will be posted every month or so...

Q:  I can't seem to drink enough fluid -- my lips are dry, hurt and cracked? Any suggestions?

A: Sometimes eating something solid and salty, like potato chips or cheese curls, will settle a stomach and then drive your thirst. Pay attention to see if this really works for you. Although I couldn't push salty foods for no good reason, for some people a few more sprinkles of salt reduces the queasies. Your fluid needs are about 10 cups a day—you'll need to keep track daily to be sure you are getting this amount. If not, it's time to call your MD.

Q:  My doctor says to take ginger pills but I can't seem to keep them down? What can I do?

A: Try ginger foods instead of supplements, which need to be taken with water. Ginger ale is a gingered fluid — and brands with more "bite" seem to work better. Reed's Jamaican Ginger "Beer" (not really beer) is one I to consider. Or spread ginger preserve/conserve on your toast or rice cakes. There are several brands of ginger candy out there to try. Always found in Chinese grocery stores. See the list of ginger foods in my new book, "Managing Morning Sickness" - due in bookstores June 2004 and on "amazon.com" already.

Q:  I heard that wristbands help with nausea and vomiting. How do they work?

A: Reportedly, when you put wristbands with little beads on, over the "P6" point, it sends signals to the brain to quiet down the stomach. However, in classic Chinese acupuncture, there are other points practionioners use as well.

 

Q: Do some women really have abortions over "morning sickness"? That can't be true!

A: Yes, sadly, it is true. Women who have really bad, chronic 24/7 nausea and voming, end up dehydrated and malnourished often. The disability of this, going on and on, for weeks can be so overwhelming that women just call it quits. In two studies looking at the problem of morning sickness, about 1.5% of women studied admitted to abortion. We have no data on the national incidence of abortion due to severe morning sickness. It needs to be studied.

Please note that there are more interesting facts on our Facts 101 page. Also, jump to Information Links for additional resources.