Pregnancy : Morning Sickness

Although commonly referred to as morning sickness, this complaint affects most of the 50 to 80% of pregnant women suffer from it at any time of the day. It usually starts between the fourth and sixth week of pregnancy and lasts, for around half of sufferers, until around the fourteenth or sixteenth week. A few women will experience morning sickness throughout their full term of pregnancy.

Things that may help morning sickness:

· Eat something before getting out of bed in the morning. Dry crackers for instance;
· Avoid drinking fluids with meals. Try half an hour before or after;
· Strong odours can trigger morning sickness. Try ventilating your kitchen whilst cooking, and/or cold food (less odour);
· Accupressure wristbands could help alleviate sickness:
· Ginger is one of the most commonly advocated natural remedies, although no hard evidence exists to its’ efficacy;
· Eat small regular meals throughout the day, about every 2 hours;
· Avoid eating rich and fatty foods. Eat carbohydrates such as dry toast, white rice, plain baked potato, honey and bananas;
· Do not drink alcohol or smoke. Limit your caffeine intake;
· Keep hydrated. Drink at least eight glasses of liquid a day.

Morning sickness is quite normal, and many practitioners believe it is an indication of the placentas development. Extreme vomiting however could mean your body is not retaining the nutrients you need for a healthy pregnancy, and could be a sign of a more serious disorder. Consult your doctor or health visitor if you are worried about any aspect of your morning sickness.