The toughest bit of the first trimester of pregnancy is morning sickness and any woman who has gone through or is going through it, knows the first signs usually develop during the month following the first missed menstrual period, when hormone levels increase.

Morning sickness can vary from mild, occasional nausea to severe, continuous, debilitating nausea with bouts of vomiting. In most cases, symptoms may be worse in morning, albeit they can strike at anytime during the day or night.

Despite all advances in medicine, there is no way of predicting how long your morning sickness will last – even if you have suffered with it in previous pregnancies. Generally, nausea and vomiting last until weeks 12-13 of pregnancy, but some women can go beyond their 22nd week.

There is no simple treatment. The best course of action is home treatment. The following tips work wonders not only when you wake up feeling nauseous but also work when you get that queasy feeling during the day.

1. Try not to miss meals

2. Eat small, dry snacks.

3. Don’t jump up out of bed immediately. Lie quietly for a while and ask you husband to bring you a slice of fresh lemon or orange or a dry, bland biscuit.

4. Avoid large drinks, have frequent small one between meals.

5. Spicy, fried foods, and fatty foods like very rich sweets, are best avoided.

6. Avoid excessive consumption of pickles or chutney, which is rich in salt.

7. Don’t spend much time in the kitchen and avoid the strong smell of certain foods when shopping.

8. Prepare food when feeling least your nauseous.

9. Taking lemon or orange juice in the morning and before meals relieves nausea of early pregnancy.

10. Suck an ice cube till the nausea passes off.

11. Sip on cool water.

However, if you have severe, persistent nausea and vomiting, see your doctor.

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