Advice on morning sickness

[Lochie]

I was just wondering if anyone has any experience of using alternative therapies for morning sickness to significant effect? Am particularly interested in hearing from those who have had bad morning sickness and have tried more conventional remedies to little effect.

Doctor recommend cranial-something therapy to me this morning and also I've heard reflexology might work.

Am currently pulling my hair out so will consider all options...

[Mrs TP]

I tried those wristband pressure point things but no improvement. I realise you are asking for alternative remedies but I was so bad with my middle child (now 7) that I took some sort of travel sickness / anti-histamines prescribed for me by my doctor who had to come out to the house as I could barely stand without chucking (about wk 10) and was told if they didn't work I would have to hospitalised. Thankfully they did work and had to continue them until about 6mths pregnant. Was nowhere near so bad with other two pregnancies and just had nausea and little sickness.

Had reflexology towards end of all 3 pregnancies to cure swollen ankles and worked a treat - defo worth giving it a go for the sickness. I love it but it just may prove very pricey depending on how often you need it.

Good luck and however severe it is, it does eventually pass, just extra difficult if you are working and/or looking after other children.

[cff9]

Hi, if the thing you had mentioned to you was cranial-sacral therapy, then this place might be worth trying. I was treated there after the birth of my son - I'd been dislocating my thumbs and wrists daily after the birth and this fixed it in a couple of weeks - it felt a bit miraculous. They treat all kinds of conditions and you make a donation, whatever you can afford....they are very nice/professional etc - maybe call and see if they do what you're after....

http://www.occ.uk.com/

[Lochie]

thanks cff9 that is exactly what I was looking for.

And thanks mrstp - am currently on cyclozine and metoclopramide but they've stopped working at 10.5 weeks. Was sick for 9 months with son (didn't take meds that time) and so know this probably won't pass at the magic 12 week mark.

Grr.

[BanJo]

With my second, i had some acupuncture at The Vale which I think helped a bit. I could eat something and keep it down after a session there. Didn't do acupuncture with my third as got too weak to get out of bed during the bad months. Cyclozine helped me with the vomiting but not the nausea. It did knock me out though which was great as at least you can't feel sick when asleep!

Really feel for you. It was the hardest time of my life (3 times over).

[crystal7]

Urgh lots of sympathy! I suffered from this in my last and current pregnancies. I found the accupressure bands quite effective in my first pregnancy but less so this time. A friend tried accupuncture and said it reduced the vomitting so at least she could eat on the days she'd had treatment. Hope that helps, good luck and hope it passes soon.

[hellosailor]

Have you also tried promethazine (phenergan) as well as the two medications you're already on?

I think this is the medication that Mrs TP is referring to in her post as well,

I had hyperemesis and it was the only thing that helped (did try alternative treatments including acupuncture but to no avail).

I really feel for you, it's just awful feeling so sick 24 hours a day, I was able to stop taking the medication and keep food / water down without it at week 20something, I forget exactly when, but it did really help.

x

[bjm]

I also had Hyperemesis - it was without any question the hardest time in my life.

I tried all the antiemetic drugs but mothing worked at all except lying still and time passing really.

I have heard good things of people trying Ondansetron or low dose steroids as a treatment- there is an excellent female Obstetrician at Lewisham Hospital who runs a Hyperemesis service- it might be worth asking to see her.

I hope you feel better soon- you have my full sympathy!

[Lochie]

thank you for tips. I was admitted to Kings Obs and gynae ward last month with hyperemesis but it was complicated by a bout of food poisening so probably wouldn't have been that bad if it wasn't for that. Luckily though I saw a doctor or two that deal with hyperemesis on a regular basis so feel I have had good advice but unfortunately the only way i would get to see them again is if i am admitted again via a&e which I don't think will happen as am not dehydrated. My GP hasn't offered anything but cyclizine and metoclopramide. Maybe i'll ask about these other two meds.

I've tried the acubands and they don't work :-( i'll just plough on and hope it goes in time but i swear to god this is the LAST TIME i do this! (please take note husband!)

[Zina]

A friend of mine listened to a CD which prevents/ reduces morning sickness and swore by it - said it worked brilliantly. No idea how it works, but I think this is the product:

http://www.morningwell.co.uk/morningsickness.htm

[bumpy]

Acupuncture worked a treat for me, saw this lady http://www.thefertilitysupportcompany.co.uk/Index.aspx

[BellendenBear]

'Morning' sickness is the pits. Nothing worked for me apart from drugs. Phenergan and cyclizine (both anti-histamines) both help but made me too drowsy to be able to function. In my first pregnancy as well as all the usual dietary stuff I tried acupuncture with no effect. 2nd pregnancy I tried reflexology, also with no effect. The reflexologist told me that it only works for morning sickness if anxiety is a large component which we both agreed it wasn't for me. In the end I took metoclopramide and ranitindine together in my 2nd pregnancy until about 18 weeks. This reduced the nausea to a level where I was able to function and go to work. Felt absolutely awful though and I feel sick just thinking about it!

Staying well hydrated and sleeping as much as possible do help. Not easy if you have to work and/or have another child to think about.

Kings have a prescribing protocol for this so if your GP isn't sure what to try next they could always call Kings to get a copy.

Good luck, I really really feel for you.

[jules b]

really feel for you, -i had 8 months of nausea with my little boy and don't know if i can go through all that again!

Have you tried chewing on crystalized ginger? It normally works for me when nauseous tho stopped working the day i got pregnant, -typical! It's probably not going to be enough on it's own, but may help a little?

I can also recommend the OCC, -very caring helpful people, and great system of pay by donation.

[ParentingWorkshop]

try Energy Therapy www.energytherapy.biz these guys are really great for natural approaches to health.

[Saffron]

Try cranial osteopathy (not the same as cranial-sacral therapy). The cranial osteopath at the Sunflower Centre in Hilly Fields (Brockley) came highly recommended by my husband's dentist. http://thesunflowercentre.co.uk/

Also, if you want acupuncture but are too unwell to leave the house, why not ask if a practitioner will come to you. Ella Keepax (07787 118931) or Giles Davies (07739414210). xx