Nausea & Vomiting

Patient Advice to treat nausea & vomiting in pregnancy

Fluid intake

  • It is important to avoid dehydration in pregnacy  – dry lips, thirst, reduced urinary output are signs that fluid intake is inadequate or traces of ketones on urine sticks.
  • If difficult to drink large amounts of water, drinking regular small amounts is recommended.
  • Potato soup daily – good as is very bland
  • Veg or chicken broths also good
  • Peppermint/ginger tea – not more than 3 cups per day
  • If belching relieves nausea, take carbonated drinks, especially ginger are good
  • Sucking on ice cubes or watery fruits such as melons or pears

Snacks

  • Small regular snacks to keep blood sugar levels stable, this may mean eating every 2 hrs
  • Snack on fruit/nuts
  • Avoid sugary foods as to avoid slump in blood sugar levels
  • Slow release carbs are good such as fruit, baked potato, pasta & rice.
  • Every person is different in relation to foods so try to see what works best for you.

Liquids

  • Apple cider vinegar:  1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar, fill cup with boiling water & add honey to taste.
  • Ginger ale/ginger tea – grate a thumbnail size of ginger, steep in boiling water for 10 mins & add honey to taste (do not exceed 3 cups per day)
  • Chamomile tea
  • Mineral water with lemon juice.

Foods

  • Almonds
  • Baby rice
  • Crackers
  • Dried fruit – especially apricots & raisons
  • Egg sandwiches
  • Grapefruit
  • Yeast extract
  • Miso
  • Noodles
  • Pasta
  • Peaches/pears
  • Peppermints
  • Potatos (in any form)
  • Commercial baby food
  • White bread
  • Yogurt

As a general rule, eat from these lists unless these foods disagree with you.  Consider the foods you would give to an 8 month old baby as these easy to digest so gentle on the digestive system.

E.g. baked vegetables, cooked and raw fruits, well-cooked grains & soups.

Rest

If possible & you need to rest, rest!

Smells

Due to heightened sensitivity.

  • Burn peppermints oil in bedroom/vanilla essence in the kitchen
  • Natural smells such as lemon can be useful in the kitchen or even if this means carrying a lemon with you!

Antiemetics – combined with Acupuncture

Take in between treatments as soon as nausea returns, see doctor before use.

Information from this piece has been taken from:
Acupuncture in Pregnancy & Childbirth – Debra Betts