In sickness and in health

These preparations may be helpful and are available in chemist and health food shops:

Ipecacuanha 6. For nausea accompanied by hot or cold, clammy perspiration and retching. Or, if you feel better for open air, cool conditions, rest and keeping still, but worse for excessive heat, damp weather, after vomiting, movement and strong smells.

Colchicum 6C. If you crave food but feel nauseous, feel better when bending forward but are worse in the evenings, with the smell of food, after mental exertion or loss of sleep.

Natrum mur 6C. If you are vomiting frothy mucous, craving salt and thirsty. If you are better for being in the open air, taking rest, going without regular meals, peace and quiet; but worse in the late morning, hot atmospheres, dampness, after mental exertion, eating fatty or starchy food, with noise, music, touch or pressure.

Sepia 6C. If you’re vomiting, irritable, exhausted, indifferent and have hot flushes. If your symptoms are better for exercise, keeping busy, elevating your legs, eating small amounts and getting fresh air, but worse during the afternoon or with the smell of food, fasting and the emotional demands of others.

For most women these symptoms disappear after the first few months. However, for some, especially those expecting twins, they can last throughout pregnancy. If nausea reappears during the last few weeks before birth, it can be because your growing uterus is putting pressure on your stomach making digestion more difficult.

Whatever method you choose to help deal with morning sickness, make sure you get adequate rest during the first few months of pregnancy and try relaxing practices such as meditation and yoga, both of which involve deep regular breathing.

While starvation may seem like the obvious answer to nausea, you will be denying yourself and your growing baby important nutrients at a time when you both need them most. So instead try sticking to fresh wholefoods and ‘grazing’ – eating small frequent meals – instead of tucking into three big meals a day. These simple but important measures will help support your body as it goes through the enormous and inevitable changes which pregnancy brings.