Question: I seem to have more spit in my mouth since I got pregnant. What’s going on?

Answer: Some pregnant women feel as they have extra spit during pregnancy, specifically when they’re also feeling nauseous. Some have so much saliva they need to spit it out to deal. Over-the-top salivation may be nasty for you, but it won’t hurt your baby.

The issue with extra spit usually hits women in the early months of pregnancy, and it’s because of nausea and heartburn.

Here are a few tips on how to deal with the extra spit:

• Several times a day, brush your teeth and use mouthwash
• Make your meals smaller and more frequent
• Avoid eating lots of carbs
• Drink lots of water; it’ll help you remember if you have a bottle of water near you all the time.
• Chew gum or suck on hard candy.
• If swallowing your spit makes you feel more nauseous, just spit it into a Kleenex, washcloth, or cup.

Let your doctor know what’s going on so they can treat you for related issues, such as nausea, vomiting, or heartburn.

The good news is that for many pregnant women, this irritating issue cuts off as their morning sickness goes away (around the end of the first trimester). Also, it doesn’t affect your pregnancy and it’s perfectly normal, so the best thing to do is not worry about it.