How can nausea and vomiting in pregnancy be relieved?
During pregnancy, nausea and vomiting are common symptoms. They usually occur in the morning, but can happen at any time of day. Nausea and vomiting are caused by many things, including:
-Hormonal changes
-The growing uterus
-An empty stomach
-Certain smells or tastes
There are many ways to relieve nausea and vomiting in pregnancy. Some simple tips include:
-eating small, frequent meals
-avoiding spicy or greasy foods
-avoiding strong smells
-sucking on hard candy or ginger root
-drinking clear or ice-cold fluids
-wearing loose, comfortable clothing
If these simple measures don’t work, there are also many over-the-counter and prescription medications that can help. Be sure to talk to your doctor before taking any medication, even over-the-counter drugs. Citation
The history of anti emetics in pregnancy.
The history of antiemetics in pregnancy goes back centuries, with the first written records of their use dating to the early Greek medical texts. The purpose of these early antiemetics was to relieve the symptoms of nausea and vomiting during pregnancy, and they were made from a variety of natural substances such as ginger, myrrh, and even crocodile dung! While modern antiemetics are much more effective and have fewer side effects, they still serve the same purpose as their ancient counterparts.
The first modern antiemetic was developed in the early 1900s, when the German physician Carl Kleihauer noted that injecting a pregnant woman with a small amount of the chemical atropine could stop her vomiting. This finding led to the development of several different atropine-based antiemetics, which were popular throughout the first half of the 20th century. However, atropine had a number of drawbacks, including the potential to cause serious side effects like dry mouth, constipation, and blurred vision.
In the 1950s, a new class of antiemetics known as phenothiazines was developed. These drugs, which include chlorpromazine and prochlorperazine, were much more effective than atropine and had fewer side effects. Phenothiazines quickly became the standard treatment for nausea and vomiting in pregnancy, and they remained the most commonly used antiemetics until the late 1990s.
The introduction of the 5-HT3 receptor antagonists in the 1990s represented a major advance in the treatment of nausea and vomiting in pregnancy. These drugs, which include ondansetron and granisetron, act by blocking the action of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that is thought to play a role in the development of nausea and vomiting. 5-HT3 receptor antagonists are much more effective than phenothiazines, and they have largely replaced them as the preferred treatment for nausea and vomiting in pregnancy.
Despite the effectiveness of modern antiemetics, some women still experience nausea and vomiting during pregnancy. For these women, alternative treatments such as acupuncture and acupressure may provide relief. In addition, many women find that eating small, frequent meals, avoiding strong smells, and getting plenty of rest can help to minimize the symptoms of nausea and vomiting.
Visit pregnancysicknesssuport.org.uk to learn more about anti emetic pregnancy. Disclaimer: We used this website as a reference for this blog post.