Pregnancy: Dealing with morning sickness
How can I manage morning sickness at home?
The following are safe, proven treatments for morning sickness. However, few women gain complete relief from morning sickness treatment. Taking ginger or doxylamine is most likely to effectively curb nausea and vomiting.
- Doxylamine and vitamin B6 (formerly Bendectin), taken according to your health professional's recommendation, is a safe and proven treatment for morning sickness.2, 3
- Ginger, taken regularly as a powder in a capsule, grated fresh into hot water for a tea, or in syrup or crystallized form, can significantly relieve morning sickness after a few days of treatment.2
- Vitamin B6 and B12, taken regularly according to your health professional's recommendation, can reduce nausea and vomiting.
- Acupressure, firmly placed on the P6 point (the inner side of your arm, in line with your middle finger and one-sixth of the way between your wrist and elbow), relieves nausea for some women.
Follow these guidelines for minimizing nausea and vomiting during pregnancy.
- Keep food in your stomach, but not too much at once. An empty stomach can make nausea worse. Eat several small meals every day instead of three large meals.
- For morning nausea, eat a small snack (like crackers) before rising. Allow a few minutes for the snack to digest, then get out of bed slowly.
- Stay hydrated. Drink a lot of fluids. Try a sports hydration drink, as well as water, broth, or juice.
- Eat more protein, and cut your fatty food intake.
- Avoid smells and foods that make you feel nauseated. Citrus juice, milk, coffee, and caffeinated tea commonly make nausea worse.
- Avoid iron supplements, which can make nausea worse. These aren't necessary during the first trimester.
- Get lots of rest. Stress and fatigue can make morning sickness worse.
Contact your health professional immediately if you vomit more than 3 times a day or are unable to take fluids, especially if you also have pain, fever, or both.
Test Your Knowledge
Ginger will immediately relieve nausea and vomiting. You only need to take it when you're feeling sick.
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| Author: | Shannon Erstad, MBA/MPH | Last Updated: November 30, 2006 |
| Medical Review: | Renée M. Crichlow, MD - Family Medicine Kirtly Jones, MD - Obstetrics and Gynecology | |
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