Preventing/Reducing Morning Sickness and Hyperemsis Gravidarum (herbs & more!) - Page 4

[DreamsInDigital]

Obviously it's too late for me to start anything preconception but my morning sickness has kicked into high gear now and I cannot function or hardly eat anything. Is there hope for me?

[DreamsInDigital]

I found a milk thistle tincture but I'm not sure how much I should take. Any ideas or should I look for it in pill form? I think a tincture would be easier for me to take because if I try to swallow pills it makes me gag or throw up.

[always hope]

I am preparing to get pregnant and was very sick last time so want to avoid it. I have made a naturopath appointment for next week and have heaps to ask after reading this thread. Just a couple of comments and queries:

Someone posted a while back about magnesium during pregnancy. I think you can take up to 1000mcg before it is toxic. I take a balanced magnesium and calcium for leg cramps. You need to take both together as the body needs calcium to absorb magnesium and you don't want to deplete calcium during pregnancy. (I am not pregnant at the moment but get leg cramps a lot, especially when stressed).

Also after reading this thread I asked a pharmacist about use of B6. Apparently you shouldn't take more than 2.2 (not sure of the unit but the usual one). My prenatal already has 2.6 so it might be wise to check before you take more.

Also I know Wild Yam Root is a stand in for progesterone and preogesterone has been linked to birth defects. How do you know it is safe in pregnancy? Can someone provide a link to a study?

Thanks everyone,
It is so great to have somewhere to read up on this.

[MissyLissa]

Wow! I've never heard of Milk Thistle before, let alone as morning sickness cure! I'm excited to start taking it to see if it works when I get pregnant in a few months. I've been looking online though and most brands seem to sell them in 200 mg tablets. Is it okay to take 400 mg while TTC and then 600 mg while pregnant? Or do I just take one 200 mg while TTC and 2 tablets while pregnant?

[Thursday Girl]

Oh spark, thanks for all the information. i am already pregnant but i am going to run out and get some stuff. Hopefully it will help. I am too miserable not to try.

I didn't realize you were that sick while we were pregnant with our respective Josephine's.

[nuwavemomma]

THANK YOU for this thread!!! - success story

First of all, Spark - THANK YOU for this thread. I have had it bookmarked for months and months now and have read and studied quite a bit based on info and links and leads here.

It just never occurred to me that the reason I was puking 4-6 times a day for 4 months and dropped to 93 pounds while pregnant with my first child was because my liver wasn't able to do its job effectively. No one ever said *anything* like that to me, but then again, I was in a much different place in regards to how I thought about health - ie, much less inclined to say "why am I having these symptoms" and more focused on "OMG how can I make it through this?" Which I'm sure anyone who's experienced debilitating m/s can relate to... but the thing is if a provider comes back and says, "Well, YEAH you're sick, your levels are very high!" then maybe we should ask, "Ok, WHY are they high?" You know?

At any rate, when we decided we would ttc in a few months, I came back to this thread and decided to do my best to have a different experience. I had already made major dietary changes - switching to mostly organic everything, giving up lifelong vegetarianism for a Traditional Foods diet - and had changed out all the cleaning products and personal care products in the house for non-toxic ones. If my liver is the problem, I thought, then I should do everything I can to clean up my environment and my body. Before TTC I also, over a period of about 6 months, did a candida cleanse in addition to generally adopting a less candida-friendly diet, and I did a liver cleanse.

As per this thread's suggestions, I began taking a dandelion/milk thistle blend for about three months prior TTC. I drank lots of water, always with lemon, and ate a lot more dandelion greens as well. I also started a prenatal with a lot of B vitamins, 6 times a day, and I was drinking kombucha daily, which also has a lot of Bs.

I will also add that upon getting a BFP, my very good friend who has a remarkable knack for getting her prayers answered spoke words over me and blessed me, saying I would not get sick.

