The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recently updated their clinical guidelines on managing morning sickness. They are actually quite similar to the Canadian professional body equivalent, The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada (SOGC). To learn more about the Canadian guidelines, click here.
Similar recommendations include taking the prescription drug, Diclectin (or Diclegis in the US), for morning sickness. It’s a very popular medication for morning sickness and has been prescribed to 33 million women worldwide. It’s the only drug approved by the FDA for the treatment of morning sickness. However, a recent investigation from the University of Toronto suggest that the drug may actually not be that effective. A group of researchers reanalyzed a pivotal study and found that the difference between placebo and the treatment group was actually not as big as they expected. Another disadvantage of Diclectin is that many women suffer from side effects such as drowsiness.
Both professional bodies suggest that ginger and Vitamin B6 are safe and effective alternative treatments for morning sickness. Ginger and Vitamin B6 are safe options with minimal side effects. Prenatal Ease Stage 1 contains both ginger and vitamin B6, as up to 90% of women suffer from morning sickness during pregnancy.
There are some differences between the guidelines. The ACOG recommends that treating morning sickness as soon as possible is important. Letting it progress untreated can lead to a more severe form of morning sickness known as, hyperemesis gravidarum. When that happens, it requires hospitalization. Taking something like Prenatal Ease Stage 1 can prevent morning sickness from progressing or getting worse.
ACOG also recommends that women to take prenatal vitamins for 1 month before fertilization, as it may decrease the incidence and severity of nausea and vomiting during pregnancy. The updated guidelines further support the importance of taking prenatal vitamins as soon as you start planning on getting pregnant. Taking prenatal vitamins early, such as Prenatal Ease Preconception, can help prevent severe morning sickness as well as help ensure your baby is getting all the essential folic acid for proper spinal development. Folic acid is especially important during the first couple of weeks as that’s when the baby’s brain and spine are developing.
These updated clinical guidelines demonstrate that prenatal vitamins, like Prenatal Ease, are not only important for their nutritional value, but it can also help alleviate morning sickness.