Multidimensional Assessment of Nausea in Pregnancy

Nausea and vomiting during pregnancy are common, affecting a large proportion of women(approximately 50‐75%). This symptom usually begins in the first trimester and is mostlymild or moderate; however, in some cases, it impairs quality of life, reduces nutritionalintake, leads to emotional distress, and, rarely, can develop into serious conditionssuch as hyperemesis gravidarum.Pharmacological approaches can be effective, especially in severe cases; however, thefear of drug‐related side effects among many pregnant women and physicians is a limitingfactor in drug use. Therefore, the role of complementary and non‐pharmacologicalapproaches is gaining importance, particularly in pregnant women with mild to moderatenausea. On the other hand, acupressure (especially P6/Neiguan point stimulation) is anon‐invasive complementary practice whose effect in reducing nausea and vomiting duringpregnancy is debated. Meta‐analyses report that acupressure can significantly reducenausea symptoms in pregnancy. However, there is a need for clearer results in theliterature due to methodological differences, variability in effect sizes, and lowquality scores of some studies.Quince (Cydonia oblonga), on the other hand, is not as researched an option asacupressure in the literature for managing nausea in pregnancy. In a study comparingquince syrup with vitamin B6 in the literature, quince was found to be a more effectiveapplication than vitamin B6. Quince may theoretically have the potential to reduce nauseadue to its positive effects on gastrointestinal motility, its stomach‐soothingproperties, and its antioxidant compound content. However, randomized controlled trialsproving this effect in terms of safety and efficacy during pregnancy are limited.Nausea during pregnancy not only causes physical discomfort but also reduces quality oflife, negatively affects self‐care behaviors, and can increase perceived stress levels.Therefore, nausea management should aim not only at symptom reduction but also atsupporting the holistic well‐being of the pregnant woman. In this context, psychosocialindicators such as the Quality of Life in Pregnancy Scale, Self‐Care Ability Scale, andPerceived Prenatal Stress Scale are important in revealing not only the physiological butalso the psychological and behavioral effects of complementary practices.Therefore, examining the effects of quince and acupressure applications on not only theseverity of nausea but also on quality of life, self‐care ability, and perceived stresslevels in pregnant women with mild to moderate nausea will fill the gap in the literatureand contribute to the identification of evidence‐based, safe, and applicablecomplementary approaches in the management of nausea in pregnancy.