Treatment and Prevention
The best way to manage morning sickness is to start with non-drug measures.
Here are some suggestions that many women have found to help:
- try snacking or "grazing" throughout the day instead of eating
large meals
- avoid rich and fatty foods - try plain carbohydrates like potatoes and rice
- try soups, jelly, colas and other sodas, and sugared herbal teas
- carry salted crackers or some similar food around - it's important not to
let the stomach get completely empty, as this can increase nausea
- try to avoid things that trigger nausea, like certain food smells
- if taking prenatal vitamins containing iron, try switching brands to see if symptoms grow milder
- avoid prenatal vitamins and take folic acid only
- avoid cooking
- avoid acidic foods
- avoid fried foods
There are other suggestions floating around in the media and on the Internet. A woman should talk to her doctor before trying herbal or vitamin-based remedies. Many people recommend the herb ginger, but its safety and effectiveness have not been proven in scientific studies.
Some women use acupressure, a fairly common home remedy for nausea. The standard device is an elastic wristband with a button on it. The button is placed over the Neiguan point, about two inches above the inner wrist. Compressing this point is considered by many to relieve nausea, and ship passengers hoping to avoid seasickness often wear these devices. However, the devices have not been well studied for morning sickness.
If non-drug measures are ineffective, a doctor may prescribe doxylamine-vitamin B6* to control morning sickness. Many women are concerned about
taking medications during pregnancy due to the possible risk to the fetus and
birth defects. It is important to keep in mind that all women have about a 3% chance of having a child with a birth defect. Studies have shown that
doxylamine-vitamin B6 does not pose a risk to the fetus and is not associated with
an increase in birth defects. Women with hyperemesis gravidarum may also need to receive
intravenous (I.V.) feeding or fluid replacement.
*All medications have both common (generic) and brand names. The brand name
is what a specific manufacturer calls the product (e.g., Tylenol®).
The common name is the medical name for the medication (e.g., acetaminophen).
A medication may have many brand names, but only one common name. This article
lists medications by their common names. For more information on brand names,
speak with your doctor or pharmacist.