Treatment for Pregnancy Morning Sickness
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Treatment for Pregnancy Morning Sickness

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Congratulations! You are pregnant.

Are you happy about nurturing a new life inside you but fear the long journey of nine months marked with fatigue, nausea, vomiting and other symptoms of morning sickness?

Do not worry! You can find plenty of home remedies, over the counter drugs and prescribed treatment for pregnancy morning sickness.

Morning sickness is a universal symptom during early pregnancy. According to the US National Institutes of Health, almost two-thirds of pregnant women suffer from Nausea and Vomiting in Pregnancy (NVP) in the first trimester. Only in a few women, NVP continues till the delivery.

Read on to know the common treatments available for morning sickness.

Treatments for Pregnancy Morning Sickness

Morning sickness is a common symptom that may hit you at any time of the day and night. This condition does not hurt your foetus or hamper its nourishment. However, if you cannot keep the food down most of the times, then medical intervention becomes unavoidable.

Your gynaecologist may recommend certain medications and supplements after evaluating the case. These medicines will keep the food and fluids down the stomach. Your doctor may prescribe one of the following: 

  • Anti-emetics to treat NVP.
  • Antihistamines to alleviate nausea.
  • Combination of antihistamines and vitamin B6 supplements, such as Doxinate Doxinate is a combination of Doxylamine, an antihistamine, and Pyridoxine (vitamin B6) is a form of vitamin B. Doxylamine blocks the chemical that triggers nausea and vomiting and controls the NVP symptoms. Pyridoxine has anti-nausea properties that treat NVP and provide nutrition to the body.
  • Anti-acids to absorb acids in the stomach and prevent acid reflux.
  • Phenothiazine for severe nausea and vomiting.
  • Metoclopramide for nausea and vomiting.

**Always consult with your gynaecologist before taking any medication. Do not take self-medicate and these drugs.

Alternative Treatment for Pregnancy Morning Sickness

You can try some of the other alternative therapies to manage NVP at home. Here are a few tips you can try:

  • Eat raw ginger or mix it with honey. Or drink its juice. Or include ginger in your everyday meal. Ginger is known to provide relief from nausea.
  • Eat oranges/ citrus fruits or drink juice to alleviate the symptoms of morning sickness.
  • Drink lemon juice or include lemon in your daily food to get relief from NVP.
  • Inhale essential oils, such a lavender, peppermint and spearmint oils.
  • Chew raw fennel seeds or boil it in water and drink.
  • Add cinnamon powder to your food or boil and drink it.
  • Chew raw cloves or use in food/tea.

Preventive measures for Nausea and Vomiting in Pregnancy

Hormonal imbalance during pregnancy is believed to be one of the causes of morning sickness. Also, certain food and smell triggers can result in nausea and vomiting in pregnancy. Therefore, it is essential to note down the triggers and avoid them.

  • If you feel nauseous after smelling specific odours, foods or spices, avoid these triggers to prevent NVP.
  • If you feel like throwing up after eating certain foods, such as spicy or greasy food, avoid them. The trigger may differ from person-to-person. So, make sure to note these NVP triggers and avoid them. Eat bland food to avoid triggering morning sickness.
  • If you feel like vomiting due to heat or humidity, avoid these conditions and go out for fresh air. Fresh air may make you feel relaxed and ease the nausea feeling.
  • If you cannot keep the food or fluids down for long, eat in small portions and sip on fluids to aid digestion. This will avoid NVP.
  • If you feel queasy/ sick, sip lemon water/ orange juice/ ginger tea/ale.
  • If you feel dehydrated due to NVP, drink plenty of fluids, juices or water to hydrate. However, avoid drinking coffee, soda and other artificial-flavoured and sweetened fluids.
  • If needed, you can try acupuncture.

Always call your gynaecologist or visit the nearest doctor if you are getting ill, developing flu-like symptoms, feeling dizzy/giddy, or are vomiting several times a day. Do not continue with home remedies hoping the situation will be in control. It is best to consult with your doctor if the medicines or home remedies are not relieving nausea. It is also advisable that you speak with your doctor if morning sickness continues after the first trimester of pregnancy. Your doctor may evaluate the condition, and based on the results, recommend other treatment for pregnancy morning sickness.