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H&W ad 3.66x9.75 2013_Layout 1 5/15/13 1:41 PM Page 1 THE GINGER RX Ginger is a common remedy for morning sickness. It's considered safe during pregnancy. "High-quality, randomized studies have shown that ginger can help with the nausea of morning sickness," Okuda says. In a 2011 study published in the Journal of Alternative and Complimentary Medicine, women who took ginger showed an 84 percent improvement in feelings of nausea, compared to 56 percent for women who didn't use ginger. Okuda also suggests eating candied ginger (sold at many health food stores) and sipping ginger ale to calm the queasies. Bringing Together Innovation & Care MEDICATIONS While no prescription drugs for pregnancy nausea and vomiting have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, some safe medications can be prescribed off-label for morning sickness. Talk to your ob-gyn about this possibility. "There are several anti-nausea medications that work for morning sickness," Okuda says. She also recommends the over-the-counter sleep aid Unisom taken at bedtime, along with vitamin B-6. Not only will you sleep like a baby, you may not wake with an upset tummy. If your prenatal vitamins do a number on your stomach, talk to your ob-gyn about switching the time you take your pills. Taking them with food may also help prevent nausea. ALTERNATIVE TREATMENTS A handful of studies suggest acupuncture could be helpful for morning sickness. In one British study of 600 women who were less than 14 weeks pregnant, weekly 20- minute acupuncture sessions given for four weeks helped relieved morning sickness symptoms. If you aren't fond of needles, acupressure could be the perfect alternative. Okuda suggests trying an acupressure wristband. Some of the more common brands, like Sea-Band, were originally intended to prevent seasickness, but may be helpful for morning sickness. WHEN SICKNESS GETS SEVERE While morning sickness is normally harmless and won't put your born baby at risk, about one percent of expecting women have a severe form known as hyperemesis gravidarum, or HG. Unlike normal morning sickness, this extreme form can lead to malnutrition, potentially endangering the health of your developing baby. "Signs of HG are vomiting several times a day, the inability to eat or drink anything without being sick, and weight loss," Okuda says. If you have these symptoms, talk to your doctor or midwife right away. To Bring You a Family The Colorado Center for Reproductive Medicine (CCRM) is one of the nation's leading fertility clinics providing a wide variety of fertility treatments ranging from basic infertility care to the most advanced in vitro fertilization (IVF) technology available today. Basic Infertility Services Advanced Infertility Care n Evaluation and Testing n Ovulation Induction n Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) n Minimally-Invasive Reproductive Surgery n Genetic & Infertility Counseling n Andrology Laboratory Testing n In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) n Preimplantation Genetic Screening n Egg Freezing n Egg Donation n Gestational Surrogacy (303) 788-8300 www.ColoCRM.com Colorado Center for Reproductive Medicine Making Dreams Conceivable William Schoolcraft, MD • Eric Surrey, MD Debra Minjarez, MD • Robert Gustofson, MD • Jennifer Brown, MD Lone Tree 10290 RidgeGate Cir., Lone Tree, CO 80124 (303) 788-8300 Denver 4600 Hale Pkwy., Ste. 490, Denver, CO 80220 (303) 355-2555 Louisville 80 Health Park Dr., Ste. 240, Louisville, CO 80027 (303) 665-0150 Health and Wellness Magazine • 59