Expectancy
Expectant Parents' Complementary Therapies Consultancy

Morning Sickness

Nausea and/or vomiting is perhaps the commonest symptom of pregnancy, affecting as many as 90% of women. It may occur at any time of the day or night and may last much longer than the first three months. Heartburn, food cravings or aversions, excessive saliva, constipation or headaches often accompany the problem. In approximately 2-3% of women it becomes severe (hyperemesis gravidarum), which usually requires you to be admitted to hospital.

 

Hormones are the main culprit, but nausea is often worse if you are tired, anxious, prone to travel sickness or expecting twins (or triplets!). There may be a link with thyroid problems or digestive infection. Previous injury or surgery may also place stress on your skeleton, indirectly contributing to tension on your internal organs, and often worsening nausea or heartburn.

Consultations

HOME VISITS –we offer a limited service which is gradually expanding to other areas of the country as we increase the number of our practitioners. Please visit our Practitioners page to find a midwife who practises complementary therapies in your area. Fees for home visits vary around the country.

TELEPHONE CONSULTATIONS –Expectancy also offers full telephone consultations by appointment only. We arrange a mutually agreeable time and date, and ask you to telephone us at the designated time on 0906 400 6227 (calls charged at £1.54 per minute, from a BT landline; calls from mobiles and other networks may vary). Consultations may take 45 – 60 minutes. We willk need to ask for your personal details (name, address etc.) and it may be helpful to have your maternity notes handy in case we need to ask you specific questions about your pregnancy. To make an appointment, please email us on info@expectancy.co.uk.

 

Tips for coping with “morning sickness”

  • Eat what you fancy, but avoid fried, fatty or spicy foods which tend to aggravate nausea
  • Don’t get too hungry as low blood sugar makes nausea worse – eat little and often
  • Eat carbohydrate foods eg bread, crackers, potatoes, cereal or pasta to maintain energy levels, but don’t snack on sweets, biscuits and cakes, which give you a quick sugar “fix”
  • Do not rely on ginger biscuits – there is insufficient ginger and too much sugar to be effective; any temporary relief is due to sugar which is quickly used up, and symptoms return with a vengeance
  • Try ginger root tea – but not if you have been prescribed blood thinning drugs or aspirin

  • Try peppermint (sugar-free) - but not if you have epilepsy, a heart complaint, if you’re taking homeopathic remedies or have the rare hereditary condition, G6PD.
  • Reduce tea, coffee, bran, soya and iron supplements which lower zinc levels, especially if you have a metallic taste in your mouth
  • Get as much rest as possible and consider taking time off work
  • Try relaxation therapies eg massage, tai-chi, yoga, reflexology

  • Multivitamin supplements may be useful, especially if you have only recently stopped the Pill
  • Acupressure wristbands can be effective in reducing nausea - www.sea-band.com

  • Try camomile tea or slippery elm herbal tablets
  • Homeopathic medicines should be individually prescribed
  • Osteopathy or chiropractic can be useful if you have a back or neck problem as well as sickness
  • Acupuncture has been shown to be particularly effective
  • Hypnotherapy can be helpful if your sickness is made worse through worry and anxiety

If you are worried about how often you are vomiting, contact your midwife or doctor.

Telephone Expectancy for an individual consultation on 0906 400 6227 (calls charged at £1.54 per minute, from a BT landline; calls from mobiles and other networks may vary).