Morning Sickness

Taming the Turbulent Tummy

You can be tickled pink at the idea of impending motherhood but still roll out of bed every morning, head straight to the bathroom and heave. Studies show that morning sickness hits 50 to 90 percent of pregnant women. Luckily, some experts believe there is a safe and effective vitamin therapy to reduce stomach-churning symptoms.

Vitamin B6 to the Rescue

Several studies done back in the 1940s suggested that vitamin B6 is an effective treatment for morning sickness. More recently, two studies have confirmed this vitamin’s effectiveness. Researchers at the University of Iowa College of Medicine in Iowa City found that pregnant women who took 25 milligrams of B6 every eight hours had significantly less vomiting and nausea than women who took placebos (blank look-alike pills). And in a study that included almost 350 moms-to-be, researchers in Thailand found that 10 milligrams every eight hours reduced symptoms as well.

“This is something more and more obstetricians are hearing about, and it’s definitely worth trying,” says Jennifer Niebyl, M.D., professor and head of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Iowa College of Medicine. “It’s safe, with no risk of side effects or birth defects at 25 milligrams, and it works for at least half of the women who try it.” Both studies found that the vitamin worked best in women with moderate to severe nausea.

No one really knows why pregnant women get nauseated or how vitamin B6 works, Dr. Niebyl says. “It probably has to do with high hormone levels, but we don’t know which hormones cause nausea or how B6 affects nausea,” she says.

She recommends taking vitamin B6 first thing in the morning, even before getting out of bed, then in midafternoon and before bed. Stick to no more than 75 milligrams of B6 a day—three doses of 25 milligrams—to be on the safe side, Dr. Niebyl recommends. Amounts higher than 100 milligrams a day have been associated with nerve problems.

If vitamin B6 is going to help your symptoms, you should feel relief after the first few doses, Dr. Niebyl says. If it hasn’t worked by then, you may need to ask your doctor about other forms of treatment.

As a general rule, pregnant women should never take any drugs or supplements without first discussing it with their physicians.

Food Factors

What goes down the hatch can make a big difference when it comes to whether or not it comes back up. Some doctors recommend trying these dietary measures the next time you need to steady a pitching stomach.

Eat gingerly. There's good scientific proof that ginger, the popular peppery spice used to flavor cookies, cakes and Asian foods, can calm even supersensitive stomachs.

In one study, 940 milligrams of ginger (about a half-teaspoon) worked as well as the standard dose of Dramamine, a common over-the-counter remedy, in relieving motion sickness. A similar dose kept Danish sailors from turning green during a four-hour jaunt on the high seas.

British researchers found that ginger worked as well as drugs, and without side effects, in relieving the nausea and vomiting common after surgery that involved general anesthesia. And Danish doctors report that one-eighth teaspoon of powdered ginger, given four times a day, relieved morning sickness in pregnant women so seriously stricken that they were hospitalized.

Ginger apparently works directly in the gastrointestinal tract to interfere with so-called feedback mechanisms that send "time to throw up" messages to the brain, explains Daniel Mowrey, Ph.D., director of the American Phytotherapy Research Laboratory in Lehi, Utah.

Although ginger ale or ginger tea may calm your tummy, the powdered stuff packs the most punch, says Jennifer Niebyl, M.D., professor and head of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Iowa College of Medicine in Iowa City. "The usual dosage is about a half-teaspoon," she says. Ginger has no known adverse side effects, she adds.

Graze and pick. "Eating frequent light meals that are rich in carbohydrates and low in fat may help your nausea, so it's worth a try," says Dr. Niebyl. "The idea is to always have some easy-to-digest food in your stomach, but not to have a full stomach." That's why eating a few crackers before you get out of bed in the morning helps, she adds.

Prescriptions for Healing

Here's what some doctors recommend for nausea associated with
pregnancy.

Nutrient Daily Amount

Vitamin B6 75 milligrams, taken as 3 divided doses (every 8 hours)

MEDICAL ALERT: As a general rule, pregnant women should get a doctor's okay before taking any supplements. More than 100 milligrams of vitamin B6 a day has been associated with nerve damage.

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