I did not follow the protocol listed here after the BFP, because I am personally uncomfortable with the conflicting stuff I've read about MT and endocrine disruption, in addition to just generally being leary of supplements during pregnancy. I personally feel more comfortable letting my food be my medicine. That's just my comfort zone.

And the result? I am 11+ weeks today and I have thrown up once from a migraine and that IS IT. I can't believe it. I had a few weeks of very manageable nausea that could be totally curbed by eating a small snack and sea bands. I have not lost any weight.

I just wanted to let you know how appreciative I am that you've put this info out there, because I would not have thought of this connection on my own in time to affect this pregnancy. THANK YOU! I'm so glad I'm not suffering m/s while chasing a toddler, that sounds like such a nightmare. I was so scared of that that I was pretty hesitant about having another baby, but it has worked out!!!

And finally I want to encourage anyone reading this that a LOT can be done just through diet/lifestyle and smart consumer choices about what chemicals are in the house. It all adds up.

[robinCBN]

Hi All,
I sort of skipped to the end of the 4 pages, so if someone else put this in here, sorry. The combination of doxylamine 25mg at night (makes you sleepy)(found in unisom) and Vit. B6; pyridoxine 25mg 3 times a day is very safe and effective. Its been in use for 60+ years in Canada and used to be availible as this combination in the US until it was withdrawn by the manufacturer in the wake of the thalidomide tragedies. It had nothing to do with thalidomide but they didn't want to get sued. The number of women hospitalized for Hyperemessis gravidarum "skyrocketed" when it went of the market. Now you just have to make up the combination your self. NOTE: unisom has several formulations for it's sleep aids, make sure you have the doxylamine. Doxylamine has a FDA risk rating of A (proven safe in pregnancy), it is the only drug that does. It has been tested, so to say, in pregnant women because so many pregnant women have taken it over the years.

with my first pregnancy I lost 6 pounds in one week before I came across this recommendation in "the panic free pregnancy by Michael S Broder". I took 50mg B6 and 12.5 mg doxylamine for a long time, I was still sick as a dog and threw up, but at least I could eat and drink. I was amazed that more professionals were not aware of this. My poor sister suffered awfully and even had to take a class C anti emetic a couple of times when this very safe and effective combination was right out there. It makes me a little mad that the medical community is not aware of this. I know drugs aren't popular on this list, but getting hostpitalized seems way worse than safe meds.

-cheers

[TzippityDoulah]

I, like many others, just wanted to say thank you to everyone (esp Spark) who wrote down all this useful information for us HG suffers out there!!!

I can't give my gratitude enough! I only wish I had seen this sooner!

I had severe HG with my first 2 pregnancies and landed in the hospital both times. lost 25lbs with the first and 22 with the second. (I gained it all back in my 6-9th month which was terrible for my body as it got very disoriented, but that's another story). I was SO sick I had to stay in a dark room, not move and not talk or I would vomit my guts out. mostly Bile... even if I had eaten recently. It was painful and mostly very very depressing. I honestly thought both times I would die that way. I was terrified of every letting that happen again.

well a few months ago my husband and i decided to leave our family planning to God. now this is an unusual thing around my area and family... and even stranger still knowing i have HG like I do. but I felt like it was what I was supossed to do, so we did. 5 weeks later I find out I'm pregnant! :

anyhow I was away from home so I couldn't do much then. a week alter I read this thread and started MT, b-6/vitamin C and probitoics (which I already was taking) cod liver oil (which I've been taking for 3 years). I wasn't sure what to think. well here is how it has been so far: (keeping in mind I didn't take the m/s supplements pre-pregnancy)

4.5 weeks - a few moments of passing nausea. extremely tired!
5 weeks - about the same (started the supplements)
6 weeks - very very tired, and more moments of nausea and queasiness
6.5 weeks - HG starts!!! so I added unisom 3x's a day to my diet.
7 weeks - I have HG but less severely than I did the other two times. I feel terrible 75% of the day, but I haven't lost more than a couple of lbs! I feel wretched every morning and I can hardly hold my head up from the exhaustion induced by the unisom, but between all of those things I am NOT in the hospital on IV therapy!!!

