Nausea

Pregnancy brings up a wild mix of physical and emotional changes.  Nausea is probably the most common (and one of the most uncomfortable) pregnancy symptoms.  Up to 85% of expectant mothers experience “morning sickness”, Ironically, most women experience it throughout the day, not just in the mornings.   For most women, nausea will resolve by the 12th-16th week of pregnancy.  Unfortunately, in some cases it lasts much longer.  And, while it is an uncomfortable symptom at any severity, for some women the nausea and vomiting can be quite serious.  If the vomiting causes fluid, electrolyte or acid-base imbalances, nutritional deficiencies, or weight loss, is it called hyperemesis gravidarum.

Frisco Midwifery has created this resource to help you understand what’s going on with your pregnancy, and offer you some evidence-based options to help you manage pregnancy-related nausea.  

Why are you Nauseated?

The exact cause of the nausea is not completely understood. But, it is correlated with high levels of the pregnancy hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG).  So, women who are carrying twins, or women with higher levels of this hormone often have more nausea.  Other pregnancy hormones, including progesterone and estrogen, also play a part by relaxing the esophageal sphincter muscle and slowing digestion, which also increases nausea. There is also a connection between low blood sugar levels, low protein, and increased nausea.

It’s not just uncomfortable, nausea can lead to physical and psychological challenges that interfere with the joy of expecting a child. There are some things that you can try to alleviate the worst of the symptoms, and manage the daily challenges of pregnancy-related nausea.

What can help? 

We have listed some things you can try.  Please pay special attention to the section on “When to call your midwife.”  

Natural Nausea Strategies

• Eat small protein-dense meals; avoid carbohydrates to keep your blood sugar levels very stable.

• Snack on nuts, seeds, or other protein snacks every hour or 2, even at night.  Leave a bowl of trail mix or nuts by your bed and eat some each time you wake.

• Avoid spicy, greasy or rich foods.

• Drink electrolyte-replacement drinks daily.

• Incorporate ginger ale, tea, candy, or spice into your diet if possible.

• The smell and taste of lemon and/or mint may reduce nausea.  Add lemon to your water, or try lemon or spearmint / wintergreen essential oil in a necklace diffuser.  (Peppermint Essential oil should not be used around children under the age of 5.)

• Add a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar and a teaspoon of honey to a mug of hot water.  Sipping it throughout the day can balance the acid/alkaline in your system and reduce nausea.

• Homeopathic remedies:  Nux Vomica, Ipecac, and Pulsatilla are sometimes effective to help with nausea.

• Herbal remedies:  Some people find relief with CBD oil.  There are also tinctures available at InHisHands.com and PreciousArrows.

• Essential Oils can be VERY helpful. DiGize, Peppermint, Lemon, and Ginger are favorites for supporting women in pregnancy as they avoid the discomfort of morning sickness. Here’s a link to more information about the brand we use in our office: Oils for Pregnancy & Birth. If you don’t already have a wholesale account, and you want one, we will pay $40 toward your account to make these oils more affordable — that’s how much we love them.

 Supplements / Medication

• Take probiotics. We like Jarrow Femdophilus which you can order on Amazon. The Well Nut also carries a probiotic with the strains of lactobacillus that help with nausea and also help prevent Group B Strep colonization (which you’ll learn more about at 36-weeks).

• B6 + Unisom: Take 25 mg of vitamin B6 4x per day PLUS take 10 mg of Unisom in the morning, and 20 grams of Unisom at night. (Try this for 4-weeks, then reassess at your prenatal appointment).

• Dramamine (Dimenhydrinate) is an FDA Category B medication.  It is effective, and has few known risks.   Take it at night time if it makes you feel drowsy.

• Prescriptions: Zofran, Diclegis and promethazine are prescription medications.  In severe cases, we can phone in a prescription. Please call us if you need or want a prescription.

Other Suggestions

• Practice daily relaxation / meditation to reduce stress and improve coping.  We recommend “Insight Timer” app. They have hundreds of guided scenarios for pregnancy including nausea, stress, and mindset.

• Wear “sea-bands” -- wrist bands with acupressure beads.  They can be found in the sporting goods section of most stores.

• See a chiropractor.  If you don’t have a relationship with a great chiropractor already, we have some we recommend. You can see your list of chiropractors who specialize in pregnancy here.

• Try acupuncture.  We have two people we know of who do acupuncture:  Dr. Margie Krempein at Grounded Wellness and Bunzo Takamatsu - Preston Royal Clinic.

• Try homeopathy. Niki Bisbee Origin Wellness at has worked with our clients and had great results.

• Try high quality essential oil blends for nausea. Young Living “Digize” may help.

Summarizing Suggestions:

Nutrition / Diet

• Increase protein, decrease carbs

• Eat protein snacks every hour

• Avoid spicy and greasy foods

• Eat/drink ginger, lemon, or mint tea, candy or foods.

Therapies

• Chiropractic care

• Massage

• Acupuncture

 Lifestyle / Exercise

• Daily relaxation and meditation

• Adequate sleep / rest

Supplements

• Probiotics with Magnesium

• B6 + Unisom

• Dramamine

• Zofran

• Essential Oils

• Herbs

• Homeopathy

Call your Midwife if:  

• You do not experience any relief from the remedies above. We can phone in a prescription.

• You are unable to keep any food or fluids down for 24-hours.

• You are unable to urinate for 12 or more hours

• Your urine is dark orange/rust colored (indicating dehydration).

• You are having abdominal cramping

• You are having uterine cramping

• You experience severe headache

• You have confusion, fainting, or seizure

• You are concerned or have any questions