Morning sickness is a feeling of nausea or the experience of vomiting during pregnancy, most commonly during the first trimester. Despite its name, morning sickness can happen at any time of the day or night. While most pregnant women experience morning sickness at some point, for many women, it will pass by the second trimester.
Why do pregnant women get morning sickness?
Although the exact cause of morning sickness is unknown, it is associated with hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy.
An imbalance of dietary potassium and magnesium, low blood sugar and low levels of vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) are all known causes of nausea. Following a diet that includes whole foods with a wide range of vitamins and minerals will help you stay healthy and well during your pregnancy.
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Having a healthy pregnancy means following a healthy diet, getting regular exercise, knowing what to avoid and making sure your vaccinations are up to date.
Read moreHaving a healthy pregnancyWhy does it affect some women more than others?
Some women are more likely to feel nauseous during pregnancy than others. While morning sickness is hard to predict, women who have experienced morning sickness in a previous pregnancy are more likely to have it again.
How long does morning sickness last?
You are more likely to feel morning sickness between 6 and 14 weeks of pregnancy, during your first trimester. While it is commonly known as ‘morning’ sickness, it may last throughout the day or night.
It is unusual to experience morning sickness for the first time after week 10 of pregnancy, so if this happens to you, consult your doctor to rule out other health conditions and to give you peace of mind.
How can I relieve morning sickness?
To relieve morning sickness, consider:
- eating smaller meals more often (include morning and afternoon snacks between main meals)
- eating a plain cracker shortly after waking up
- drinking water before and after a meal, rather than with food
- aiming to drink 8 glasses of water a day
- avoiding spicy or fatty foods
- eating protein-rich foods (such as nuts or cheese)
- avoiding skipping meals
Soda (or carbonated) water and ginger/peppermint tea are also known to help relieve nausea and settle an upset stomach.
Some women become more sensitive to strong food smells while pregnant. If certain smells bother you, consider asking for help preparing your food. You can also increase ventilation in your kitchen while cooking by opening windows to get rid of cooking smells. Cold foods produce less odour than hot foods, so you may find these more appetising.
Nausea may feel worse when you are over-tired, and taking rest or nap breaks frequently throughout the day may help. Other suggestions include:
- deep breathing or relaxation exercises
- anti-nausea wristbands (available at most chemists)
- acupuncture treatments(but only when administered by a qualified practitioner trained in maternal care)
Be sure to check with your doctor before you take any supplement, prescription or over-the-counter medicine, especially while pregnant.
Is morning sickness harmful for my baby?
Even though morning sickness can be unpleasant and distressing, there is no research to suggest that it causes harm to your baby. Nausea may, however, influence your food choices. Both you and your baby need an ongoing source of a range of nutrients in the foods you eat. Speak with a health professional if you think that your morning sickness is getting in the way of healthy eating.
It is also important to prevent dehydration, so if you are vomiting and unable to keep fluids down, see your doctor immediately.
What do I do if my morning sickness is severe?
When morning sickness is severe, it is known as hyperemesis gravidarum. A pregnant woman who experiences severe vomiting for an extended period of time may need monitoring and treatment in hospital. An intravenous (IV) drip is inserted to replace essential salts and fluids and prevent dehydration. If you are vomiting whenever you eat or drink, consult a health care professional, since early treatment can protect you and your baby from health complications.
When should I see my doctor about morning sickness?
If nausea or vomiting is causing significant discomfort, or if you suspect that you have hyperemesis gravidarum, you should see your doctor.
Other signs you need to see a doctor include:
- very dark urine
- blood in vomit
- extreme fatigue
- dramatic weight loss
- dehydration due to inability to keep fluids down
CHECK YOUR SYMPTOMS — If you are feeling unwell and not sure what to do next, check your symptoms using the healthdirect Symptom Checker tool.
In some cases, a doctor may advise a home remedy. In other cases, they may refer you to another healthcare professional, such as a dietitian — to help you create a healthy and enjoyable meal plan — or to a specialist for further tests. Your doctor may prescribe you with medicine to ease your symptoms, such as an antiemetic (to prevent vomiting), or vitamin and mineral supplements.
If your symptoms persist after treatment, it is a good idea to return to your doctor for another consultation — there may be another approach you can try.
Last reviewed: September 2021
About 70% of pregnant women get morning sickness. In about 3%, nausea and vomiting can be severe. Learn more about when it usually starts, how it's treated, what you can do to feel better, and when to call your doctor.
Morning sickness, also called nausea and vomiting of pregnancy, is a common condition. It occurs in about 70% of pregnancies and usually starts around 6 weeks of pregnancy and lasts for weeks or months. Symptoms usually improve during the second trimester (weeks 13 to 27; the middle 3 months of pregnancy). In a few women, however, morning sickness occurs throughout their pregnancy.
Despite its name, “morning” sickness can happen at any time of the day.
Can morning sickness become severe?
Yes. Most women who experience morning sickness usually feel nauseous for a short time each day and may vomit once or twice. In more severe cases of morning sickness, nausea can last several hours each day and vomiting occurs more frequently. This most severe type of nausea and vomiting, which occurs in up to 3% of pregnant women, is called hyperemesis gravidarum.
