It’s mid-afternoon, and you’re working your way down this week’s grocery list. You picked the basket with the squeaky wheel (again) and you’re clack-clack-clacking your way up the freezer aisle when – Ugh! You fumble through your purse and somewhere amidst the tissues, lip-gloss tubes and Tylenol, you find a handful of peppermints, a.k.a. your lifesavers, and right now your favorite food in the whole wide world. They might not hit the spot like all that ice cream you were craving last month or the Nacho Cheese Doritos you just threw in the cart, but these peppermints are exactly what you need.
Peppermints are a mom-tested remedy for morning sickness, that most loathsome of misnomers and your mortal enemy right about now. You feel hungry and full at the same time, like you need food but you won’t be able to keep anything down. It’s uncomfortable and obnoxious, and it’s really cramping your mommy-to-be style.
Why are you experiencing this tummy-twisting sensation? “There’s no one hard and fast answer to that question,” says Xercerla Littles, associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at UT Southwestern Medical School. She explains that scientists have yet to hammer down a universal cause for morning sickness, though they strongly suspect it’s associated with a change in hormone levels.
Research suggests that rising levels of estrogen and progesterone can cause the lower esophageal sphincter to relax, allowing stomach acids to re-enter the esophagus. This results in acid reflux and the feeling that you need to vomit. Littles says the build-up of acid is exacerbated by lying down all night, so pregnant women “just have a lot of acid on board in the morning” – hence the moniker.
Though it’s named for that queasy feeling that sets in before you even get out of bed, morning sickness is actually an umbrella term that encompasses the nausea pregnant women feel any time during the day. Littles says that some women do not feel sick until early afternoon or evening, and that many find their nausea set off at random by strong smells or other triggers. The symptoms generally start manifesting about 6 weeks into pregnancy, peaking at 8–10 weeks.
Your morning sickness could predict the sex of your baby, if you believe the old wives’ tale. Melissa Espey-Mueller, founder of North Dallas Doula Associates, explains that those raging hormones causing your illness are traditionally associated with carrying a baby girl. Though she’s skeptical, the mom of five does admit that she had terrible morning sickness with her three girls and none with her boys. Espey-Mueller believes strongly in wellness practices such as acupuncture and chiropractic care, explaining that these holistic treatments can relieve morning sickness.
Moms can also make simple lifestyle changes to combat nausea, such as lying in bed for a while after turning off their alarms. (Finally – a legitimate excuse to hit snooze.) Eating a little something in the morning before rolling out of bed can also keep things quiet, but during the day, Littles recommends that moms refrain from reclining for 35–45 minutes after eating.
Both Littles and Espey-Mueller report success with acupressure bands, the same kind used to allay motion sickness. Even a basic wardrobe shift – wearing less confining clothing – can relieve pressure on the belly and ease morning sickness.
But your diet is where big changes may need to happen. Littles recommends eating small, snacky meals throughout the day. “That does not mean you have Jack in the Box and Wendy’s every two hours,” she clarifies, no matter what your cravings tell you. Instead, stock up on bland foods and lean proteins. The BRAT diet – bananas, rice, apple sauce and toast, often recommended for patients with diarrhea – can be effective against morning sickness as well.
Anything that doesn’t smell good is a no-go, as hormones can cause your nose to work overtime. “A lot of people feel like they have a much stronger sense of smell,” Littles says, and this heightened sensitivity often correlates with a heightened gag reflex. One whiff of his cologne or your leftover pizza might have you racing to the restroom.
Espey-Mueller says essential oils may help to mask unpleasant odors and soothe your sniffer – but make sure you find scents your stomach can handle.
Prenatal vitamins can relieve nausea while supplementing the nutrients you might be forgoing because of dietary changes. Espey-Mueller stresses the importance of vitamin B in particular. “Increasing your vitamin B is always a really good option,” she says, speaking again from experience with her own five pregnancies as well as scientific evidence. “Studies show that if you increase your vitamin B, you decrease acid reflux and nausea.”
Littles agrees, but cautions moms against overdoing it; she prescribes 10–25 milligrams of vitamin B6 two to three times a day, but no more than 100 milligrams a day.
Other effective pills include over-the-counter Emetrol and sleep aid Unisom. Littles says taking half a tablet of Unisom daily has helped many of her patients.
There are other anti-nausea medications your OB/GYN could prescribe, but many moms are cautious about medicating during pregnancy. Instead, women swear by snacks such as saltine crackers, peanut butter with apple slices or peppermints, all consumable in small bites to ease the burden on your stomach.
Espey-Mueller relied heavily on ginger tea during her pregnancies. Ginger is a proven remedy for morning sickness, whether in the form of tea, ginger ale, gum or crystals. Other herbs may be effective, but Littles advises women to consult their doctors before starting an herbal tea regimen, as some herbs can do more harm than good.
Above all, it’s important just to eat something. “Sometimes when we feel nauseated or feel like we want to vomit, we don’t want to eat anything,” Espey-Mueller says. “Don’t let your stomach get empty.”
Littles does warn moms-to-be that morning sickness can become a serious condition called hyperemesis, which she sees in 8–10 percent of her patients. “If you’re not making urine – or it’s super-concentrated – or if you’re not able to keep down liquids or solids, or if despite your best efforts you’ve lost a lot of weight in a short period of time, you need to see your doctor.” You might need intravenous treatment to replenish fluids and nutrients.
Thankfully, most moms will never need an IV to treat morning sickness, just gobs of peppermints. While some moms may experience a little nausea throughout their pregnancy, Littles reports that most women feel their stomachs settle around 12–14 weeks. “It’s like everything else,” she emphasizes. “This too shall pass.”
Published September 2013
