Understanding Morning Sickness
Nausea and vomiting in pregnancy, commonly known as ‘morning sickness’, affects around 80% of pregnant women. Despite its name, symptoms can occur at any time of day or night, ranging from mild nausea to repeated vomiting.
Symptoms typically begin between weeks 4 and 6 of pregnancy, often peaking between weeks 8 and 12. For many women, symptoms begin to ease between weeks 12 and 16. Some continue to experience nausea and vomiting throughout pregnancy, and for others, symptoms may occasionally return towards the end.
Every woman's experience is different. Some experience occasional nausea without vomiting, while others struggle with persistent nausea, repeated vomiting or dry retching throughout the day. Symptoms may be worse first thing in the morning, in the late afternoon or when fatigue sets in.
Morning sickness can significantly affect daily life, making it difficult to eat, drink, sleep, work or manage everyday activities. Persistent vomiting can lead to dehydration and nutritional deficiencies, particularly when food and fluids cannot be kept down. Severe symptoms may require medical assessment and treatment.
Although nausea and vomiting are common in pregnancy, you do not have to simply endure them without support. Nor is it necessary to compare your experience with that of someone else.
Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG)
For some women, nausea and vomiting become severe enough to develop into hyperemesis gravidarum (HG). HG affects approximately 1 to 3% of pregnancies and is characterised by severe, persistent nausea and vomiting that can lead to dehydration, weight loss, electrolyte disturbances and nutritional deficiencies. Medical assessment and treatment are important, and hospital admission may be necessary in more severe cases.
Medical assessment may include assessing hydration status, weight changes and blood electrolyte levels, alongside other investigations as clinically indicated.
If you cannot keep fluids down, are passing very little urine, feel faint or are losing weight, seek prompt medical assessment. Severe symptoms require medical care and should not be managed with complementary therapies alone.
What Causes Morning Sickness?
The exact mechanisms behind nausea and vomiting in pregnancy are not fully understood. However, hormonal changes, alongside other physiological factors, are thought to influence nausea and vomiting in pregnancy.
Several factors are thought to contribute:
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Pregnancy brings rapid changes in hormones, including human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG), oestrogen and progesterone. Research has also identified a role for growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15), a hormone involved in appetite regulation and nausea pathways.
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Signals from pregnancy-related hormones and the digestive system interact with areas of the brain responsible for nausea and vomiting. Differences in individual sensitivity may help explain why symptoms vary so considerably between women.
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Pregnancy can alter gastrointestinal function, including stomach emptying and gut motility. These changes may contribute to nausea, bloating, reflux and digestive discomfort.
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Poor sleep, fatigue, reduced food intake and dehydration can make symptoms harder to manage.
Although emotional wellbeing may influence how a woman experiences and copes with symptoms, morning sickness is primarily understood as a physiological response to pregnancy.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Perspective: The Chong Mai’s Relationship to the Uterus and Stomach Meridian
The Chong Mai is closely associated with the Uterus, menstruation and pregnancy. During pregnancy, the body's resources are directed towards nourishing the developing foetus, rather than supporting menstruation.
The Chong Mai also has a close relationship with the Stomach meridian. One of its pathways originates at ST30 (Qichong) in the lower abdomen and travels upwards through the abdomen and chest, following a course closely associated with the Kidney and Stomach meridians.
The Stomach meridian’s normal energetic direction is downward, supporting the movement of food and fluids through the digestive system. During pregnancy, the Chong Mai’s upward movement may interfere with the Stomach’s downward movement. When Stomach Qi moves upwards instead of downwards, it is described as rebellious or counter-flow Qi. This is associated with nausea, vomiting, reflux and heartburn. Underlying digestive weakness or other patterns of disharmony may also contribute.
Pregnancy places increased demands on the body to nourish the developing foetus and support the mother. From a TCM perspective, this makes maintaining and supporting the digestive system, which plays an important role in the production of Qi and Blood, particularly important.
A woman's digestive health before pregnancy, including a history of poor appetite, bloating or nausea, also provides useful information when assessing her individual presentation.
So, How Can Acupuncture Help?
From a TCM perspective, acupuncture aims to harmonise the Chong Mai, regulate Stomach Qi and address underlying patterns of disharmony, such as Qi deficiency, Qi stagnation, Cold, Heat or Dampness. Treatment is tailored to each woman's presentation and may help reduce the frequency or intensity of nausea and vomiting. Our role is to support your body through the profound physiological changes taking place during pregnancy and help you maintain the resources needed to support a healthy pregnancy.
Although acupuncture may not stop nausea and vomiting altogether, many patients report relief following treatment. The extent and duration of relief may vary depending on each person’s presentation.
We usually recommend weekly acupuncture and may also provide small press-needles, which are tiny, shallow needles secured to the skin with adhesive tape. They can remain in place for a few days after your appointment, allowing you to gently press the area for additional stimulation between treatments. We may also provide dietary and lifestyle advice to support you between appointments.
By helping to manage symptoms, acupuncture may make it easier to eat regularly, stay hydrated and maintain your energy levels. This is important because fatigue, inadequate rest and insufficient nourishment can further exacerbate symptoms.
Acupuncture can be a supportive part of your pregnancy care, helping you manage symptoms while your body adapts to the changes of pregnancy.
Pregnancy Support at Ochre Acupuncture
Morning sickness can be exhausting, particularly when persistent nausea and vomiting make it difficult to eat, stay hydrated, rest or manage your usual daily activities. You don’t have to wait until symptoms become unbearable before seeking support.
At Ochre Acupuncture and Wellness in Shellharbour, we provide individualised Chinese medicine care for nausea and vomiting during pregnancy, with acupuncture tailored to your symptoms, stage of pregnancy and overall health. Treatment can be used alongside your regular antenatal care to help manage symptoms and support your wellbeing throughout pregnancy.
If morning sickness is affecting your day-to-day life, book an appointment to discuss whether acupuncture may be suitable for you. If you are unable to keep fluids down, are passing very little urine or are experiencing significant weight loss, seek prompt medical assessment.
If you would like support during your pregnancy, we welcome you to book a consultation at Ochre Acupuncture and Wellness.
Further Reading and References
Betts, D. (2006). The Essential Guide to Acupuncture in Pregnancy & Childbirth. Journal of Chinese Medicine.
Nelson-Piercy, C., Dean, C., Shehmar, M., Gadsby, R., O'Hara, M., Hodson, K. and Nana, M. (2024). “The Management of Nausea and Vomiting in Pregnancy and Hyperemesis Gravidarum (Green-top Guideline No. 69).” BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, 131(7), e1–e30.
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). Antenatal care: Recommendations, section 1.4, “Interventions for common problems during pregnancy.”
Jin, B., Han, Y., Jiang, Y., Zhang, J., Shen, W. and Zhang, Y. (2024). “Acupuncture for nausea and vomiting during pregnancy: A systematic review and meta-analysis.” Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 85, 103079.