I did stop taking the b-6 because for whatever reason I never can keep that pill down and now I have this terrible association with it and when I think of it I gag (my gag reflex is SO sensitive during pregnancy - totally uncontrollable!) I also can't take the probiotics and cod liver oil and it's just too many pills for my sensitive stomach to handle but I will start them as soon as I settle a little more. I figure I gave myself a good start with taking them for 3 yrs!

it's still hard. it really is. my husband does everything. I can't cook and barely take care of the kids. but it's still a huge improvement. this time last times I was hospitalized and couldn't function at all. I was only a few different meds and nothing really worked. they just pumped me full of fluids to keep my hydrated until I was able to feel a bit better.

if this is like my last two, it will ease up a bit in the 10-13th weeks. at that point I would trade in the puking non-stop for constant bile and acid reflux, and average m/s. puking here and there and very tired and yucky feeling. I am hoping it wont be like that this time, but only time will tell! I am very hopeful that perhaps I may even be able to enjoy a little of this pregnancy!!

[nukedwifey]

Originally Posted by always hope

I am preparing to get pregnant and was very sick last time so want to avoid it. I have made a naturopath appointment for next week and have heaps to ask after reading this thread. Just a couple of comments and queries:

Someone posted a while back about magnesium during pregnancy. I think you can take up to 1000mcg before it is toxic. I take a balanced magnesium and calcium for leg cramps. You need to take both together as the body needs calcium to absorb magnesium and you don't want to deplete calcium during pregnancy. (I am not pregnant at the moment but get leg cramps a lot, especially when stressed).

Also after reading this thread I asked a pharmacist about use of B6. Apparently you shouldn't take more than 2.2 (not sure of the unit but the usual one). My prenatal already has 2.6 so it might be wise to check before you take more.

Also I know Wild Yam Root is a stand in for progesterone and preogesterone has been linked to birth defects. How do you know it is safe in pregnancy? Can someone provide a link to a study?

Thanks everyone,
It is so great to have somewhere to read up on this.

I've read, in more places than one, that it's 1.9mg/day of B6 when pregnant not 2.2. In fact I've never read that 2.2 is a recommended dosage ever for males or females. My prenantal has 1.9. When breastfeeding the recommended dosage goes up to 2.0. However higher doses won't hurt you until you get up to more like 300mg/day. This is a nutritional dosage that you're talking about.

http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/infocente...ins/vitaminB6/
http://www.pregnancy-plus.com/supplementfacts.html

Levels higher for therapeutic dosage is considered safe to an extent.

Therapeutic Dosages

One study found that 30 mg of vitamin B6 daily was effective for symptoms of morning sickness. While far above nutritional needs, this dosage should be safe. However, for the treatment of other conditions, B6 has been recommended at doses as high as 300 mg daily. There are potential risks at this level of vitamin B6 intake. (See the Safety Issues section below for more information).

https://healthlibrary.epnet.com/GetC...chunkiid=21852


ETA:

Morning Sickness (Nausea and Vomiting in Pregnancy)

Vitamin B6 supplements have been used for years by conventional physicians as a treatment for morning sickness. In 1995, a large double-blind study validated this use.38 A total of 342 pregnant women were given placebo or 30 mg of vitamin B6 daily. Subjects then graded their symptoms by noting the severity of their nausea and recording the number of vomiting episodes. The women in the B6 group experienced significantly less nausea than those in the placebo group, suggesting that regular use of B6 can be helpful for morning sickness. However, vomiting episodes were not significantly reduced.

At least 3 studies have compared vitamin B6 to ginger for the treatment of morning sickness. Two studies found them to be equally benefitial,69,72 while the other found ginger to be somewhat better.73 However, as ginger is not an established treatment for this condition, these studies alone do not provide any additional evidence in favor of B6.

