An Acupuncturist’s Morning Sickness Survival Guide
Early Pregnancy Tips for Morning Sickness Relief
Often the first sign of pregnancy, morning sickness can be a welcome confirmation of a positive pregnancy, but feeling sick can get old pretty quickly when you feel nauseous day after day. If you’ve found yourself here, you know that pregnancy nausea can affect your quality of life, lead to missing work and social events, and even lead to anxiety or depression. You may have been trying for a long time to get pregnant, or it might have happened easily; either way, feeling crummy with morning sickness is no fun. One thing to keep in mind is that nausea is not a prerequisite for a strong and healthy pregnancy, and even those who don’t get nauseous at all have healthy pregnancies.
As Petaluma prenatal acupuncturists, the number one reason clients seek care in the first trimester is to relieve symptoms of morning sickness. Acupuncture points for pregnancy nausea work well by helping to redirect what we call the stomach qi downward instead of upward, which is what causes symptoms. We help to strengthen the digestive system while also calming the nervous system. Nausea in pregnancy can cause increased anxiety, especially if you are experiencing vomiting.
Morning sickness may be caused by the hormone hCG, which is what confirms pregnancy on a pregnancy test. hCG increases as your placenta develops. It’s also thought that people with more severe morning sickness suffer from vitamin deficiencies like B6 and magnesium. If you are already prone to motion sickness, you may have a harder time with nausea during pregnancy than others.
We recommend these helpful tips for pregnancy nausea remedies at home:
Try not to get hungry
Many pregnant people survive on crackers and fruit for the first trimester and make it through, and that is okay. It’s best to try whatever you can to not get too hungry. This may seem counterintuitive, as food aversions are common, or you may have lost your appetite due to your nausea. But nausea often happens because of the overproduction of acid in your stomach, which then moves upward, causing these symptoms of nausea and dry heaving. To try to avoid this, we recommend having a snack every two hours to try to stay ahead of it instead.
Keep a snack by your bed for the morning
Keeping a snack by your bed can be a lifesaver, especially in the morning before you get up or even in the middle of the night if needed. Try a small snack before even getting out of bed to help stave off the nauseous feeling that can come from waking with an empty stomach. Some snacks that have worked for clients in the past are a piece of fruit, a few crackers, or nuts.
Prioritize Protein in Early Pregnancy
Protein may be the last thing you feel like eating, but a little goes a long way for morning sickness relief. I’ve heard many clients say they suddenly can’t even think about eggs or meat after they become pregnant. Luckily, there are many other ways to get protein in your diet. If you can’t keep food down or none of these ideas sound good, supplementing with a high-quality protein powder mixed into a smoothie or water is a great option.
Some protein snack ideas:
Cheese and crackers
Cheese and apples
A small handful of nuts
Full-fat yogurt
Nut butter on toast
Roasted chickpeas
Oatmeal or quinoa
Hummus and pita bread
Trail mix
Stay Hydrated
Hydration is essential in pregnancy, especially in the first trimester. Try to drink water at room temperature, which is gentler on your stomach than cold or iced drinks. If you are experiencing vomiting, you can become dehydrated more easily during pregnancy. We often recommend electrolyte water (check with your practitioner if this is right for you. If you have high blood pressure, you might need to skip electrolytes). Coconut water is an excellent option if it tastes good and your blood sugar is not a concern. Bubbly water works to settle some people’s stomachs, and for others, it’s aggravating, so listen to your body and see what feels right for you.
Spend time upright after eating
Try to eat at least two hours before going to sleep or lying down. In addition, taking a short walk after you eat can help your body digest your food. Sit upright after eating for at least two hours and try not to slouch forward onto your stomach too much. These practices encourage your stomach qi to stay downward and flow in the proper direction.
Other great home remedies for nausea and vomiting
Sea bands are marketed for motion sickness, but work well to take a bit of the edge off of morning sickness at home and while you are out in the world. They stimulate an acupuncture point, Pericardium 6, which we often use for morning sickness to open up the chest and move the qi downward.
Gua sha - Make sure to consult a practitioner to demonstrate this for you, as there are places where gua sha is not appropriate or safe to do during pregnancy. The practice of gua sha on certain parts of your neck and back can help relieve nausea symptoms. Always avoid gua sha on the top of your shoulders during pregnancy.
Ginger - Ginger is a Chinese herb and is used to harmonize digestion. It’s warming and can be taken in the form of tea, ginger chews, or ginger capsules to settle your stomach when you are feeling nauseous.
We offer suggestions like these and more in our 1st-trimester acupuncture treatment plans. If you are local to Petaluma and the surrounding Sonoma County area and you need pregnancy support, our prenatal acupuncturists at Nido Wellness are here for you. Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese medicine are safe, gentle, and effective ways to treat many of the ailments that come up during pregnancy.