MORNING SICKNESS

MANY OF MY pregnant patients who are seeing me about other problems complain about nausea. There are a few natural therapies that can give a great deal of relief.

Many women experience some degree of nausea during early pregnancy. Some have symptoms only when they wake in the morning (thus the term “morning sickness”), but others suffer all day long. Fortunately the symptoms usually disappear by the end of the first trimester. But when you’re suffering from a bad case of nausea, two months can seem a lifetime to wait for relief.

Severe nausea and vomiting, by the way, should not be ignored. If you can’t keep any food down for more than three days, see your doctor. Three simple remedies can help the nausea of pregnancy.

The first thing to try, and the approach that’s helped many of my patients, is taking B6 supplements. Many recent studies have shown that B6 has been effective in relieving nausea and vomiting in the early stages of pregnancy. Please note that B6 supplementation can affect nursing, so I don’t recommend taking it after the first three months of pregnancy.

Another approach that’s helped some of my patients is taking ginger supplements. People have long relied on ginger for upset stomachs; it’s also useful for seasickness. It’s particularly appealing to pregnant women because it has none of the side effects that drug treatment can have. You can get ginger capsules at health food stores.

There are acupressure points on the wrist that are called “neiguan.” Located on the inside of the wrist, about three finger-widths toward the elbow, they can be used in preventing nausea. If you apply constant firm pressure to these points, you can relieve feelings of nausea. Some people find this technique more effective than others, and it’s certainly worth a try. You can buy “seasickness straps,” elastic wristbands that have little bumps that press on the correct points and can be worn at any time. They’re available at marine supply stores and some pharmacies and health food stores.

There are a few things you can do in relation to diet that can give relief. Avoid greasy foods-they’re hard to digest and can cause digestive upset. Try to keep your stomach full-an empty stomach in the morning and late afternoon can make symptoms worse. Have frequent protein snacks, as protein takes longer to digest. Keep some crackers at your bedside for a snack in the morning before you get out of bed.

NATURAL PRESCRIPTION FOR MORNING SICKNESS

• Avoid greasy foods.
• Have frequent protein snacks.
• Keep your stomach full.
• Apply pressure to the acupressure points on the wrist. Measure three finger-widths up the inside of the wrist from the crease and press for several minutes or purchase a seasickness band from a marine supply store.

IN ADDITION TO YOUR DAILY SUPPLEMENTS, TAKE:

• 50 mg. of vitamin 8, daily for seven days if no relief, discontinue. In any event, discontinue after the first three months of pregnancy, as B6 can later cause difficulty in nursing.
• Ginger capsules: 250 mg. three times daily.