Morning sickness is nausea that commonly occurs in your first trimester of pregnancy. Although morning sickness is rarely serious, you may be at a higher risk of pregnancy complications if you consistently have trouble keeping food down, according to the American Pregnancy Association. Consuming ginger may help reduce your risk of morning sickness, though some research suggests that having too much ginger could be risky when you're pregnant.
Morning Sickness Research
Ginger may be safe and effective in helping treat different intensities of morning sickness. According to an April 2005 report in "Obstetrics and Gynecology," 27 pregnant women who were hospitalized with a serious form of morning sickness called hyperemesis gravidum were more likely to see a reduction or complete alleviation of symptoms when they took 250 mg of dried ginger four times daily than when they took a placebo. In a similar study, published in the April 2009 "Journal of Complementary and Alternative Medicine," pregnant women who took 250 mg of ginger per day experienced less nausea and vomiting than the women who were assigned to the placebo group.
Function
Ginger's ability to prevent or reduce nausea and vomiting may be attributed to two of its constituents, gingerol and shogaol. Gingerol and shogaol are thought to help boost flow of bile, saliva and gastric secretions, according to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. They can also help suppress contractions in your stomach, strengthen your intestinal muscle and help food move along your intestinal tract.
Potential Risks
Ginger may affect your baby's sex hormones, and in one case, a woman who took large amounts of ginger during her first trimester experienced a miscarriage, according to MedlinePlus. However, your baby's risk of major malformations if you take ginger isn't likely higher than the standard risk rate of 1 to 3 percent. Some effects you may experience after consuming ginger are diarrhea, heartburn and mouth irritation.
Considerations
Ask your doctor to help you weigh the pros and cons of taking ginger for pregnancy-related nausea and vomiting. If you do decide to try ginger, also ask your doctor to recommend how you should take it and how much you should have. Ginger comes in various forms, including fresh and dried root, tablets, capsules, teas and liquid extracts, according to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Ginger is also in products such as ginger ale soda, ginger bead, ginger snaps and ginger jam. Whether or not you're consuming ginger for your morning sickness, get immediate medical attention if you have severe nausea or vomiting, you are vomiting blood, your urine is dark and scant, you have trouble keeping down any liquids or your heart races and you feel dizzy when you stand up.
References
- MedlinePlus: Ginger
- "Obstetrics & Gynecology"; Effectiveness and Safety of Ginger in the Treatment of Pregnancy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting; F. Borrelli, et al; 2005
- National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Ginger
- American Academy of Family Physicians: Ginger
- Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center: Ginger
- "Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine"; Effects of Ginger Capsules on Pregnancy, Nausea, and Vomiting; G. Ozgoli, et al; 2009
