In general, morning sickness starts around week 5 and peaks by week 9 or 10, when levels of the pregnancy hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) are highest. For most women, morning sickness fades between 14 and 20 weeks. Show
When does morning sickness start?Morning sickness – also called nausea and vomiting of pregnancy – affects different expecting moms at different times (and some not at all). But it usually starts around week 5 or 6 of pregnancy. For some women, that telltale queasy feeling is one of the first giveaways that they're pregnant. Unfortunately, morning sickness is very common. In fact, around 70 percent of pregnant women experience morning sickness in early pregnancy. In addition to nausea and vomiting, other symptoms of morning sickness include retching (dry heaving) and excessive salivation. "Morning sickness" is a misleading term because the condition often starts in the morning and lasts all day. Some women feel better as the day wears on, but others find their symptoms get worse in the evening. This unpleasant part of pregnancy is thought to be linked to the pregnancy hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and estrogen. Both hormones rise rapidly in early pregnancy, and women with higher hCG levels (like moms of multiples) often have more severe morning sickness. For some expecting moms dealing with morning sickness, it's reassuring to keep in mind that in this case, feeling crappy means that your body is doing what it's supposed to – producing hormones that support your baby's development. But plenty of women with healthy pregnancies never have morning sickness, so if you don't experience it, don't be alarmed. Morning sickness usually isn't harmful to your health or to your growing baby, but it makes it hard to get through the day. A "mild" case can mean feeling nauseated for a short time every day and vomiting once or twice. Many women describe it as feeling "blech" all the time. Many also have specific and significant food aversions. In more serious cases, nausea lasts for several hours and vomiting happens frequently. And in the worst cases, some women experience hyperemesis gravidarum (HG), a severe form of morning sickness that can result in weight loss, dehydration, and other complications. Women with HG throw up so often that they can't keep down enough food and fluid, and may need to be treated in the hospital with IV fluids, vitamins, and medication. (If you aren't able to keep liquids down for more than 12 hours, or solid foods down for 24 hours, call your healthcare provider.) Because morning sickness is common in pregnancy, some providers may minimize it. And some expecting moms are reluctant to seek help, in part because they're worried about taking medications that could affect their baby. But there are safe ways to get relief from morning sickness, including changes to your diet and lifestyle, natural remedies, and medication prescribed by your provider. And many experts say that getting early help for morning sickness is important to prevent it from getting more severe. So be sure to talk to your provider if you're suffering. When does morning sickness peak?It varies from woman to woman, but symptoms tend to be the worst at around 9 or 10 weeks, when levels of hCG are at their highest. At 11 weeks, hCG levels start to fall, and by 15 weeks they've dropped about 50 percent from their peak. Scientists believe that morning sickness may be the body's way of protecting your baby in early pregnancy from toxins and potentially dangerous foods. This theory makes sense because the first trimester – when most women have the strongest morning sickness – is the crucial period of development when all of your baby's organs and physical structures form. How long does morning sickness last?Most women get relief from morning sickness by the second trimester, between 14 and 20 weeks. But some women with morning sickness continue to have symptoms beyond that, and a few women will experience it throughout their entire pregnancy. If your morning sickness lasts beyond 20 weeks of pregnancy, occurs for the first time after 9 weeks of pregnancy, or lessens and then returns, play it safe and let your healthcare provider know. Persistent nausea and vomiting can sometimes indicate another medical problem – or just make you miserable – so it's important to be seen and possibly treated.
Morning sickness (also called nausea and vomiting of pregnancy) is nausea (feeling sick to your stomach) and vomiting that happens in the first few months of pregnancy. Even though it's called morning sickness, it can last all day and happen any time of day. At least 7 in 10 pregnant women have morning sickness in the first trimester (first 3 months) of pregnancy. It usually starts at about 6 weeks of pregnancy and is at its worst at about 9 weeks. Most women feel better in their second trimester, but some have morning sickness throughout pregnancy. If you have morning sickness, tell your health care provider. Mild morning sickness doesn’t harm you or your baby. But if nausea and vomiting becomes severe (called hyperemesis gravidarum), it can cause serious problems during pregnancy. You may need to stay in the hospital for treatment. What is hyperemesis gravidarum?About 3 in 100 women may have hyperemesis gravidarum. This is extreme, excessive nausea and vomiting during pregnancy. It can cause you to lose weight and become dehydrated (not have enough water in your body). It can start early in pregnancy and last the entire pregnancy. If you have hyperemesis gravidarum, you need treatment to help keep you and your baby safe. You may be at risk for hyperemesis gravidarum if you:
Signs and symptoms of hyperemesis gravidarum include:
If you have hyperemesis gravidarum, your provider may treat you with medicine to help relieve your nausea and vomiting. You may need treatment in a hospital with intravenous (also called IV) fluids. IV fluids go through a needle into your vein. They help you stay hydrated and can give you nutrients that you usually get from food. If you continue to lose weight, you may need a feeding tube to make sure you’re getting enough nutrients for you and your baby. What causes morning sickness?We don’t know for sure what causes morning sickness. It may be caused by low blood sugar or increased pregnancy hormones. Morning sickness may be worse if you’re stressed or overly tired, if you eat certain foods or if you’re traveling (if you often have motion sickness). Can you prevent or relieve morning sickness?Yes. Here’s what you can do to help you feel better and even prevent morning sickness:
You may have heard about these ways to prevent or relieve morning sickness. Talk to your provider before trying any of these:
Even if it’s legal where you live for either personal or medical use, it’s not safe to use marijuana to treat morning sickness. No amount of marijuana has been proven safe to use during pregnancy. If you’re thinking of using marijuana to help with morning sickness, talk with your provider about other treatments that are safer for your baby. Is there medical treatment for morning sickness?Yes. If you can’t relieve morning sickness on your own or if you have severe nausea and vomiting of pregnancy, your provider may treat you with these medicines:
Talk with your provider before you take any medicine during pregnancy, even medicine to help treat morning sickness. When should you call your health care provider about morning sickness?For most women, morning sickness is mild and goes away over time. But call your provider if:
Last reviewed: September, 2020 |