Some women sail through pregnancy with nothing more than a little bit of nausea whilst others find themselves reaching for the bucket 24/7. If you are one of the unlucky ones then here’s Emma from Me, The Man and The Baby with some advice on how to ease your symptoms.

 
Every pregnant woman is different and morning sickness effects pregnant woman in different ways, some may not even get it at all.When I became pregnant with Oli I was hit with that horrid morning sickness. I suffered with it morning, day and night. It was so horrendous for me that I had to quit my job as I spent more time running to the toilet/sink/nearest hollow thing to be sick.

The only relief I could find at times was in the form of ginger. You know those little cans of ginger ales you can get in the pub? Well I went through crates of that stuff! I kept packs of ginger biscuits next to my bed so I could nibble at them whenever I started to feel queasy. But even at times this wouldn’t work and, like I said, every morning sickness is different so it’s all about finding what works for you.

Some people swear by eating dry foods such as dry toast to get them through it. Why not get your partner to bring you some in bed before you get up and start the day. Instead of eating 3 times a day why not try eating a small nutritious meal every few hours. See what suits you and try different amounts/foods until you get what works for you.

Have you found something that sets your morning sickness off? Why not try avoiding it until the sickness calms down? I remember the smell of bacon cooking used to set me off big time so bacon was banned from both mine and my partner’s diet until Oli was born. I found that eating Weetabix and anything with wheat in would come straight back up so I had to avoid eating this completely. Even now 20 months on I still can’t eat Weetabix.

Avoid fizzy drinks and caffeine which can upset your stomach, instead go for decaffeinated or herbal teas such as peppermint and ginger. Drink small amounts of fluid such as water regularly throughout the day to avoid dehydration.

Take it easy! I found quitting my job helped as I wasn’t tired or stressed, I know not everyone is in the position where they can just quit a job but you can make sure your employers know about your sickness and what it is like for you. They might be more sympathetic than you think. When not at work, try to relax and don’t do anything too strenuous.

How about trying sickness relief bands, or sea bands as they’re often called, they work by applying acupressure to all the right spots on your wrists. For another natural remedy fill a large bowl with hot water, place two drops of peppermint essential oil in the bowl and place it on a table next to your bed. And there’s nothing more natural than going for a gentle walk and getting some fresh air.

There is a condition called Hyperemesis Gravidarum, a severe form of nausea and vomiting which effects around 1 in 2oo pregnant women, this can cause dehydration which requires medical attention. If your morning sickness does become unmanageable then pop along to your midwife or doctor who will give you advice on how to cope.

You may also find these websites useful:

http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Morning-sickness/Pages/Introduction.aspx

http://www.helpher.org/

Did you suffer with morning sickness? How did you cope? Share your tips as a comment here and one person will be chosen to win a BornFree Twist N’Pop Straw Cup.

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