MORNING SICKNESS
PREGNANT? FLIP A COIN. Heads, you don't have morning sickness, tails, you do.
The odds are 50-50 that you'll experience nausea or vomiting
early in your pregnancy. And despite the name, you can have morning sickness
at any time of the day or night.
Although doctors don't know what causes morning sickness, some believe it
might be related to the profound hormonal and metabolic changes that occur
in a woman's body during the first trimester of pregnancy.
Low blood sugar,
nutritional deficiencies, sluggish liver function and hydrochloric acid deficiency
are other possible contributors. Psychological factors may play a role as
well.
Just because herbs are natural does not mean they are safe, especially during
pregnancy. As a general rule, do not take any herb without consulting your
doctor or obstetrician.
In particular, avoid any bitter-tasting herbs in early pregnancy, as they
can cause uterine contractions and possibly induce miscarriage. Also avoid
stronger medicinal herbs in general.
Gentle, pleasant-tasting, tonic herbs are the safest ones to use during pregnancy. Taking them in tea form means you boost your fluid intake as well. The herbs listed below are also rich in vitamins and minerals. Experiment with various combinations to find the ones that most appeal to you.
When nausea is severe, don't force yourself to drink something that tastes
or smells unpleasant to you. And don't blame yourself if your preferences
seem to change without warning or logic.
The herbs below can be taken hot or cold. Add honey or lemon juice if that
sounds appealing.
MORE TIPS FOR EASING MORNING SICKNESS
Small changes can make a big difference in the frequency and severity of
morning sickness. These ideas can help.
Eat small, frequent meals and snacks. Make them wholesome foods, with plenty of protein and complex carbohydrates that help maintain stable blood sugar. Try whole-grain biscuits with nut butters, hard-boiled egg slices on rye bread, or yogurt with fruit and some wheat germ.
Keep an eye on your fluid
intake. Dehydration can make nausea worse. If you are severely nauseated,
sip fluids frequently or suck on ice cubes. You can also freeze herbal teas
in an ice tray.
Beef up your B6 intake. Vitamin B6 deficiency is common during pregnancy.
It could even be causing your nausea. Eat plenty of foods rich in B6, such
as nuts, legumes, wheat germ, whole grains, dark green vegetables, meat and
fish. Alternatively, take 50 milligrams of a B6 supplement twice per day.
Check
out hydrochloric acid. It's necessary for normal digestion and helps the
body absorb some vitamins. Deficiency is common in the early stages of pregnancy.
You might consider a supplement if you get bloated or nauseated after meals,
especially those that are high in protein. Such products, called Betaine
H-Cl supplements, are available in health food stores. They should be taken
with meals, never on an empty stomach. Follow the manufacturer's or your
doctor's instructions on dosage. If you experience abdominal discomfort,
burning or heartburn, discontinue use immediately.
(Later in pregnancy, heartburn is sometimes a problem because the uterus
is putting pressure on the stomach. So supplements of this acid are the wrong
thing to take at this stage.)
Assess your emotions. Severe or longer-lasting morning sickness may indicate a need for psychological support to address any conflicts or negative feelings you may be having about being pregnant. In such cases, hypnotherapy might be an option to pursue.
OTHER HERBS TO TRY
Other safe herbs to try for morning sickness, or to look for in commercial
teas, include fennel seed (especially good for wind and bloating), cinnamon
and lemon balm, and don't forget the demulcent, or soothing, herbs such as
slippery elm, flaxseed and oats.
DRUG TREATMENT
Currently, most doctors avoid prescribing drugs for morning sickness, because
any drug taken by the mother gets passed along to the developing fetus. Some
women have severe enough vomiting to require treatment with intravenous fluids
to prevent dehydration and correct body-fluid balances.
HERBAL REMEDIES
Ginger (Zingiber officinale)
Researchers don't know how ginger calms nausea and stops vomiting, but they
know that it does. It's a superior remedy for motion sickness as well as
morning sickness. It may act on vomiting centres in the brain. Ginger also
calms stomach spasms and reduces wind. Typical dosage: 1 to 3 cups of tea
per day (simmer 1 to 2 teaspoons of fresh chopped ginger in 1/4 litre of
water for10 minutes); or one 250-milligram capsule two to four times per
day. Caution: do not use if you have gallstones.
Camomile (Matricaria recutitia)
Gentle and soothing to both the digestive tract and the nervous system, camomile
makes a lovely tea. It is especially helpful if you are feeling a little
stressed out in addition to your nausea. Typical dosage: 1 to 3 cups of
tea sipped frequently throughout the day (steep 1 to 2 teaspoons of dried
flowers or 1 tablespoon of fresh flowers in 1/4 litre of hot water for
10 minutes).
Peppermint (Mentha
x piperita)
This aromatic herb soothes the entire digestive tract and is especially helpful
if you have wind or feel bloated. Typical dosage: I to 3 cups of tea, sipped
frequently throughout the day (steep 2 teaspoons of dried leaves or 1 tablespoon
of fresh in 1/4 litre of hot water for 5 minutes). Caution: avoid peppermint
if you have heartburn or oesophageal reflux; peppermint may worsen these
conditions.
