You might be trying to think of foods to eat to ease your morning sickness, but a good idea is to know what to steer clear of to prevent morning sickness or at least to minimise it. Every woman is different so what works for one, might not necessarily work for everyone! There are foods that are thought to be unsafe during pregnancy which should also be avoided.

Hydration is very important, whether you are pregnant or not. Dehydration can leave you feeling nauseous, so make sure you drink enough fluids. It is advised not to eat and drink at the same time though as many women feel that this also triggers nausea. Avoid foods that take longer to digest, like fatty greasy foods. These foods as well as spicy, acidic and rich foods might also cause heartburn and irritate your stomach. This will make you feel nauseous. Rather opt for clean, fresh foods like fruit and vegetables. Some vegetable that have a strong smell when cooked are also best avoided. Examples of these are broccoli and brussel sprouts. Yoghurt is easy on the stomach and a good choice to eat as well as low fat, high carbohydrate foods.

Trying to eat foods that are good for you, but leave you feeling worse is not a good idea. You will not reap the benefit of these good foods if you end up nauseous and throwing them up. It is so important to listen to your body. Experiment with foods and you will soon find out what makes you feel
the best.

Keep your home well ventilated, especially the kitchen, where odours can hang around. Strong smells can trigger nausea. You will come to know the odours that trigger your nausea. Do your best to avoid these. Taking your prenatal vitamin with food as opposed to on an empty stomach can also reduce the chance of nausea.

What you wear can also affect how you are feeling. Try to wear comfortable clothing that is not tight fitting around your waist. Avoid wearing belts or in fact anything that is restrictive. Some women find relief in sniffing lemon, ginger root or mint. You can try this and if it works for you, you can carry some around in a little container in your handbag.

Foods that are thought to be unsafe in pregnancy include shark fish and swordfish because of their high levels of mercury. Oily fish should be limited to twice a week. Eating unpasteurized cheese, milk, eggs or vegetables can cause toxoplasmosis. Toxoplasmosis is an infection that can live in the cells of humans and animals and is caused by a microscopic parasite. Eating eggs or meat that is underdone can contain bugs that can be harmful to your unborn baby, so make sure your eggs and meat are well cooked.

High doses of vitamin A might also cause birth defects, so it is advisable to avoid liver and any supplement high in vitamin A. Soft cheeses like Brie, Stilton and Camembert could contain the listeria bug so avoid these too. Do not drink or smoke and try to limit the amount of caffeine you consume.