I have worked with many pregnant women in my practice, and have learned a lot about helping them stop morning sickness.  Here are the top SIX steps pregnant woman could use to stop morning sickness in its tracks!

1. Eat!  It is so critical that a mom is getting the proper amount of nutrition and at the right frequency.  I always refer my pregnant patients to the Brewer Diet for Pregnancy.  Check out their website for more information: http://www.blueribbonbaby.org/.  Many complications later in pregnancy can be reduced or prevented by following these dietary guidelines.  Many times women with morning sickness (or all day sickness!) are not getting enough nutrition or protein at frequent enough intervals.  Yes, it is possible to NOT have Morning Sickness!

2. Drink plenty of Water - Dehydration is also a key factor in morning sickness.  Moms who have morning sickness tend to have children with more lung and asthma problems.  It makes sense though...if you are dehydrated when the baby's lungs are forming, an organ that needs a lot of moisture, then the lungs may not be as strong as they could be.  How much water?  I recommend a quart for every 50 lbs. of body weight per day. 

3. Acupuncture - I have helped women with morning sickness over and over again!  I use a tool called Acugraph where I can measure the energy in the 12 main acupuncture meridians and see where your energy is out of balance.  I combine the indications of the Acugraph and the points I have learned in traditional Chinese Acupuncture to get great results for my newly pregnant patients.  I've even had cases where the morning sickness was gone by the time they left my office.  As long as they continued with diet and water intake, they only needed a few follow up treatments and they were on their way to a nausea-free pregnancy!

4. Chiropractic Adjustments - If the neck or upper back is out of alignment, that can trigger some people to be nauseous.  Patients who have a history of car accidents, neck trauma, motion sickness, or chronic neck pain can be more likely to have symptoms during their pregnancy.

5. Total Body Modification - Total Body Modification can help balance the gallbladder, hormone levels, and your body's ability to absorb the water you drink...all of which may be out of sync in women with morning sickness. 

6. Get plenty of sleep!  Your body is working hard to grow a baby, and needs plenty of rest to fuel the growth process.  At a bare minimum, you should get 6 hours of sleep a night, but 7-9 hours of sleep is preferred!  Sweet dreams!

Whether you are pregnant or not, having an established relationship with a Holistic Chiropractor is an essential component to a healthy lifestyle.  They can recommend the right combination of treatments and lifestyle changes that are best for you! Better Health is just a phone call away!

Dr. Kristine Baker