Morning Sickness

Morning sickness is when you throw up or feel like you may throw up during pregnancy. This condition often occurs in the morning, but it can also occur at any time of day. Morning sickness is most common during the first three months of pregnancy, but it can go on throughout the pregnancy.

Morning sickness is usually harmless. But if you throw up all the time, you should see your health care provider.

You may also hear this condition called nausea and vomiting of pregnancy.

What are the causes?

The cause of morning sickness is not known. It may be linked to changes in hormones during pregnancy.

What increases the risk?

• You had morning sickness in another pregnancy.
• You're pregnant with more than one baby, such as twins.
• You had morning sickness in other pregnancies.
• You have had motion sickness before you were pregnant.
• You have had bad headaches or migraines before you were pregnant.

What are the signs or symptoms?

• Feeling like you may throw up.
• Throwing up.

How is this diagnosed?

Morning sickness is diagnosed based on your symptoms.

How is this treated?

Treatment is usually not needed for morning sickness. You may only need to change what you eat.

• Vitamin B6 supplements.
• Medicines to prevent throwing up.
• Ginger.

Follow these instructions at home:

Medicines

• Take your medicines only as told by your provider.
  • Do not use any prescription, over-the-counter, or herbal medicines for morning sickness without first talking with your provider.
• Take prenatal vitamins. These can stop or lessen the symptoms of morning sickness.
  • If you feel like you may throw up after taking prenatal vitamins, take them at night or with a snack.

Eating and drinking

• Eat dry toast or crackers before getting out of bed.
• Eat 5 or 6 small meals a day.
• Try ginger ale made with real ginger, ginger tea, or ginger candies.
• Drink fluids throughout the day.
• Eat protein foods when you need a snack. Nuts, yogurt, and cheese are good choices.
• Eat dry and bland foods like rice or baked potatoes. Foods that are high in carbohydrates are often helpful.
• Have someone cook for you if the smell of food makes you want to throw up.

Foods to avoid

• Greasy foods.
• Fatty foods.
• Spicy foods.

General instructions

• Try to avoid smells that make you feel sick.
• Use an air purifier to keep the air in your house free of smells.
• Try using an acupressure wristband. This is a wristband that's used to treat motion sickness.
• Try acupuncture. In this treatment, a provider puts thin needles into certain areas of your body to make you feel better.
• Brush your teeth after throwing up or rinse with a mix of baking soda and water. The acid in throw-up can hurt your teeth.

Contact a health care provider if:

• Your symptoms do not get better.
• You feel dizzy or light-headed.
• You're losing weight.

Get help right away if:

• The feeling that you may throw up will not go away, or you can't stop throwing up.
• You faint.
• You have very bad pain in your belly.