Morning sickness: how to help a woman who's suffering

If you're a bloke, trawling the web looking for a solution to your partner's morning sickness, then you are a good man. Print the article written below, written for women, then help your partner to try some of the suggestions (with the approval of your doctor). All the best. It won't last forever...

AMMUNITION FOR THE BATTLE AGAINST MORNING SICKNESS

Given that many women suffer from morning sickness all day during their first trimester, morning sickness should be arrested for false advertising! Here is a list of the remedies that have been known to help ease the nausea and vomiting experienced by many women during their first trimester. Remember that no single strategy works for everyone. Try different remedies until you find the right ammunition for your personal battle but always speak to your doctor first.

Somewhere between 50 and 90% of pregnant women suffer from symptoms of morning sickness. IT IS EVIL.
This can vary from just feeling seedy to vomiting frequently. Generally morning sickness lasts from 6 weeks through to about 14 weeks though some women suffer for longer.

Many women worry that morning sickness is a sign of something wrong with their babies. This is not the case and according to research is actually the opposite. A study, published recently in the Journal of
Obstetrics and Gynaecology, observed that morning sickness is associated with better pregnancy
outcomes, decreased risk of miscarriage, pre-term birth, low birth weight and perinatal death.

Researchers believe, though they don’t yet know how, morning sickness has something to do with
supporting the healthy growth of the placenta. Here are some of the ways you can help with the symptoms of morning sickness. You should always consult a qualified practitioner (obstetrician, GP, naturopath, herbalist or homeopath) before commencing using any treatment while you are pregnant. This list is designed to give you some options to discuss with your caregiver.

Eat small amounts regularly – keeping food in your stomach will give the acids something to work on and can help reduce nausea. Don’t miss meals. Have small snacks in your handbag, by your desk and next to your bed so that you have something nearby at all times. If you have to snack during work meetings, go right ahead. It’s less unprofessional than throwing up!

Healthy diet – try to avoid white flour and foods that are high in sugar. These foods will not help you
to maintain your blood sugar levels. Instead of white bread, go for wholemeal or wholegrain. Eating
complex carbohydrates found in fruit and vegetables will help to keep the blood sugar levels even
throughout the day. If you are working, try having a cup full of carrot and celery sticks on your desk to
munch on throughout the day. Almonds are also a good snack. Avoid fatty and spicy foods.

Protein - A woman’s need for protein increases when she is pregnant. It has also been shown (anecdotally, but not medically tested) to help relieve the symptoms of morning sickness. This is thought to be because it takes some time to digest, preventing a drop in blood sugar levels and stopping the production of stomach acids that can cause nausea.

Breakfast in bed – many women have said that starting the day slowly with some toast or a few dry
crackers in bed before getting up is helpful. This might be harder to do if you have older children so
you may need help from your partner or you can prepare a snack that you leave by your bed the night
before.

Protein before bed – a snack before bed that is high in protein can be good for preventing morning
sickness. Try a protein shake as mentioned earlier, some cheese and crackers, a boiled egg, a handful of
almonds or some yoghurt as a healthy, protein rich snack before bed.

Exercise regularly - because exercise aids digestion, it prevents nausea. Walk or swim some laps. Sign up for prenatal hydrotherapy classes or some prenatal yoga. Check with your caregiver first, then choose a regimen that fits your lifestyle and exercise a little each day.

Ginger – the ginger root can be very successful in treating morning sickness in some women. Ginger
stimulates the digestive system and encourages digestive enzymes to act on food. It also settles and calms the stomach by relaxing and reducing spasms. Ginger can be eaten raw, taken as tablets or made into tea. To make tea, boil two large knobs of ginger root (which you can buy from your green grocer) in 3 cups of water for 10 minutes. Allow the tea to cool and drink regularly throughout the day. You may prefer to add some honey if you can’t stand the taste. Some women swear by flat ginger ale.

Apple Cider Vinegar - try taking two or three teaspoons of apple cider vinegar (not any other kind) in warm water first thing in the morning. Apple cider vinegar is pH neutral and may help to neutralise excess stomach acid.

Sea sickness bands – these can be purchased from a chemist or travel goods store. They are designed to place pressure on one of the body’s pressure points for nausea on the inside of the wrists.

Acupressure – there are four main acupressure points that are known to help with morning sickness. They are Conception Vessel 24 (in the depression between the lower lip and chin), Gall Bladder 34 (at the top of the tibia bone on the outside of your leg, just below your knee) Liver 2 (between the big toe and second toe, just above the web) and the pressure point mentioned above on the inside of the wrists, two finger widths up from crease at the base of the hand.

Acupuncture - Consider seeing an acupuncturist that is experienced in treating morning sickness. This can be a very effective method for managing morning sickness.

