You’ve planned a night out on the town with the girls. Your friends need this. Your kids need this. Your sanity needs this. You can’t back out now, even though you’re having second thoughts.

You’ve reserved a sitter, made the dinner reservations (yes, you’re going to eat off of real plates instead of paper), and planned a night of debauchery complete with dancing, dressing up (something that’s not stained, ripped, or sweats material), adult conversation, and booze. Oh yes, the sweet nectar of the gods. One glass of wine ends up being four, and you’re feeling the effects. But, you’re too busy having a great time that you neglect to remind yourself of the dreaded morning after.

You know what I’m talking about, ladies…

The headache, the sore feet, the mystery bruises, the grogginess – the hangover.

Hangovers when we were younger and carefree were a piece of cake. We’d pop some Ibuprofen, drink some water, and we’d be golden. Gone are those days.

I’m not sure what it is about being a mom, but hangovers SUCK now. It’s an all-day, if not all-weekend, event. It seriously feels like a semi has run me over while the beat of meringue music plays involuntarily in my head – or maybe that’s just my head throbbing as I try to stand up and start my day. I don’t know about you, but I feel subhuman.

I can’t be a mom and be hungover. It just doesn’t work. The 6 a.m. wake up calls (chorus of “Mama!” screams), the poor sleep, the rambunctious dog, the annoying cartoons (Yes, I’m talking about you, Caillou), and a throbbing headache = a recipe for a disastrous start to the day.

It’s not often I go out or drink to excess. Let’s be real; it’s not often I stay up past 11 p.m. But, the nights I do, I regret it in the morning. There has to be a way to have the best of both worlds.

12 tips and tricks for recovering from a wild mom’s night out:

1. Drink water throughout the night.

For every glass of booze you have, drink a glass after. You’re staying hydrated and lessening your effects of a hangover. While drinking water is important, it doesn’t protect your liver or make you less drunk if you drink too many cocktails.

2. Drink pickle juice, Gatorade, or coconut water right before bed and/or in the morning.

I know, this sounds like a weird one, but the electrolytes in these liquids help restore your body’s balance, hydrate you, and replenish the minerals that are removed when you drink alcohol.

3. Eat a hearty breakfast in the morning.

Eggs, sausage, bacon, hash browns, pancakes–whatever your meal of choice is, don’t be shy on loading up. Refuel–your body is craving some nutrients! Bananas are also a great source of much needed potassium!

4. Take a multivitamin the night before and morning after.

Replenish the missing vitamins and nutrients with multi-vitamins to stay on top of the grogginess.

5. Order a carb-filled meal before drinking.

Forgot the salads! Make sure you eat a meal containing carbs, protein, and fat before you take your first sip of alcohol. It helps with the way your body metabolizes alcohol.

6. Skip the champagne.

The carbonation in bubbly drinks accelerate the absorption of alcohol and may get you drunk faster. Plus, in my experience, bubbly drinks give me the WORST hangovers.

7. Sleep well the night before and try to sleep in the next morning.

Sleeping in…what is that? It’s probably not often you can sleep in, but if your significant other can swing it, ask him to let you snooze a few minutes longer. Trust me; everybody will be happier.

8. Choose clear liqueur and mixers.

Bad news for whiskey or dark rum drinkers–the darker the drink, the more congeners (substances produced during fermentation) and more calories. Stick with liquors like vodka and gin and mixers like juice, water, spritzer, club soda, and clear soda.

9. Wash your hands and use sanitizer.

When you’re drinking, your immune system is working overtime. Avoid getting sick by practicing good hygiene.

10. Ibuprofen is your friend.

The old tried-and-true Ibuprofen will help you deal in the a.m. when you’re just not feeling up to par. Just don’t take it while drinking!

11. Drink ginger tea.

Hangovers sometimes are accompanied by an upset stomach. Warm ginger tea can help settle things down and reduce nausea.

12. Exercise or get some fresh air.

Laying around is actually the worst thing you can do when you’re hungover. Exercising, even though brutal, will help get oxygen flowing and get you feeling like your old self again.

The only sure-fire way to avoid the hangover blues is to skip drinking altogether and go home at a decent time. If a pounding headache and zombie brain doesn’t sound like your cup of tea, but you still want to partake in the festivities, be the designated driver! That way you’ll at least have some good stories (and even better photos) to share.

How do you recover from a wild night out?