fruit juices, and so on). The idea is to keep your blood sugar levels more or less stable. Simple carbohydrates are converted into sugar very quickly. This leads to sudden spikes in blood sugar, and shortly afterwards, a sudden dip. This contributes to nausea. Complex carbohydrates are digested more slowly, and release energy at a more steady rate.
You should also keep an eye out for foods that seem to trigger an attack of nausea. This varies from one person to the next, and you will need to find this out for yourself. Such foods should of course be avoided, but you might want to find a substitute, so that you are getting the necessary nutrients that you would have got from the offending food. In some cases, a mild vitamin deficiency may also contribute to nausea, and taking a vitamin supplement may help. However, this should only be done after consulting your doctor.
Dehydration often causes nausea, so you must ensure that your fluid intake is adequate. Sometimes however, you may find it difficult to consume fluids without feeling nauseous. If this is the case, try eating more of juicy fruits like water melons. It might also help to drink water with your meal, instead of between meals.