“Many women have experienced complete relief from morning sickness and nausea after only one or two visits to an acupuncturist”

“It is advisable that you massage the perineum daily with a mixture of olive and wheatgerm oils for the last two months before the birth as it may lessen the risk of tearing and subsequent stitches”.

With a little planning there is no more satisfying and special time in a woman’s life than the nine months of pregnancy but sadly, women are often beset by needless anxiety and discomfort. This is a time to take the ultimate care of yourself to help to ensure that you and your baby are as healthy, comfortable and contented as it is possible to be.

During the first three months your body will be working overtime, you will probably feel tired and emotional for much of the time and need plenty of rest and loving support. Help around the house during these early days will not only be appreciated but is imperative, but if it’s not forthcoming then make a real effort to ignore some of the regular chores, believe me—they will wait and aren’t as important as you are.

Morning sickness and nausea

Some women experience morning sickness, a few feel nauseous all day and many more have no problems at all. Morning sickness is often associated with low blood sugar. Try sipping a cup of mild ginger tea (a thin slice of fresh ginger crushed and put in a cup of boiling water) on waking and throughout the day, or nibbling a few pieces of crystallised ginger, especially before meals. A couple of dry water biscuits before raising the head from the pillow in the morning (eat on your side not your back to prevent choking) may also help to avoid nausea. However it might be wise to avoid ginger if there is a history of miscarriage in your family.

Greasy and fatty food are prime culprits for making you feel nauseous but plenty of fruit, vegetables and wholegrain foods may make a big improvement. Small, regular meals are better than three large ones and make you can make them heavier than usual on carbohydrates. This should help to keep your blood sugar levels up. Many women have experienced complete relief from morning sickness and nausea after only one or two visits to an acupuncturist but you can try the following yourself. The classic acupuncture point for nausea and seasickness is located in the middle of the inner wrist, three fingerbreadths away from the wrist crease, between the two tendons. Locate and press firmly, one wrist at a time, for three minutes or so. It’s also possible to buy a bracelet from your health food store that can be used to apply pressure to the point.

The scent of the spearmint or ginger oil will calm your tummy during the night and you should wake up with no nasty queasiness. Use any or all of the following ideas.

Put one drop of spearmint or ginger essential oil on the light globe before switching on the bedside light at night. Put another two drops on cotton wool and tuck it under your pillow. Place a small bowl of lukewarm water in the bedroom before going to bed and sprinkle with one drop of spearmint and two drops of lavender essential oils.