Easing morning sickness

It may feel like the hangover that won’t go away. Just the thought of freshly brewed coffee in the morning makes you run for the restroom.

Morning sickness is no fun. And its severity is unpredictable—ranging in women from none at all, to simply a bit of queasiness, to nausea and vomiting throughout an entire pregnancy.

The No. 1 thing to know about morning sickness is that it’s normal, said Elizabeth Walsh, MD, an obstetrician and gynecologist with North Florida OB/GYN who delivers at Baptist Medical Center Beaches.

“It’s not a sign that something’s wrong, and actually it can be a sign of a very hormonally healthy pregnancy,” she said.

Morning sickness is typically a first trimester problem. Most women improve during the second trimester, said Jason VanBennekom, MD, with North Florida OB/GYN and chairman of the OB/GYN Department at Baptist Medical Center South.

“It helps to know it’s not something that’s going to be happening all nine months,” he said.

To ease the misery until then, doctors advise dietary changes and natural remedies first, then prescription medications if symptoms persist.

Here are the top tips we heard from OB/GYNs:

1. Change your diet.

“Eat very frequently and eat small meals. You should snack throughout the day to make sure you have something in your stomach, but you should also avoid being overly full. If you are sick in the morning, keep some crackers or nuts by the bed, so you can eat something before you get up.”

- Blake Butterworth, MD, an obstetrician and gynecologist with North Florida OB/GYN who delivers at Baptist Medical Center South

“Your diet will often be carbohydrate-heavy in early pregnancy because carbs tend to settle morning sickness a lot better than other food groups. Mix protein with the carbs so your blood sugar stays steady. You might worry about weight gain and not having a balanced diet, but in the first trimester, we’re just trying to get you through your day.”

- Dr. Walsh

“Avoid spicy, fatty or processed foods. Bland foods are usually tolerated better, and women should get plenty of fluids. Food aversions are very real. Avoid foods that make you nauseous. Sometimes you don’t even need to eat it to know—just the thought of eating X is enough to make you feel sick.”

- Dr. VanBennekom

2. Try natural and over-the-counter remedies.

“Ginger can sometimes settle your stomach. There have actually been studies that have shown it has a real benefit. Try any ginger-containing food, like ginger ales that contain real ginger or any kind of ginger tea.”

- Dr. Butterworth

“Some women get relief using massage, acupuncture or acupressure. Sometimes women will use Sea-Bands®, which put a little pressure on the wrists. There are women who are helped by essential oils, like peppermint and lemon. Or you could drink tea with peppermint, lemon or chamomile. Even something as simple as using a hand soap scented with lemon can help.”

- Dr. VanBennekom

“Diclegis is a prescription drug that helps a lot of women, but it’s basically just Unisom® and B6. So if your insurance won’t cover it, talk to your doctor about taking over-the-counter Unisom® with vitamin B6 or vitamin B complex. Medicines like Zantac® may also ease the nausea that comes with acid reflux.”

- Dr. Walsh

3. You may need to move to prescription medications for severe symptoms.

“Diclegis would be the first thing we would try. After that, you might use Phenergan™ or Reglan®. We see Zofran® used quite a bit and it works in cases of really severe nausea. There’re a couple studies that show an increased risk of cardiac abnormalities, though. So it’s not really a first-line medication anymore.”

- Dr. VanBennekom

4. Know the warning signs of something serious.

“It’s very common for women to have nausea and vomiting. But if you’re losing a lot of weight and you can’t keep fluids down, we don’t want you to just sit at home thinking that’s normal. You probably need to call your OB/GYN or just come to the hospital.”

- Dr. Butterworth

For help relieving morning sickness and other pregnancy-related concerns, please consult your OB/GYN. If you don't have an OB/GYN, please visit baptistjax.com.

This article promotes broad consumer understanding and knowledge of morning sickness and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.