Roughly half of all pregnant women suffer from periods of nausea and vomiting known collectively as morning sickness (although as any woman who has ever experienced it can tell you, it's prone to strike at any time of day). It is usually caused by a combination of low blood sugar, dehydration and an overflow of hormones.

 

The best way to ward off morning sickness is to get plenty of rest and to eat a bunch of little meals throughout the day to make sure that your stomach is never too empty or too full. Get in the habit of keeping a few crackers on your bedside table to nibble on throughout the night and when you wake up in the morning. It is also a good idea to eat slowly and avoid drinking and eating at the same time. Steer clear of greasy, spicy or high fat foods that might aggravate your nausea. Also avoid strong odors, overheating and smoke. If nausea continues to be a problem, try one of these home remedies:

 

 

These tricks may help you through the temporary bouts of nausea that accompany your pregnancy. If morning sickness continues to be a problem, change the time of day you are taking your prenatal vitamin and talk to your health care provider about increasing your intake of vitamin B6. And take heart: for most women, morning sickness dissipates somewhere around the 14th week of pregnancy.

 

If it doesn't, or if you experience severe nausea, vomiting, weight loss and dehydration, you may have a more serious condition called hyperemesis gravidarum. Talk to your health care provider if you are experiencing any of these symptoms.