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Morning Sickness and Hyperemesis: Relief and When to Get Help

Why pregnancy nausea happens, practical ways to cope, and how to tell when it has become severe.

Before you use this guide: This is general educational information, not an individual medical assessment. We do not identify a clinician reviewer on this page, so please confirm personal health decisions with your doctor, midwife or paediatrician.

Nausea and vomiting are very common in early pregnancy, and they are not limited to the morning. For most women the sickness begins around weeks 4 to 6, is often at its worst around weeks 9 to 10, and eases by about weeks 12 to 16. For some it lasts longer.

Ways to feel better

• Eat small, frequent snacks rather than three large meals. An empty stomach can make nausea worse.
• Keep dry crackers or plain biscuits by your bed and eat a few before you get up.
• Choose cold or room-temperature foods if cooking smells bother you.
• Try ginger, for example ginger tea or biscuits. The evidence is modest, but many women find it helpful.
• Sip fluids little and often. Cold drinks, ice chips or ice lollies can be easier to keep down.
• Avoid triggers such as strong smells, rich or spicy foods and stuffy rooms.
• Get fresh air and as much rest as you can, since tiredness often makes nausea worse.
• If your prenatal vitamin upsets your stomach, try taking it with food or at night, and ask your doctor about alternatives.

Medicines that may help

If home measures are not enough, speak to your doctor, midwife or pharmacist. Some anti-sickness treatments, including vitamin B6 in certain cases, are considered safe to use in pregnancy. Do not take any herbal or over-the-counter remedy without asking first.

When it may be hyperemesis gravidarum

Hyperemesis gravidarum is a severe form of pregnancy sickness. It is not just bad morning sickness, and it needs medical treatment. Signs include:

• Vomiting many times a day and being unable to keep down food or fluids
• Losing weight, usually more than 5 percent of your pre-pregnancy weight
• Signs of dehydration: dark urine, passing little urine, dizziness, a dry mouth
• Feeling too weak or sick to carry out daily activities

Contact your doctor or maternity unit the same day if you cannot keep fluids down for about a day, or sooner if you feel faint. Treatment can include anti-sickness medicines, fluids through a drip and sometimes a short hospital stay. Hyperemesis is treatable, and getting help early helps you feel better sooner.

Seek urgent care if

You are vomiting blood, have severe abdominal pain, a fever, or you feel confused or faint. Look after your mental health too. Constant sickness is exhausting and can make you feel low or isolated, and it is fine to ask for support.

This content is for general information only and is not medical advice. Every pregnancy and every baby is different. Always talk to your doctor, midwife or paediatrician about your own situation, and seek urgent care if you are worried.