How to stop vomiting in pregnancy

Symptoms of morning sickness

Symptoms of morning sickness can include:

• nausea
• loss of appetite
• vomiting
• psychological effects, such as depression and anxiety.

The myth of hysteria and morning sickness

Unrelenting morning sickness can have a profound effect on your quality of life, preventing you from working, socialising and looking after your other children.

Pregnant women enduring morning sickness report higher levels of psychological stress, including anxiety and depression. This prompted the false belief that morning sickness is purely psychosomatic, which means that the woman’s fears and anxieties trigger her physical discomfort. However, there is no research to support these claims.

Possible causes of morning sickness

The cause of morning sickness remains a mystery, but it is thought a combination of physical and metabolic factors play a significant role, including:

• high levels of hormones, including oestrogen
• fluctuations in blood pressure, particularly lowered blood pressure
• altered metabolism of carbohydrates
• the enormous physical and chemical changes that pregnancy triggers.

Morning sickness and your baby

Some women are concerned that the action of vomiting may threaten their unborn baby. Vomiting and retching may strain the abdominal muscles and cause localised aching and soreness, but the physical mechanics of vomiting won’t harm the baby. The fetus is perfectly cushioned inside its sac of amniotic fluid.

Numerous studies have discovered that moderate morning sickness is associated with a reduced risk of miscarriage. However, prolonged vomiting (that leads to dehydration and weight loss) can deprive your child of proper nutrition and increase the risk of your baby being underweight at birth.

If you have nausea and vomiting that will not stop, contact your GP (doctor) or midwife.

Severe morning sickness (hyperemesis gravidarum)

Severe morning sickness is known as hyperemesis gravidarum (HG), and can affect around one in 1000 pregnant women. The symptoms of HG include repeated vomiting, weight loss and dehydration. Treatment usually involves hospitalisation, and the administering of intravenous liquids and nutrition.

The possible complications of untreated hyperemesis gravidarum include:

• electrolyte imbalances
• extreme depression and anxiety
• malnourishment of the fetus
• excessive strain on vital organs, including the liver, heart, kidneys and brain.

Managing morning sickness

Suggestions for coping with morning sickness include:

• Don’t take drugs of any kind, unless your doctor knows you are pregnant and has prescribed specific medications.
• Eat a few dry crackers or plain sweet biscuits before getting out of bed in the morning.
• Don’t eat anything that you suspect will make you nauseous. In general high-carbohydrate meals are well tolerated.
• Eat small meals regularly, as an empty stomach tends to trigger nausea.
• It may help to avoid cooking or preparing foods.
• Drink as much as you can manage. Sometimes sips of flat lemonade, diluted fruit juice, cordial, weak tea, ginger tea, clear soup or beef extract drinks are helpful. If none of these are bearable, try sucking on ice cubes.
• Vitamin B6 supplements can be useful, but doses above 200 mg per day can actually be harmful. Follow your doctor’s advice.
• Consider acupressure or acupuncture on the wrist.
• Wear loose clothes that don’t constrict your abdomen.
• Moving around may aggravate morning sickness. Rest whenever possible.

Seeing your doctor about morning sickness

Always seek medical advice if your morning sickness is severe, if you have lost a lot of weight quickly, or if you feel depressed or anxious. Treatment options can include medication that won’t harm your developing baby.

Where to get help

• Nausea and vomiting in pregnancy , The Royal Women’s Hospital.
• Chan RL, Olshan AF, Savitz DA, et al., 2010, ‘Severity and duration of nausea and vomiting symptoms in pregnancy and spontaneous abortion ’, Human Reproduction, vol. 25, no. 11, pp. 2907–2912.

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This page has been produced in consultation with and approved by:

This page has been produced in consultation with and approved by:

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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.

Read more

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 pregnancy

Why 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.