Sometimes the joy of realising the news that you are pregnant can be over-shadowed a little by the extreme feelings of nausea that often goes hand in hand with the early stages of pregnancy. Whilst the symptoms are very unpleasant, they are certainly not unusual.

It has been calculated that between 50 to 80% of women experience queasiness around this time whilst some women become quite ill with severe bouts of vomiting. Certainly women can suddenly feel averse to eating specific foods and even aromas from some food sources can be enough to bring on sweeping bouts of sickness.

Many women have turned to natural remedies quite successfully and these remedies are easy to incorporate into most lifestyles.

Some very simple self-help tips include:

• Eating smaller meals which can eliminate both feelings of hunger and the sensation of being over-full
• Eliminate foods that have been fried or are too fatty
• Eat bland foods which seem to cause less nausea
• Try to increase fluids, especially if having been sick. Drinking in between meals instead of at the meal has been found to be useful.

Additional tips include:

Peppermint

Place two drops of peppermint oil in a bowl of hot water and have this by the bed. Alternatively use an oil diffuser for the same effect. Peppermint is reputed to help settle feelings of sickness.

Ginger

Many people find ginger of great benefit in the early stages of pregnancy and have found it is useful for feelings of nausea. Some women find the aroma of ginger to be too strong however, so its effectiveness is based on individual likes and dislikes, as with all things, it is very much trial and error.

Acupuncture Wrist Bands

Acupuncture wrist bands have been found to be popular as they work on the pressure point inside the wrist which is known to relieve those feelings of nausea.

Meditation

Although renowned for aiding relaxation which is beneficial for all pregnant women, meditation can also be used to promote inner healing and a sense of well-being which is wonderful for the baby and mother to be alike. Colour healing can be very useful to help with any queasy feelings.