Nausea and Vomiting in Pregnancy
Updated: January 2025
Nausea and vomiting in pregnancy is common as up to 70% of pregnant people experience it. Symptoms usually begin around weeks 6-8 and subside between 16-20 weeks. A more severe condition, Hyperemesis gravidarum, can last throughout an entire pregnancy.
Nausea and vomiting in pregnancy is often called morning sickness, but can truly happen anytime during the day. During my pregnancies, I always experienced nausea at night, as well as when I was hungry.
We don't exactly know why this condition happens, but but it's thought to be due to rising estrogen and HcG levels. Other factors that can affect it are: an empty stomach, low blood sugar, strong smells, nutritional deficiencies, lack of sleep and even stress!
For most, the nausea and vomiting will eventually go away, but in the meantime it's important to address because it can impact your quality of life.
Natural Treatments for Nausea and Vomiting in Pregnancy
Medication
The common medication you might be offered is doxylamine/pyridoxine (which is a combination of an anti-histamine and vitamin B6). Some reported side effects include diarrhea, disorientation, epigastric pain, insomnia, headache, and palpitations.
Complementary Therapies for Nausea and Vomiting in Pregnancy
For mild to moderate nausea and vomiting, complementary therapies like ginger, vitamin B6, and acupuncture/acupressure are recommended in addition to dietary changes.
Ginger for Nausea and Vomiting
Ginger has been compared against placebo in multiple studies, and showed a significant anti-nausea effect, as well as a decrease in vomiting. Some studies have shown ginger to be more effective than vitamin B6 at reducing nausea. When compared to doxylamine/pyridoxine, there was no significant difference between the two.
Vitamin B6 for Nausea and Vomiting
Compared to placebo, vitamin B6 had a greater anti-nausea effect, with no difference in vomiting. While in another study compared to ginger, Vitamin B6 had a greater anti-vomiting effect. Over a longer period of treatment, vitamin B6 was shown to be more effective than ginger.
Acupuncture and or Acupressure for Nausea and Vomiting
Acupuncture, as well as acupressure, has been shown to reduce symptoms of nausea and vomiting. One study demonstrated that women receiving weekly acupuncture treatments, experienced less nausea after 3 weeks compared to sham and no acupuncture. A common point, pericardium 6 can be used as part of a treatment protocol to address nausea and vomiting in pregnancy.
Pericardium 6 is a common acupoint used to decrease nausea and vomiting in pregnancy.
Next Steps
In addition to the above, other things that may reduce symptoms include:
Avoiding nauseating foods and smells
Getting plenty of rest
Ensuring you’re eating protein and complex carbs with meals
Staying hydrate with water or ginger tea
Studies suggest that nausea and vomiting is protective during pregnancy, and is associated with a reduction in the risk of pregnancy loss. While that may be comforting, feeling as well as you can in the first few weeks is key. If you’re looking to try a complementary therapy for your symptoms, I would recommend working with a ND to ensure that you’re using a high quality supplement at an optimal dose.
Updated January 2025