The cause of morning sickness is not totally known. It may be caused by low blood sugar or the rise in pregnancy hormones, such as human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) or estrogen. Morning sickness may be worsened by stress, being overtired, eating certain foods, or having sensitivity to motion (motion sickness).
What are the symptoms of severe morning sickness (hyperemesis gravidarum)?
Symptoms of hyperemesis gravidarum include:
- Vomiting more than 3 times a day.
- Becoming severely dehydrated (signs of which include little-to-no urine production, dark-colored urine, dizziness with standing).
- Losing 5 or more pounds.
Women with severe morning sickness may need to be admitted to the hospital to receive IV fluids to restore hydration and medications to relieve nausea.
There are a few things you can do to feel better. These include:
- Eat a few crackers or toast in the morning to help settle your stomach. Keep a few crackers at bedside and eat a couple before getting up.
- Eat 5 or 6 small meals a day instead of 3 large meals.
- Avoid spicy and fatty foods. Eat bland foods such as bananas, rice, dry toast, plain baked potato, gelatin, broth, eggs, tofu, or applesauce.
- Eat healthy snacks between meals, such as yogurt, peanut butter on apple slices or celery, cheese, milk, or nuts.
- Drink plenty of fluids, especially water, throughout the day.
- Take your prenatal vitamins with a snack. If your prenatal vitamin contains iron, try taking it at bedtime. Talk with your doctor about other vitamin options.
- Avoid odors, flickering lights, other situations that bother you and trigger your nausea.
- Make tea with real grated ginger or try ginger candies.
- Get plenty of rest.
- Keep rooms well ventilated, turn on a fan, or go outside from time to time to get some fresh air.
- Smell fresh-smelling, pleasant scents such as lemon, orange, or mint.
Other methods may help reduce nausea. Talk with your healthcare provider before trying these:
- Acupressure wrist band. These bands apply pressure to certain points on the wrist.
- Acupuncture. In this treatment method, thin needles are put into the skin.
Do not use marijuana to treat morning sickness! It has not been shown to be safe for your baby during pregnancy.
What medications are available to treat morning sickness?
Your healthcare provider may recommend taking vitamin B6 (also called pyridoxine) and doxylamine. Doxylamine is also used as a sleep aid and to treat hay fever or other allergies. Both products are available over-the-counter and don’t need a prescription. However, there is a pill that contains the combination of these 2 products. It is available by prescription only and is known by the trade name Diclegis®. Unlike the separate over-the-counter products, Diclegis® is a slow-release single pill. This may be more convenient or helpful for women who have trouble (for example, have a gag reflex) taking many pills per day.
Medications to prevent nausea (also called antiemetics) can also be prescribed. If these drugs don’t help, other drug classes can be tried including antihistamines and anticholinergics. You and your healthcare provider will decide which medications work best for you.
Does morning sickness harm my baby?
Mild to moderate nausea and vomiting of pregnancy usually is not harmful to you or your baby. However, it can become a problem if you can’t keep food or liquid down, become dehydrated, and lose weight. Unmanaged severe nausea and vomiting can prevent you from getting the nutrition you need and affect the weight of your baby at birth.
Yes. The risk for severe morning sickness is increased if a woman:
- Is pregnant with more than 1 baby – twins, triplets, or more.
- Has a personal history of severe morning sickness with a previous pregnancy and/or has a mother or sister who had a history of severe morning sickness with a pregnancy.
- Is pregnant with a girl.
- Has a history of motion sickness.
- Has a history of migraines.
- Is overweight.
- Has a condition called trophoblastic disease, which leads to abnormal cell growth in the womb (uterus).
Do not wait until vomiting becomes severe to call your doctor. Seeking care for morning sickness early in pregnancy can help prevent it from becoming more severe. Severe vomiting is not a normal aspect of pregnancy and requires medical care or even hospitalization.
Another reason to investigate severe nausea and vomiting is that it may be a symptom of other medical conditions including ulcers, reflux (heartburn), food-related illnesses, thyroid disease, gallbladder disease, or inflammation of the appendix, stomach, pancreas, or liver.
Call your doctor right away if you:
- Have nausea that lasts all day long and keeps you from eating and drinking.
- Vomit 3 or more times a day.
- Have vomit that is brown in color or has blood in it.
- Lose weight.
- Feel extremely tired or confused.
- Feel dizzy or have fainted.
- Have a fast heart beat.
- Produce little to no urine.
Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 06/29/2017.
References
- The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Morning Sickness: Nausea and Vomiting of Pregnancy (//www.acog.org/Patients/FAQs/Morning-Sickness-Nausea-and-Vomiting-of-Pregnancy) Accessed 6/13/2017.
- Lee NM, Saha S. Nausea and Vomiting of Pregnancy. Gastroenterol Clin North Am 2011 June;40(2):309-34.
- Herrell HE. Nausea and Vomiting of Pregnancy. Am Fam Physician 2014 Jun 15;89(12):965-970.
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