Motion Sickness during Pregnancy

This article explains about motion sickness during pregnancy including its causes and symptoms. The article also explains about how to treat motion sickness using medicines and other using alternative therapies.Neha travelled to a sea beach to spend her weekend. She is in her third month of pregnancy and had a miserable journey by car. During her journey of 2 hours from her home to the beach, she had to stop the car, get down and vomit three times. Throughout the journey she felt nauseated. When she consulted her doctor, she came to know that such sickness happens in many pregnant women. In this articleWhat is Motion Sickness?Self Care Techniques for treating Motion SicknessAlternative Therapies for treating Motion SicknessGinger SupplementsWhat is Motion Sickness?Motion sickness is also called car sickness, travel sickness or sea sickness. Many people suffer with this sickness but women who are pregnant or who are having their periods are prone to this sickness. Motion sickness may be experienced by many pregnant women and they feel it more when they are travelling by plane, car or boat .Motion Sickness has symptoms like pale skin, vomiting, dizziness, cold sweat, increased salivation. Some other symptoms are drowsiness, headaches, fatigues and rapid breathing. Motion sickness is caused when conflicting messages are sent to the brain by the balance sensing system of the body e.g. inner ear, eyes, and sensory nerves of muscles, joints and skin.Self Care Techniques for treating Motion SicknessIf the symptoms of motion sickness are mild then they can be resolved by using techniques like listening to music, keeping the eyes closed etc. Deep breathing or doing backward counting will also help in relaxation and getting relief from motion sickness. Some other self care techniques for resolving the symptoms of motion sickness are given below.Looking at stable object e.g. looking at the horizon will help the pregnant women to get relief from the symptoms of motion sickness.If the pregnant women are travelling by ship or car then letting the fresh air in will definitely help in getting relief from motion sickness. Open windows or moving to an open area e.g. deck of the ship will help in getting relief from motion sickness.Keeping still is also a self care technique to get relieved from the symptoms of motion sickness. Sitting in the middle of the aeroplane or boat will help would-be moms to feel better when they have symptoms of motion sickness because the middle region gets minimum movement or jerk. Headrest or pillow can be used to ensure head gets maximum rest.Alternative Therapies for treating Motion SicknessThere are some alternative therapies that are used for treating motion sickness. As these have no side effects, many prefer to go for these therapies especially the pregnant women who cannot take all types of medicines during their pregnancy.Ginger SupplementsGinger products like ginger tea, ginger biscuits etc. are very helpful in preventing nausea and vomiting, the main symptoms of motion sickness. It is advised that pregnant women should consult their doctors before taking any ginger supplement to prevent motion sickness to confirm these supplements would not contradict with their existing medicine.If motion sickness continues after the journey, doctor has to be consulted to rule out any kind of infection in the inner ear.