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A majority of women suffer from some degree of nausea during pregnancy, particularly in the first 14 weeks. You may just be mildly uncomfortable and "off your food", or at the other extreme you may be so sick you actually have to lie down all day.

Firstly, an important note: If you are suffering constantly from really extreme nausea, and/or you are vomiting so often you are in danger of becoming dehydrated, you MUST see your doctor and get proper medical advice.

Assuming that your symptoms are more moderate, here are a few things you can do that may help to ease your symptoms.

EAT FIVE or SIX SMALL MEALS EACH DAY
Weirdly enough, pregnancy-related nausea is worst when you are hungry, and if you eat, it generally gets a bit better. However, you'll probably find that you can only manage very small meals. The solution is to eat small meals throughout the day.

AVOID FOOD AND SMELLS THAT MAKE YOU FEEL ILL
You'll probably find that you suddenly don't like most of the foods you usually eat, because they have become associated in your mind with your nausea. It's also likely that your tastes will have changed - for instance, you may develop a preference for vinegary and salty foods, or a dislike for certain flavours, like cashew nuts or red peppers. Some women find that certain smells (food or other) can make them feel very ill. Listen to your body, avoid smells you don't like, and try to find things to eat that actually appeal to you.

STAY HYDRATED
Drink plenty of water or herbal teas throughout the day. It's best to avoid coffee, although you probably won't want to drink it anyway.

GET ENOUGH REST
Many women find that their sickness is worst when they aren't getting enough sleep. Try to get plenty of rest and take a nap in the daytime if you get the opportunity.

GINGER AND BOILED FRUIT-FLAVOUR SWEETS CAN HELP
Ginger tea, ginger biscuits, or anything else with ginger in it, is worth a try. Boiled fruit-flavour sweets like sherbert lemons can also help. You can even buy special pregnancy lollipops called 'Preggy-pops' in various fruit flavours, which taste quite nice and can stave off the sickness in between mini-meals.

ANTI-NAUSEA WRISTBANDS
Some people find these helpful for relieving nausea, not just in pregnancy but for travel sickness too. They are fabric bands that you wear around each wrist like a bracelet. Each band has a small pointed plastic button on it that you position over the pulse point on the inside of your wrist. The idea is that each of these buttons puts pressure on an accupressure point, easing your sickness symptoms. I tried them, and didn't get a massive benefit, but it's worth a try. (However if you are working and haven't told your colleagues about your pregnancy, the wristbands could be difficult to explain...)

ANTI-NAUSEA CDS
It is possible to get CDs of sounds that are supposed to help combat nausea in pregnancy, and some of these have even undergone clinical trials and been proven to be effective. This should be fantastic, but a word of warning: in order for the CD to be effective, you have to listen to it every day through good quality headphones. Even if you actually own good quality headphones, you still have to find the time to settle down and listen for 45 minutes every day. I couldn't fit this in to my daily routine. However, if you're really sick, and you're having to lie down all the time anyway, you might as well give this a try.

Finally, try not to get depressed - the sickness usually passes by the second trimester. And although in the early stages, pregnancy can feel more like a particularly unpleasant illness, it really is the amazing beginning of your very own beautiful baby.

Learn more about this author, Eleanor Scott.
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