MorningWell audio tapes – these tapes should be listened to on headphones and are designed to interfere with the brain’s communication with the gut, thereby confusing the brain’s messages to the stomach to feel sick. Studies have shown that 90% of women who tried MorningWell had their morning sickness symptoms reduced or cleared. For further information visit www.morningwell.com.au.

Liver function – some say that if you commence your pregnancy with poor liver function, you can suffer from more severe morning sickness. It is recommended that you detox the liver before you get pregnant by staying off alcohol, tea and coffee and fatty foods for 100 days before conceiving. A good detox beverage is a glass of warm water with lemon juice before breakfast. Parsley is also good for the liver. See your naturopath or your GP if you think you may be suffering from poor liver function.

Vitamins – it is recommended that women take a daily pregnancy supplement. Some say that a deficiency in vitamin B6, magnesium, zinc or chromium will increase the severity of morning sickness. A good pregnancy supplement will include all the vitamins and minerals you need to supplement your diet during your pregnancy but you may wish to talk to your caregiver about increasing your intake of B6, magnesium, zinc and chromium while you are experiencing morning sickness. The ginger root is well known for its digestive properties and for settling the stomach. If you are taking an iron supplement, talk to your doctor about stopping it for a while as iron can be hard on the digestive system. Try taking your pregnancy supplement later in the day as the hit of vitamins to the system early in the day can increase morning sickness symptoms.

Morning sickness supplements – there are some specific formulas available for morning sickness
including one from Blackmores which contains B6 and ginger. Try your health food or vitamin shop.

Homeopathic remedies – many women would consult their homeopath before trying any of the other suggestions here. A homeopath will prescribe the right remedy for the morning sickness symptoms you are experiencing. You can also purchase over the counter homeopathic kits for pregnancy and childbirth from Ankhara Rose Therapeutics by visiting www.ankhararose.com.au.

Herbs – you should consult a professional practitioner before taking any herbs during pregnancy. Some of the herbs known to treat morning sickness include Peppermint, Lemon Balm and Wild Yam. There is a Chinese herbal formula Bamboo or Hoelen which is recommended for nausea during pregnancy.

Herbal teas – you can buy herbal teas from your health food store. Some suggestions for treating morning sickness include Ginger (as described above), Peppermint, Peach leaf, Meadowsweet, Aniseed and Lemon Balm. These teas should always be consumed in moderation. Earth Mother Angel Baby make a Morning Wellness herbal tea. Visit www.earthmamaangelbaby.com for Australian stockists.

Fresh Lemon – some women say that sucking on a wedge of fresh lemon is helpful. Lemon in hot
water is also soothing to the stomach and aids digestion.

Miso soup – this powdered soup can be bought from Asian grocery stores and health food shops. It is
a good source of salt, which some women crave in the early stages of pregnancy, and can be sipped for
breakfast or as a snack.

Sweet smells – many women experience a heightened sense of smell, which can increase the
morning sickness symptoms. Burn essential oils to fill the air with sweet smells. Try lemon, lavender or
spearmint. You could also try a few drops of peppermint oil on a cotton wool ball by the bed. Some women find that preparing the evening meal is unbearable when they are suffering from morning sickness, particularly handling raw meat. Try to have someone else prepare dinner or eat simple, cold food such as salads and cold meats that do not smell so strong. Some say that a woman’s heightened sense of smell is designed to protect her and the baby from bacterial infections to be found in some foods, especially meat.

Water – drink plenty of water (preferably filtered water) throughout the day to keep yourself well hydrated. At least eight glasses every day is recommended. If you are vomiting you will need to replenish your
fluids regularly. It is easier to throw up water than anything else!

Put your feet up – morning sickness can worsen if you are tired. Rest as much as possible. This might mean asking for help if you have other children to look after. Don’t lie down right after eating.

Stay cool – feeling hot can exacerbate morning sickness symptoms. Keep the shower luke-warm and
avoid hot places.

Preggie Pops – these all-natural lollypops come in flavours that are known to help with nausea including ginger, mint and raspberry. Visit www.motherbliss.com – a UK website that ships to Australia. They also sell a morning sickness survival kit that includes Preggie Pops, MorningWell audio tapes and acupressure bands. This would make a lovely gift for a friend who is suffering her first trimester.

Don’t brush your teeth right after a meal – brushing your teeth seems to stimulate the gag reflex
during the first trimester and can cause vomiting. For this reason, avoid brushing your teeth right after a
meal so that you are more likely to keep it down.

When all else fails – remind yourself that this will all be worth it one day! People kept telling me that when I was pregnant with my first and I just couldn’t imagine how this misery could possibly be “worth it”. But now that I am so completely in love with the little boy who caused my morning sickness, I would go through it ten times over for him!

If all else fails, you may like to talk to you doctor about nausea medication that is safe during pregnancy. Consult your GP immediately if you are losing weight or are throwing up more than three or
four times a day. You may have a condition called Hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) which will need to be
treated carefully. Visit www.hyperemesis.org for further information on this condition.