Are you suffering from morning sickness? Are you worried that it might get worse or stay for the whole pregnancy? We know that it is one of the most bothersome symptoms of pregnancy. Here is everything you need to know about morning sickness.
Morning Sickness – 10 Essential Commandments for Alleviating It!
Facts about Morning Sickness
Morning sickness is when you are feeling nauseated with or without vomiting during pregnancy. In most women, this begins early in the pregnancy at about week 6, continues on past the first trimester and fades off by the first half of the second trimester. In some women, it might persist throughout the pregnancy.
Despite the fact that it is called morning sickness, it can happen any time of the day – morning, evening, or night.
In most cases, morning sickness will not harm you or your unborn baby. When it does get more severe, you may require medical intervention (see the Hyperemesis Gravidarum section of this article.)
Medications to treat Morning Sickness
There are some commonly prescribed medications that can help with calming down your nausea and vomiting. In additions to the usage of Antacids, Included here are the most commonly used prescriptive drugs:
- Metoclopramide is prescribed to hasten the emptying of the stomach, which then lessen the feelings of nausea.
- Chlorpromazine or Promethazine are phenothiazine antiemetics used in cases of severe nausea and vomiting,
10 Commandments for Alleviating Nausea and Morning Sickness
Some changes that you can make in your lifestyle include:
- Drink lots of fluids to stay hydrated.
- Eat small and frequent meals, 5 to 6 small meals daily. Avoid drinking anything when you are eating
- Eat plain biscuits before getting out of bed (place them next to your bed)
- Avoid spicy and fatty food
- Avoid triggering strong smells or tastes
- Practice yoga poses that alleviate symptoms of nausea (read more here)
- Consider acupressure or sea-bands: there are acupressure points that help to alleviate nausea, most notably the PC6 point. Sea bands alleviate nausea by the same principle, although they may not stimulate the point adequately.
- Schedule in for acupuncture: if you are find that acupressure and sea-bands don’t give sufficient relief, consider acupuncture, which is more potent and effective.
- Consider getting a hypnosis session: some women respond really well to hypnosis!
- Ginger and peppermint sweets can calm the nausea for some people. Other spices include cinnamon, cumin and fresh slices of lemon.
- (Bonus: Some preggies manage by chewing on ice or supplementing with vitamin B6 too!)
Research: Acupuncture for Nausea and Morning Sickness
If you are curious to find out which TCM Pregnancy Treatments can help with nausea and morning sickness, look no further!
A study done in 2002 by Caroline Smith et al in Australia confirms our empirical confidence that acupuncture helps to relieve nausea and vomiting in pregnancy.
This study of 593 women confirms that acupuncture is an effective treatment for women who experience nausea and dry retching in early pregnancy.
Severe Morning Sickness?
Morning sickness is normal and is often managed with some lifestyle hacks.
If your morning sickness is more severe, it is known as hyperemesis gravidarum.
If you have any of the following symptoms, you might be having this condition and may benefit from diagnosis and an IV drip:
- I am vomiting 3 or more times in one day (or I vomit blood)
- I have lost significant weight (1 kilogram or more)
- I produce either little dark urine or no urine at all
- I am feeling dizzy or confused
- My heart is beating rapidly
- I am having a fever
If you present with the symptoms of hyperemesis gravidarum, consider getting more help from your obgyn.
What Next?
If you are not suffering from Severe Morning Sickness, then do try ALL of the 10+1 Commandments that we have laid out here!
Some will not work out for you, and some will. Even if an intervention reduces your symptoms by 10%, it is worth using.
Use those that work for you and keep your fingers crossed that this too will pass. All the best in your pregnancy journey!