[Mom of 6 to Be]

Living Proof of Milk Thistle working !

Hey I wanted to let you all know my experience. Last pregnancy I had hyperemesis-- lost 20 pounds in the first 14 weeks- finally resorted to medications to "manage" the emesis-- and eventually a pump that pumped the meds into me on a steady basis, so I didn't have highs and lows. Managed I was vomiting about 3-5 times a day and was miserable most days-- This pregancy -- I am using milk thistle as per my midwifes instructions and a much different approach to my diet/ eating etc.. and I've seen HUGE improvements. We still haven't "fixed" it completely -- but there is definately hope!! Lots of water-- eating protein of some sort every 2-3 hours, no refined or other sugar, artificial sweeteners-- honey, maple syrup, stevia, and fruit sugar in small amounts and always with a source of protein, NO soda, caffeine`, etc.. whole grains, and basically a brewers diet. I've thrown up a total of 7-9 times this entire 15 week pregnancy !! So it's not perfect -- but my midwife assures me that by upping the milk thistle more this week we can take care of it. I began taking it when we were TTC and continued after we were pregnant and am still nursing our 2 yr old as well. :
Additionally -- I have heard and plan to look into it this week -- but I've heard that there are B6 tablets with the enzyme that makes it digestable in a dissolving form-- peppermint flavored! So no pills to choke down. I've heard that they are available from pharmacies or some natural foods - vitamin stores. If I find them I will post the info --
Laura

[kj520]

Great information

Thanks to all for the information. It is especially great to hear when something actually helps!! I've read a lot of great suggestions but don't have the means of getting EVERYTHING suggested as we are currently living in Germany. I don't even know what most things would even be called here.

I am an HG 3x survivor... but unfortunately our last pregnancy ended at 13 wks with a m/c. Now I feel very torn... do we try for that "last" pregnancy, again? Especially knowing that I will deal with HG again?

While in the States a couple months ago, I tried to get somethings to help but may need to have more ordered and sent to me (if possible). I started Milk Thistle but am unsure exactly how much to be taking TTC. I've also been making sure I drink lots of water (which is typically unusual for me... so it's good to do anyway!)... and also taking PreNatal opposite some Iron (after my m/c I was very anemic and decided I really needed to deal with that more aggressively before TTC also.

Some days I feel ready to tackle HG again... but then remember my loss. I can't handle both again. Thanks again for all the great information.

[kj520]

Curious about Sparks

I was just curious how Sparks came through the pregnancy with the protocol? Did things seem to work?... make HG less/not at all?
I'm hoping to hear positive feedback from people that things helped... this would help me & my DH not be as leery about TTC again.
Thanks.

[*GreenMama*]

I need to hold onto this thread for when we have #3. I had hyperemesis with both pregnancies. I lost weight in my first and had to go on medical leave from my job and with my second didn't gain or lose in my first trimester. I'm hoping the next one will be better with this great advice!

[azdesertrn]

:bump
bumping this for a friend......

[preciousstone]

Spark, I tried pm'ing you for advice but got a msg saying your mailbox was full...

So i'm posting here.. also, anyone who can offer advice pls respond.

After reading the thread, I went out and bought
nature's bounty milk thistle 250mg and
nature made b6 100mg.

I already have 1000mg vitamin C at home.

Can I take the b6 100 mg and the 1000 mg vitamin C?

I'm also already taking one a day prenatal w/ dha - which has about 2 mg of b6.

I saw b6 50 mg at CVS but it was the CVS brand and I thought the nature made was better cuz it said it was made for better absorption.

what do ya think?

Any advice would be super helpful.
Thanks again for the thread.

[Danielle13]

Originally Posted by preciousstone

Spark, I tried pm'ing you for advice but got a msg saying your mailbox was full...

So i'm posting here.. also, anyone who can offer advice pls respond.

After reading the thread, I went out and bought
nature's bounty milk thistle 250mg and
nature made b6 100mg.

