Morning Sickness

Morning sickness is the nausea that frequently accompanies early pregnancy. It is generally not serious, although it can be quite unpleasant. Hyperemesis gravidarum is a severe form of morning sickness that can cause dehydration and electrolyte imbalance, and can lead to hospitalization. Women with hyperemesis gravidarum should seek the supervision of a healthcare professional.

What are the symptoms of Morning Sickness?

• Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, fatigue, lightheadedness, and dizziness during the early stages of pregnancy. Women with morning sickness may be particularly sensitive to certain odors and foods; however, eating small amounts of a particular food may relieve their symptoms.

Conventional Treatment Options

• Doctors typically recommend that women with morning sickness drink plenty of fluids and try to eat whatever they can, regardless of its nutritional value. No drugs are FDA approved for the treatment of morning sickness. Severe cases of morning sickness may require hospitalization for intravenous replacement of fluids, electrolytes, and nutrients.

Key nutritional supplements that may be helpful

• Vitamin B6 (10 or 25 mg three times per day): In two double-blind studies, supplementation with vitamin B6 (10 or 25 mg three times per day) significantly reduced the severity of morning sickness.

Herbs that may be helpful

• Ginger (Zingiber officinale): 250 mg of dried ginger powder up to four times per day; daily intake should not exceed 1 gram per day. After careful analysis of the clinical literature and acknowledgment of ginger as part of many cultures’ diets, many doctors feel that the use of ginger for morning sickness is safe. While there is a theoretical concern that the use of ginger during pregnancy might pose risks to the fetus, no increase in fetal abnormalities has been reported in cultures in which ginger is commonly ingested. However, until more information is available, the amount taken during pregnancy should not exceed 1 gram per day.

Dietary changes that may be helpful

• Meal timing: Some doctors recommend that women with morning sickness eat dry crackers upon arising. Drinking liquids and eating solid foods at separate times may be helpful as well.
  

• Reduce saturated fat: In a Harvard study, women with a high intake of saturated fat (found mainly in meat and dairy) during the year prior to pregnancy had a much higher risk of severe morning sickness than did women eating less saturated fat. An increase in saturated fat intake of 15 grams per day (the equivalent of a four-ounce cheeseburger or three cups of whole milk) was associated with a greater than threefold increase in the risk of developing morning sickness.