How Can I Ease My Pregnancy Morning Sickness?
Having just been through another round of gastro, brought home from daycare by my darling children, it reminded me of how awful I felt during the first trimester of both my pregnancy’s.
The constantness of morning sickness can take away from the joyfulness of pregnancy and make it difficult for many women to keep that “secret” until they are ready to share.
Between 50% and 90% of women experience some degree of nausea during the first trimester. I am one of the less than 10% who then also go on to experience nausea throughout the entire pregnancy. And, whilst it is called Morning Sickness the nausea and vomiting can last throughout the day and for some women even during the night.
Morning sickness generally begins between 4 and 6 weeks, tends to peak around 8-12 weeks and usually resolves by 14-16 weeks.
There are various theories about the causes of morning sickness in pregnancy. These include: mechancial, endocrinological, allergic, metabolic, genetic and psychosomatic but there is no substantial research to back any of them up.
It is mainly thought however to be related to the rapidly increasing and high levels of oestrogen, human chorionic gonadotropin (hcg) and possibly thyroxine. Progesterone also has an effect on gastric smooth muscle tone and may lead to delayed gastric emptying. Nausea has been associated with good pregnancy outcomes and this is why it is often considered a favourable sign.
In Shiatsu, the eastern view of morning sickness is the spleen and stomach are no longer in harmony. The stomach meridian energy, which needs to flow downwards, is weak and instead rises upwards creating feelings of nausea and sickness. If the energy of the Liver meridian also flows upwards with the stomach there can be more extreme vomiting which potentially can develop into hyperemesis.
Hyperemesis gravidarum affects about 2% of women. The intractable nausea and vomiting cause extreme dehydration, electrolyte imbalances, metabolic disturbances and nutritional deficiencies. Women who experience hyperemesis are often hospitalised to have intravenous fluids.
Unfortunately, there is no cure for morning sickness but there are ways to potentially lessen its effects;
For some women small, frequent, high-carbohydrate, low-fat meals are helpful where as others find high-protein meals work better.
Avoid strong odours, fatty or spicy foods and cold liquids.
Consume dry crackers and toast or oatcakes before rising and throughout the day.
Suck on hard candy or umeboshi plums.
Use seabands (they help to stimulate a point on the wrist that is good for alleviating nausea).
Lie down when first experiencing symptoms.
Utilise relaxation techniques.
It is always good to talk to your primary care giver or GP if you are experiencing morning sickness. If it becomes to much and begins to impinge on your ability to do everyday tasks a GP can prescribe an anti-nausea which is best taken as soon as you wake up and before any feeling of nausea appears.
Pregnancy Shiatsu massage is a safe form of bodywork in your first trimester. Energy work and acupressure points may be beneficial in addressing morning sickness. The focus of treatment is to support the multitude of changes which the mother is undergoing and lay the foundation for the rest of the pregnancy. Shiatsu can also help reduce stress and help a woman accept the changes occuring in her body and her life.
To book a Pregnancy Shiatsu treatment please go to our booking calendar.