You want to remember your pregnancy as a happy time, but starting each morning by praying to the porcelain god is anything but. How can you find relief? Can massage help with morning sickness? 

Soothing your nervous system can encourage smoother sailing. Here’s how massage may help reduce morning sickness during pregnancy. 

What Causes Morning Sickness? 

Your body undergoes significant changes during pregnancy, affecting nearly every system, from your hormones to your gut to your muscles, bones and nerves. All of these combine to alter how you feel.

Recent research suggests that the hormone GDF15, in particular, spurs morning sickness during pregnancy. Women who are most sensitive to this hormone get the sickest, causing researchers to wonder whether prenatal exposure could someday ease symptoms. They also conjecture that lowering its levels during pregnancy could reduce nausea and vomiting. 

A serious need for relief exists, as at least seven in ten pregnant women experience morning sickness. Although it typically isn’t dangerous, it can become life-threatening for the mother and child. Unfortunately, bias toward women’s health concerns can result in misleading advice that it’s “all in their heads” and women should “tough it out.” This attitude is dangerous, especially considering that the United States has the highest maternal death rate of all comparable nations.

Can Massage Help With Morning Sickness? 

While the recent research holds promise to bring necessary relief and save lives, many pregnant women continue to suffer in the meantime. Massage may be one of the best ways to help with morning sickness, especially in women with limited economic means. It’s accessible, and while professional treatments cost a lot, learning some DIY tricks is free. 

Massage can help with morning sickness by lowering levels of stress, depression and anxiety. It soothes the nervous system and improves circulation, assisting vital nutrients to travel more readily to where you need them. Other earlier studies also suggest it could lower premature birth rates, lead to fewer birth complications and even ease postpartum depression. 

Pregnancy and Massage 

You should check with your obstetrician before using massage to help with morning sickness. It may be unsafe if you have a condition such as preeclampsia. 

Furthermore, you should seek a massage therapist who specializes in pregnant women. They have experience using different positions, such as on your side, and applying various bolsters to support your growing belly. Inform your therapist of your condition and remember — you remain in control. If a certain technique makes you uncomfortable, speak up. 

You might also be more comfortable with certain types of massage. For example, chair massage lets your therapist work on your aching back and shoulders without putting pressure on your belly. A foot and leg massage can feel glorious on swollen dogs. 

Tips for Making Prenatal Massage Safer 

Besides speaking with your therapist — or using appropriate supports if performing self-massage or working with a partner — the following tips can keep you safer when using massage to help with morning sickness:

• Avoid add-ons such as hot stones and some forms of aromatherapy. Raising your core temperature during pregnancy is dangerous, and burning incense can pollute your indoor air, exposing you to unnecessary toxins. 
• Stay away from varicose veins, as they increase the chance that a massage will loosen a blood clot that can travel to your lungs. 
• Avoid your ankles, at least during the first trimester, as some evidence suggests stimulating this area can induce labor and possibly lead to miscarriage. 
• Start with the lowest intensity level when using self-massage devices and seek gadgets with soft pads and wide massage surfaces to keep things gentle.

Other Techniques for Reducing Morning Sickness During Pregnancy

While massage can help with morning sickness, it is only one technique. Additionally, the following holistic interventions can help you find relief while researchers develop new medications. 

1. Try an IV

One reason morning sickness can turn dangerous is because it deprives you and the developing fetus of vital nutrients. IVs can deliver essential vitamins and minerals directly to your bloodstream, bypassing your stomach, where you may sick them up. It could be the only way to get the crucial prenatal nutrients you need. Furthermore, many IVs also contain pregnancy-safe medications like Zofran, which quell nausea. 

2. Alter Your Diet 

Simple dietary changes can ease nausea. A simple trick many pregnant women use is keeping unflavored crackers by your bed to soak up the stomach acid that can accumulate overnight, making nausea worse. Although Saltines are a popular choice, try whole grain versions full of fiber if possible to nurture your intestinal microbiome. Pregnant women should go easy on caffeine, but ginger tea is a caffeine-free alternative that also tames upset tummies. 

If your morning sickness lasts the full day, the BRAT diet might help you consume adequate calories. BRAT stands for bananas, rice, applesauce and toast. It’s easier to stomach prenatal vitamins with something in your belly, and these foods may enable you to keep yours down. Keep in mind that this diet lacks adequate protein, so only use it on your worst days and contact your diet if it’s all you can manage to eat. 

Can Massage Help With Morning Sickness? 

Massage can help with morning sickness by soothing your nervous system and improving circulation. It may bring the relief you seek, especially when you also use other holistic techniques to manage nausea. 

Consult with your doctor and discuss using massage to help with morning sickness. Ask for their recommendations regarding the right at-home devices and the best professional services to make your pregnancy as comfortable as possible.