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As staying hydrated can help ward off nausea, it's important to drink small amounts throughout the day. Some women say herbal teas containing peppermint and ginger can especially help ease morning sickness; belliesbubsboobs.com offers Quease Ease tea, a mix of these ingredients, for $15.90. -
A study of 600 women by doctors at the Adelaide Women and Children's Hospital found that acupuncture can reduce the severity of morning sickness symptoms - even one session could have a positive impact on the nausea. Many mums on the Essential Baby forum agreed that acupuncture helped ease their symptoms. -
Many pregnant women on the Essential Baby forum agreed that vitamin B6 helped ease their morning sickness symptoms. B6 tablets are available from pharmacies and health food stores, but you can also try eating brown rice, lean meats, avocados, whole grains, corn and nuts, which are also high in B vitamins. -
Certain smells might make you feel sick, so it can help to carry a something nicely-scented so that when you feel the need, you can take a sniff to ease your nausea. Some find that a rosemary sprig or bottle of lemon extract works wonders, but another option is Mohdoh: called 'mouldable aromatherapy', it's like playdough with added essential oils, and releases a great scent. Our favourites: 'Breathe', which uses eucalyptus, peppermint, lavender and hyssop essential oils, and 'Calm', with rosewood, ylang ylang, jasmine and lavandin; $14.95 from mohdoh.com.au. -
Research has shown that women with mild nausea can benefit from thinking positively. When it hits, have a seat and take a few deep breaths. Try to relax, focusing on releasing the tension from your toes to your head. Think about how your baby is growing, and remember that what you're feeling is just a side effect of that growth. You can also try talking to your baby to distract you from the nausea. -
Many mums on the Essential Baby forum say ginger helped ease their morning sickness. It can be taken in tea (just slice off a little and steep it in hot water for a few minutes), in ginger beer, ginger snap biscuits, crystallised ginger or hard ginger lollies. You can also try ginger tablets from the health food store or vitamins section of the pharmacy. -
Eat something small, such as a few biscuits or crackers, before you get out of bed in the morning (leave it by your bed before you go to sleep at night). You can feel sick when your blood sugar level is low, so eating before you even stand up can help in the mornings. -
Peppermint, in many different forms, can help ease morning sickness; the menthol works as a cooling, anaesthetic stomach soother, and it can also help with heartburn and indigestion. Try peppermint tea or mint lollies, or use peppermint oil in an aromatherapy diffuser to scent the air. Spearmint tea is also worth a try. -
Doctors and midwives recommend eating smaller amounts throughout the day, rather than sticking to the usual three main meals - it's a good idea to not get too hungry OR too full. It can also help if you have a drink half an hour before or after meals, instead of drinking while you're eating. try to keep a stash of healthy foods nearby, so you're never left empty handed when you need it most. -
In acupressure, specific body parts are stimulated to help ease nausea. Acupressure wristbands (such as Psi Bands, pictured; $21.95 for two, from sincewewerekids.com.au) are drug-free alternatives for those who suffer from morning sickness. Acupressure bands can also be used to help treat nausea caused by travel sickness and hangovers. -
If over-the-counter products and other suggestions aren't helping, visit your doctor, as they can prescribe medications to ease nausea. If you're experiencing severe morning sickness, with excessive vomiting, weight loss and dehydration, it's also important you seek medical attention - you might have hyperemesis gravidarum, which can require intravenous treatment. -
The only cure 100% guaranteed to cure morning sickness? Giving birth. Try to remember that you won't feel like this forever - and that at the end of it all, you'll have a wonderful new baby to show for it!
It might be hard to believe when you are in the middle of a particularly bad bout of it, but researchers believe the dark cloud of morning sickness might have a silver lining.
Authors of the Canadian research, which analysed the results of 10 separate studies, say not only are women who suffer morning sickness less likely to miscarry in their first trimester, their babies are also less likely to have birth defects, be born prematurely or have low birthweight.
All of the studies analysed showed a "protective effect" of nausea and vomiting during pregnancy, while one of them even found babies of queasy mums scored higher in IQ tests when aged between three and five years of age.
Researchers from The Hospital for Sick Children and the University of Toronto compiled data from the studies which were conducted between 1992 and 2012 and involved 850,000 pregnant women. Their results were published in the peer-reviewed journal Reproductive Toxicology included these findings:
• the risk of miscarriage was three times higher for women who did not suffer morning sickness during the first trimester
• around 6 per cent of mothers who suffered nausea during pregnancy had premature births, compared with 9.5 per cent of mothers who were not ill
• the analysis suggested the risk of birth defects was reduced by between 30 and 80 per cent for women who suffered morning sickness.
The researchers suggested mothers aged 35 or older were more likely to benefit from these "protective effects" of nausea during pregnancy.
They also pointed out the findings might not be relevant for those who suffer hyperemesis gravidarum, which is severe and unrelenting vomiting, dehydration and sickness throughout pregnancy.
Lead author Gideon Koren said the positive outcomes might be a result of the hormones which cause morning sickness also creating favourable conditions for the pregnancy - but the report does point out that "this hypothesis has not been proven to date".
"Women with moderate to severe nausea and vomiting in pregnancy often experience major negative impact on their health and quality of life.
"Our analysis indicates that reassuring these women that their severe symptoms may confer favourable fetal outcome in their unborn babies, is logical.
"While this may not be the case in women experiencing hyperemesis gravidarum, it does seem to be valid for the majority of pregnancies."
Don't have morning sickness? Don't worry
Despite the findings, don't stress if you're lucky enough to escape the clutches of morning sickness during pregnancy. As the British National Health Service points out on its website, "The results of this study may help to reassure women with nausea and vomiting in pregnancy that this may be a good sign – at least for some measures of a healthy, ongoing pregnancy.
"Overall, however ... the review does not prove that [morning sickness] will always indicate a healthy pregnancy.
"Importantly, it also does not prove the opposite – that a pregnancy without nausea and vomiting means a poorer outcome."