Morning Sickness refers to the nausea that most women experience during the early months of pregnancy. It usually begins around the 6th week of pregnancy and lasts throughout the first trimester. Nausea is triggered by the sudden increase of pregnancy hormones in your body, and many doctors also believe it is a good sign as it means that the placenta is developing well.

Morning sickness is not harmful to you or your baby. But if you experience excessive vomiting and cannot keep your food down - for many days in a row, you may have hyperemesis gravidarum. This could be harmful to you and your baby if severe and left untreated, as it could lead to lack of nutrients and electrolyte imbalance.

Contrary to popular perception, nausea and food aversion could strike at any time or throughout the day - and not just in the morning. Though there is no total remedy for morning sickness, there are many things that you can do to manage it:

Wake up relaxed. and sit up slowly with a support to your back. Jumping out of bed with sudden movements has been found to increase the queasiness.

Nibble on a few dry biscuits. first thing in the morning and then rest for 20 to 30 minutes before getting out of bed.

Avoid cooking soon after you get up as the smells from the kitchen may aggravate your nausea further.

Eat small, frequent meals, an empty stomach can increase nausea. Eat foods high in protein or carbohydrates, as both can help fight nausea.

Try Vitamin B6. Some Doctors suggest taking 50mg of vitamin B6 twice a day, which has known to help. But do check with your doctor before taking it.

Avoid iron supplements unless you are anemic, as iron supplements can be hard on your digestive system. Or, you could try different brands as some may suit you better than others.

Avoid rich, spicy, acidic or fried foods, and eat less fat in general. Limit your intake of spicy pickles, chaat, paani puri etc. especially in the hot summer months.

Though it's important to stay well hydrated, try drinking fluids only between meals, and limit them during meals.

Keep snacks handy. Try eating small amounts of bland food throughout the day. Good choices include dry biscuits, yogurt (high in B vitamins, which can decrease nausea), or anything else you can tolerate.

Try Lemon or Ginger. The smell of a cut lemon could help relieve nausea. Add some slices to iced tea or sparkling water. Ginger ale or ginger tea could also help as ginger is known to settle stomachs and help queasiness.

Try acupressure bands. Created to fight seasickness, these have also helped many pregnant women through morning sickness. You can find them at chemists and health food shops.

Have bananas for breakfast. Bananas are rich in potassium and are known to help quell nausea.

Wear comfortable, loose clothes. Tight clothes that are restrictive around the waist may worsen the feeling of nausea.

Freshen up. Spray a few drops of peppermint oil on your handkerchief and sniff at it now and then. It helps relieve nausea and also boosts sagging energy levels.

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