[Popular Science] How to relieve vomiting during pregnancy?

Many women experience vomiting during pregnancy, which is a common phenomenon. However, some women experience severe vomiting, which seriously affects their daily quality of life, leads to decreased appetite, and even has an adverse effect on the development of the fetus. So, how can vomiting during pregnancy be relieved? Let's take a look today!

Nausea and vomiting during pregnancy is a common symptom of pregnancy. It usually occurs in early pregnancy (about 6 to 12 weeks of pregnancy), reaches its peak at 8 to 10 weeks, and disappears on its own around 12 weeks of pregnancy.

1. Causes of vomiting during pregnancy

Vomiting during pregnancy is usually caused by increased levels of pregnancy hormones (especially human chorionic gonadotropin), especially in early pregnancy (about 6 to 12 weeks of pregnancy), which is why vomiting during pregnancy is often called morning sickness. Specifically, in early pregnancy, changes in hormone levels in the body can affect the body functions of pregnant women, among which human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is considered to be one of the main factors inducing vomiting during pregnancy. The increase in these hormones can directly stimulate the vomiting center, causing pregnant women to experience vomiting symptoms.

In the early stages of pregnancy, due to the influence of fetal growth and hormonal changes, pregnant women may experience changes in gastrointestinal function, including weakened gastrointestinal motility and prolonged gastric emptying time, which may also lead to vomiting during pregnancy.

Some studies have also shown that vomiting during pregnancy may be related to the pregnant woman's emotional state, stress, and changes in the autonomic nervous system. Excessive psychological stress and anxiety may increase the frequency and severity of vomiting.

In addition, vitamin deficiencies, especially vitamin B6 deficiency, can lead to hyperemesis gravidarum.

Although most pregnant women will experience vomiting during pregnancy, if pregnant women experience vomiting and rapid weight loss, especially when the weight loss exceeds 15% of their body weight, and are accompanied by dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, metabolic acidosis, and even liver and kidney damage, it will develop into hyperemesis gravidarum and they should go to the hospital for medical treatment in time.

2. How to relieve vomiting during pregnancy?

1. Diet adjustment:

Separate meals: Eat 5-6 small meals a day to avoid having an empty or too full stomach.

Avoid irritating foods: such as spicy, greasy, and overly sweet foods. You can try something cool like sour plum juice to help relieve nausea.

Increase carbohydrate intake: such as bread, which can help absorb stomach acid and relieve nausea. You can also eat fresh vegetables, fruits, rice soup, porridge, soy milk, etc.

Ginger: Studies have shown that ginger can effectively relieve morning sickness. You can try drinking ginger tea or eating ginger candy, but be careful to use it in moderation.

Vitamin supplement: You can take vitamin B6 with the doctor's permission, 1.9 mg per day. For severe cases, take three times a day, 10 to 25 mg each time. The specific situation should still be based on the doctor's advice. If taken in excess, the fetus will become dependent on vitamin B6.

2. Adjust your lifestyle

Keep the room ventilated: Fresh air has a direct impact on relieving morning sickness. Especially in the morning, when pregnant women wake up from sleep, it is recommended to open the windows to let fresh air into the room. In addition, you can also place some plants indoors, such as jasmine, mint, etc., which can not only purify the air, but also help eliminate odors.

Avoid standing up suddenly: Pregnant women may feel dizzy and nauseous if they stand up suddenly after lying down or sitting for a while. To avoid this, pregnant women are advised to sit up before getting up, stay for a while, and then stand up slowly.

Rest: Adequate rest is essential for the body to recover and cope with morning sickness. Pregnant women should make sure they get enough sleep every day and rest properly during the day. But be careful not to lie down and rest immediately after dinner at night, as this may increase the burden on the stomach.

3. Relax with massage

Sanyinjiao acupoint massage:

The Sanyinjiao point is located on the inner side of the calf, about 4 finger widths above the inner ankle bone; gently press this point with your thumb or index finger for about 1-2 minutes each time; repeat this action 3-5 times.

Wrist Massage:

Place the wrist of one hand on the palm of the other hand; use your thumb to gently press on the inside of the wrist, starting from the base of the fingers and working up to the wrist; repeat this movement for each wrist for about 3-5 minutes.

Zusanli acupoint massage:

The Zusanli point is located on the front and outer side of the calf, about 4 finger widths below the knee; gently press this point with your thumb or index finger for about 1-2 minutes each time; repeat this action 3-5 times.

Back Massage:

Let the pregnant woman lie on one side and relax her body; family members can use their palms to gently massage the pregnant woman's back from top to bottom, especially the neck and shoulders; repeat this action for each part for about 3-5 minutes.

Note:

When performing massage, the movements should be gentle to avoid causing discomfort to the pregnant woman;

If a pregnant woman feels discomfort or pain during massage, she should stop the massage immediately;

Before having a massage, it is best to consult a doctor or a professional masseur to ensure that the massage method and technique are correct.

In short, vomiting during pregnancy is a problem that many pregnant women will experience. Through a reasonable diet and lifestyle adjustment, most pregnant women can effectively alleviate this symptom. Of course, if the symptoms of morning sickness continue to worsen or are accompanied by other discomforts, it is recommended to seek medical attention in time.

Finally, I hope every pregnant mother can have a healthy and happy pregnancy! (Lv Yanxia, ​​Maternal and Child Health and Family Planning Service Center, Lingshou County, Shijiazhuang City, Hebei Province)