If you’re one of the 50 to 70 percent of women who have some degree of morning sickness, you can thank those early pregnancy hormones for the fact that you’re barfing (or on the verge of it) seemingly all the time, the thought of eating anything other than a Saltine is unappetizing, and the once-sexy smell of your husband’s aftershave suddenly makes you want to hurl.
But when it comes to feeling bad, there’s actually good news: First, morning sickness likely won’t last your entire pregnancy (the average feeling-barfy length is 17 weeks); and second, recent research has shown that women who experience morning sickness are less likely to have a miscarriage than those who never do. Don’t worry if you’re feeling fine -- but if you’re not, keep reading for expert advice on how to feel better during those early weeks of pregnancy.
“Acupuncture involves placing needles in strategic areas of the body, such as, around the ankle, in the ear and in the wrist (which targets nausea),” says Dr. David Wallis, a family practitioner at the South Bay Family Medical Group in California, who encouraged his wife to try it during her pregnancy. Just one treatment can help some women feel better, while others go throughout their pregnancy. (Check with your doctor first to make sure this is a safe option for you.)
