Food suggestions PLEASE

[mom2fussy]

I'm 11 weeks pregnant with DC #2 & have had a lot of nausea & acid stomach/acid reflux. I'm taking both Zofran & Aciphex (like Prilosec) just to be able to eat anything & keep it down. I had extreme nausea with DS that lasted for 5-6 months, but didn't have the acid problems then. I've also apparently become lactose intolerant during this pregnancy. If I eat much dairy, within an hour or so I get HORRIBLE gas pains & bloating & have lots of bowel issues. I've never had that problem before.

So - my list of foods I *can* eat is so small, and I get tired of the same things every day!! Due to the acid problems, I need to avoid most tomato-based foods, citrus fruit, peppermint (makes it worse!), tea, and of course spicy or fatty foods. I've cut out almost all dairy due to the lactose problems. Thanks to the nausea, there are lots of things that I used to like but can't stand the taste of now. And I'm having problems with anything gas-producing like beans, cabbage, etc.

I normally eat pretty healthy, and I love lots of seasonings & spices on my food. I also LOVE dairy. This bland, repetitive diet is driving me crazy, especially if I have to keep it up for several more months or longer. I can only eat so much bread products, apples, bananas, peanut butter, and eggs!

Any suggestions?????

[nova22]

I had good luck with fruit shakes. I usually make them with bananas, milk, sometimes strawberries, sometimes yogurt, and a couple ice cubes. Blend and drink up. Recently I bought frozen fruit so if I run out of fresh, I can make a smoothie with frozen mixed fruit and milk. My stepdad makes smoothies like that and adds a packet of carnation instant breakfast to make it thick and creamy.

I'm getting better now, but when I was in the first trimester and everything I ate made me feel disgusting, I ate a piece of crystallized ginger after every meal. I found a bag of it at the health food store and it has lasted me several weeks; I still have more. It is very tart (for lack of a better word) and I couldn't stand a whole huge piece, so I just broke off a little bite. It helped settle my stomach. I also got some chewable papaya tablets, also from the HFS, that are supposed to help with reflux/heartburn...naturally as soon as I bought them I didn't have any problems with acid, so I can't tell you how well they work. But they did come highly recommended.

[lillymonster]

I am on zantac and zofran. I did get some relief from the excess acid part with chiro adjustments. I had stomach ulcers diagnosed when I was 18, so I don't know if that is why it's so bad or not, but the chiro has helped with the horrible feeling after I eat.

I stay away from high sugar foods (juices) that seems to churn my stomach a lot

-guacamole or just smashed avocados seem to go down okay, and you can use it like mayo or cheese on sandwiches.
-nuts like almonds?
-make "diary" dishes using rice milk or oat milk instead. I think you can get Mac and Chreese from Road's end, and make it with rice milk, and it tastes kind of like mac and cheese. My daughter had a milk allergy, so I am trying to think what else we did for milk. You can try almond milk or hemp chocolate milk I though was pretty good.
-can you do anything like miso soup? hummus?

[m0xxie]

A friend and fellow survivor of morning sickness suggested sunflower seeds to me, and although I was skeptical at first, I found I could down them, about a tablespoon at a time (shells removed, roasted but not salted, although raw would probably be just as good).

Being seeds, they have some nice nutrition in a compact size.

I'm finding that if I just make myself eat a little something every few hours all day long, I'm coping better with the nausea. I still feel like I'm on the edge a lot of the time, but there are more moments when I feel in control.

Also Luna bars have been a godsend... esp. peanut butter and lemon flavors.

Hang in there, they tell me this doesn't last forever!

[fancyoats]

coconut milk is a really yummy dairy substitute, esp in smoothies. our whole foods has it in the refrigerated dairy section in cartons just like the cow milk.

[mom2fussy]

Thanks for some good ideas...
I've already switched to almond milk. Unfortunately hummus is on my "used to like it, now I can't stand it" list. I LOVE the idea of coconut milk in a smoothie!!

[queenofchaos]

things already mentioned like ginger and enzymes can be very helpful. some probiotics might also help. slippery elm lozenges or powder can be very soothing and help regulate digestion.
I am sorry you feel so awful. I hope this phase goes away soon.