Nausea and Vomiting During Pregnancy

NAUSEA AND VOMITING DURING PREGNANCY

Condition

Nausea is an unpleasant feeling in your stomach that makes you feel like vomiting. When you vomit, much of the contents of your stomach are forcefully ejected (thrown up) through your mouth. Nausea and vomiting in pregnancy is generally referred to as morning sickness, although it can occur any time of the day or night.

  • It usually goes away by the end of the first trimester (three months) of pregnancy.
  • Although most women have some morning sickness, not all do.
  • It is more common in women carrying more than one baby.
  • Extreme, persistent nausea and vomiting during pregnancy is called hyperemesis gravidarum. It can lead to dehydration (a lack of enough fluid in the body) and keep you from gaining the weight needed for a healthy pregnancy. Early treatment of nausea and vomiting is recommended to prevent hyperemesis gravidarum.

Causes

The exact cause of nausea and vomiting in pregnancy is unknown, but it is believed to be related to the increase in hormone levels that occurs early in fetal development.

WHEN TO CALL YOUR DOCTOR FOR NAUSEA DURING PREGNANCY

Call 911 Now (you may need an ambulance) If

  • You are vomiting up almost everything you eat or drink and you faint or pass out. Severe cases of hyperemesis gravidarum require hospitalization and treatment with intravenous (IV) fluids and nutrition.

Call Your Doctor Right Away (day or night) If

  • You have abdominal pain, fever and/or headache along with nausea and vomiting. Something more serious than morning sickness may be causing you to feel sick.
  • You can't get your vomiting and nausea under control and you have one or all of the following symptoms:
    1. You are losing weight.
    2. You feel dizzy or lightheaded.
    3. You have a bad headache.
  • Nausea and vomiting persists despite home care efforts.

Call Your Doctor During Regular Office Hours If

  • You feel you need treatment and advice to deal with the nausea and vomiting. Your doctor may recommend:
    1. Some prescription medications you can safely take, including antihistamines, anti-nausea drugs, or, as a last resort, steroids
    2. Hypnosis, which has provided relief to many women with hyperemesis gravidarum
    3. Acupuncture.
    4. Vitamin B shots.
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HOME CARE ADVICE FOR NAUSEA DURING PREGNANCY

  1. If you are nauseated in the morning, eat a dry piece of toast or cracker before getting out of bed.
  2. Get plenty of rest. It may help lessen or prevent morning sickness.
  3. If certain foods, odors or places cause nausea and vomiting, avoid them.
  4. Eat five or six small meals a day.
  5. Don't drink anything with your meals.
  6. Avoid greasy and spicy foods.
  7. Eat dry or bland foods.
  8. Drink 3 to 4 ounces of light liquids (tea, ginger ale) between meals.
  9. If you are hungry between meals, snack on high-protein foods such as cheese.
  10. Flavored gelatins are not too sweet and are less likely to make you feel sick than some other kinds of dessert.
  11. Avoid vitamin pills containing iron, which can cause nausea. Unless you are anemic, you don’t need the extra iron.
  12. Wearing acupressure wrist bands (like those used for sea sickness) sometimes helps.
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References

  • American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Practice Bulletin, Number 52, April 2004.

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Disclaimer:

Peer-Reviewed by the Faculty of the University of Colorado Denver Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology

This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new healthcare information becomes available. The information is intended to inform and educate and is not a replacement for medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional