Morning Sickness
Hyperemesis Gravidarum
Definition
The nausea and vomiting that affect some women during the first few months of pregnancy, particularly in the morning.
Symptoms
Nausea, vomiting, headache, dizziness, and exhaustion may be experienced. All the symptoms may clear up after the third month of pregnancy. Symptoms usually occur about the 5th or 6th week and symptoms vary from simple morning sickness to pernicious vomiting. Usually clears up without treatment within 1-3 weeks. Occurs in about 50% of pregnancies.
Treatment
Dietary management will help in most cases. Frequent small feedings of bland foods such as crackers, broths, and clear soups will be beneficial. If the sickness persists, consult the doctor. Antinausea medicine suitable for use during pregnancy is usually effective.
Herbs
TB
- Anise
- Asparagus
- Barley
- Basil
- Caraway
- Chamomile, German or Roman
- Cinnamon stick
- Clove
- Colombo
- Flag, blue
- Ginger
- Ginseng
- Horehound, black
- Jujube dates
- Lemon juice
- Licorice
- Lobelia
- Melilot, yellow
- Peach leaves
- Peony root
- Peppermint
- Raspberry, red leaves (wild)
- Sage
- Savory
- Spearmint
- Steeplebush (hardhack)
- Woodruff
- Yam, wild
- Yarrow
Recommendations
Do not go without eating or drinking because of the nausea. Mothers suffering from morning sickness should eat small, frequent meals and snack on whole grain crackers with nut butters or cheese. These crackers or whole wheat toast can be kept near the bed and eaten before arising. In addition, during this tie the mother should take 50 mg. of vitamin B6 every 4 hours, and in the morning take 400 mg. of magnesium. However, she should not take these supplements over an excessively long period of time.
Cautions
The use of any drug during pregnancy should be carefully monitored by a doctor due to possible damage to the fetus.
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