I already have 1000mg vitamin C at home.

Can I take the b6 100 mg and the 1000 mg vitamin C?

I'm also already taking one a day prenatal w/ dha - which has about 2 mg of b6.

I saw b6 50 mg at CVS but it was the CVS brand and I thought the nature made was better cuz it said it was made for better absorption.

what do ya think?

Any advice would be super helpful.
Thanks again for the thread.

I also would love advice. I had severe HG last pregnancy for the whole pregnancy and labor. It ended for whatever reason after I gave birth. We're TTC now, but are very concerned about what will happen if I end up hospitalized, or bed ridden again.

Basically, I've read this whole thread but am having a hard time extracting exactly what I need to do. Which vits to take at which time, what dosage and how often. Just like a strict regime for me to follow I do think my problem was my liver because the "tea lady" who feels your feet told me my liver was very very very congested. and I needed a cleanse but couldn't until I was done bf'ing.

[Danielle13]

subbing

[morganeldi]

Originally Posted by Danielle13

I also would love advice. I had severe HG last pregnancy for the whole pregnancy and labor. It ended for whatever reason after I gave birth. We're TTC now, but are very concerned about what will happen if I end up hospitalized, or bed ridden again.

Basically, I've read this whole thread but am having a hard time extracting exactly what I need to do. Which vits to take at which time, what dosage and how often. Just like a strict regime for me to follow I do think my problem was my liver because the "tea lady" who feels your feet told me my liver was very very very congested. and I needed a cleanse but couldn't until I was done bf'ing.

I just read through this whole thread, disected the info and what I am going to start doing right away, before pregnancy is:

For m/s prevention:

Milk Thistle - 100 mg 2 or 3 x day
B6 - from my complex for now, when I get pregnant I will switch to just 50 mg/3 x day.
Ginger - 3 caps/3 x day or until I can taste it
Dandelion Root -- I'm making my own tea from herbs I bought and drinking one strong cup daily.
Acerola Cherry vitamin C - 500 mg/day
Probiotic with many strains. (Whatever the bottle says to take
An enzyme blend. (whatever the bottle says to take)

you could also add Wild Yam Root once pregnant- 1 tsp dried herb, or 2 ml tincture 3x/day.

Half my body weight in water, with lemon in it many times.

General preconception health:

Cod liver oil (garden of life)- 1 tsp/day
Garden of life Vitamin Code Women's Raw formula multi vitamin
Tea infusion of a combo of nettle/red clover/RRL one strong cup/day
Garden of life Superfood greens

And then of course a healthy diet with lots of organic fresh veggies, fruits, grassfed/pastured animal products, kefir, kombucha, as low sugar as I can stand and as little processed foods & alcohol as I can stand.

[foodmachine]

Hi! How are you doing, those of you trying the regiment, preciousstone, danielle, morgan?
What great info! I've ordered my milk thistle and B6 and am going to get dandelion root, red clover and raspberry leaves for tea. We are planning to TTC in Fall. We wanted to try earlier but are touring Japan in September and are sooo scared of HG. I was so sick with DD that I hoped she was twins so I wouldn't have to do it again. But here we are.
I am so happy I found this thread. I'm quitting coffee and my very-loved occasional glass of red wine too.
I would love to hear how's it's going for those of you ahead of me .

[preciousstone]

well i have to say that i should be happy but am not really.. first of all, I did not escape the nausea at all! but i threw up 1 and dry heaved twice since - am 12 weeks now. i was generally tired. my mom said she threw up constantly with each pregnancy... and all my other mama relatives are surprised at how 'well' am doing. i had major loss of appetite that is slowly returning and terrible gas and acid reflux. i was unable to keep up with the regimen cuz i stopped being able to stomach my vitamins. i was never able to deal with the milk thistle it gave me stomach pains.. so i never took it. just the b6.

i think the vitamins helped a bit.. since i didn't have to deal with vomitting... i definitely recommend it tho.. considering how amazed other people are.