Pregnancy wellbeing doesn’t have to be a pain – how to cope with everything from morning sickness to pelvic problems

PREGNANCY marks the start of an exciting new stage of life, but it can also be daunting for mums-to-be.

While some women swan through nine months with little more than a growing bump, others will suffer everything from sickness and stretchmarks to health complications, sleep issues and emotional ups and downs.

Jessie Wiltshire, 31, from Portsmouth, had so many questions when she found out she was pregnant she didn’t know where to turn.

“When I saw those two blue lines on the test kit, I panicked,” she says. “I had no idea what I could and couldn’t do.

“I didn’t know if I could eat normally or colour my hair. There is so much information to take in.

“I found myself turning to the internet with questions like ‘Can I eat fish while pregnant?’ and all my friends and relatives had their own opinions and sometimes strange advice.

So here we are to help with some common pregnancy concerns.

How can I ease pregnancy sickness?

Eight in ten women suffer sickness during pregnancy, often in the early stages. It’s not always in the morning and can happen throughout the day.

If you suffer, try eating little and often (such as six small meals a day), get lots of rest and follow a healthy diet.

Some women find ginger helps, such as ginger tea or ginger biscuits. You could also try eating bland foods like jacket potatoes, pasta, dry bread or toast.

Keep hydrated with lots of water. If you can’t keep any food or drink down, you may have a severe form of pregnancy sickness called hyperemesis gravidarum, which can be serious but you can get help, so talk to your doctor or midwife as soon as you can.