Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsDietary RemediesPhysical ActivityMedicinePrenatal VitaminsAcupunctureHerbal RemediesHydrationLifestyle ChangesCauses
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Dietary Remedies
Physical Activity
Medicine
Prenatal Vitamins
Acupuncture
Herbal Remedies
Hydration
Lifestyle Changes
Causes
Some remedies for morning sickness, like changes in diet and exercising to stay active, may help to ease symptoms.Morning sicknessrefers to nausea and vomiting that often comes withpregnancy.It’s estimated that up to 80% of pregnant people experience nausea and vomiting.
Morning sickness (calledhyperemesis gravidarumwhen symptoms are severe) is related to the physical changes associated with pregnancy, such as hormone levels, an enhanced sense of smell, and gastric reflux. It can impact your life, typically during the first 20 weeks of pregnancy.
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1. Dietary Remedies
Many people with morning sickness struggle to eat a variety of healthy foods. Fortunately, there are dietary changes you can make to ease your symptoms.
Dietary changes to prevent nausea include the following:
To ease morning sickness, avoid the following:
Specific tastes or smells may contribute to morning sickness. Learning and avoiding exposure can help reduce the severity and frequency of nausea and vomiting.
2. Physical Activity
Staying physically active is important during pregnancy. Exercise may reduce feelings of nausea. It can also help with other pregnancy symptoms likeconstipationand achiness.
Focus on gentle activities and try not to overexert yourself. Avoid any time of day when your nausea and vomiting are the worst. Be sure to check with your healthcare provider before starting new activities.
3. Medicine
Medications to reduce nausea and vomiting during pregnancy are available. Always talk with your healthcare provider before beginning a new medication. These include:
People with severe morning sickness may require intravenous (IV) fluids to treat dehydration.
4. Prenatal Vitamins
Prenatal vitaminsare large pills that may be difficult to take when nauseated, but studies suggest they can reduce symptoms of morning sickness.To lower the risk of vomiting with your prenatal vitamins, try changing the way you take them:
These vitamins are important for you and for fetal health. Starting prenatal vitamins before you become pregnant can also help prevent and or reduce symptoms during pregnancy.
5. Acupuncture and Acupressure
Acupunctureandacupressureare treatments used in traditional Chinese medicine. Acupuncture involves placing thin needles into the skin at specific points on the body. Some studies suggest it may be helpful to treat nausea and manage morning sickness but more research is needed.
Acupressure uses wristbands to apply pressure on specific areas of your wrist. They are often used to treat motion sickness and can be helpful for morning sickness as well.
6. Herbal Remedies
Herbal remedies likegingerhave met with mixed reviews when it comes to easing nausea or being safe to use during pregnancy. One study of 512 people who used ginger tablets or in food found no benefit but symptoms worsened in more than half the group.
Inhaling peppermint oil did appear to relieve symptoms of nausea and vomiting when studied. Yet there’s still not enough evidence to support the use of peppermint, echinacea, chamomile, and other herbal remedies.
In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate supplements the way it regulates prescription drugs. That means some supplement products may not contain what the label says. Whenchoosing a supplement, look for independently tested products and consult a healthcare provider, registered dietitian nutritionist (RD or RDN), or pharmacist.
7. Hydration
Staying hydrated is an important way to preventdehydrationand lower the chance of morning sickness. Being dehydrated can be a trigger for nausea. During pregnancy, your body needs 8 to 12 glasses of water daily.
If drinking water is difficult when you’re already nauseated, try keeping a water bottle with you to take small sips throughout the day. Drinking a large amount of water in one sitting could upset your stomach.
8. Lifestyle Changes
Small changes to your lifestyle may improve nausea and vomiting during pregnancy. Proven strategies to improve morning sickness include the following:
During pregnancy, your hormone levels are changing.These hormonal changes lead to nausea and vomiting, although the precise cause of morning sickness remains elusive to the experts.
For most pregnant people, morning sickness symptoms occur early in the day. However, it can occur at any time of day, including overnight. Sometimes morning sickness lasts all day.
Most people can expect morning sickness between the ninth week of pregnancy and week 14. Some symptoms may occur before or after this window.
People who are pregnant also have an enhanced sense of smell. This could lead to nausea from strong odors. Also, as the fetus grows, the increased pressure on the stomach can lead togastric reflux. This causes stomach acid to travel back up the esophagus and may lead to heartburn and nausea.
Some people experience severe symptoms calledhyperemesis gravidarumthat may require added intervention. People at higher risk include:
When to Call Your Healthcare ProviderMorning sickness is common, but it can become dangerous in extreme cases. Talk with your healthcare provider if you have been experiencing nausea and vomiting. It is especially important to seek care if you have any of the following:Uncontrolled vomitingBlood in the vomitVomit that looks like coffee groundsWeight lossYou also should tell your healthcare provider if symptoms last beyond four months. Your symptoms could be due to another cause, such as an ulcer or thyroid problem.
When to Call Your Healthcare Provider
Morning sickness is common, but it can become dangerous in extreme cases. Talk with your healthcare provider if you have been experiencing nausea and vomiting. It is especially important to seek care if you have any of the following:Uncontrolled vomitingBlood in the vomitVomit that looks like coffee groundsWeight lossYou also should tell your healthcare provider if symptoms last beyond four months. Your symptoms could be due to another cause, such as an ulcer or thyroid problem.
Morning sickness is common, but it can become dangerous in extreme cases. Talk with your healthcare provider if you have been experiencing nausea and vomiting. It is especially important to seek care if you have any of the following:
You also should tell your healthcare provider if symptoms last beyond four months. Your symptoms could be due to another cause, such as an ulcer or thyroid problem.
Summary
Morning sickness describes the pregnancy symptoms of nausea and vomiting. Morning sickness is very common and usually resolves after 20 weeks of pregnancy. Some remedies can ease your symptoms.
Making changes to your diet, exercise routine, and lifestyle could help. Focus on small meals throughout the day and be as physically active as possible. Stay hydrated throughout the day. If home remedies are ineffective, discuss medication options with your healthcare provider. Also, ask about herbal remedies before trying them.
10 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
MedlinePlus.Morning sickness.
Moberg T, Van der Veeken L, Persad E, Hansson SR, Bruschettini M.Placenta-associated adverse pregnancy outcomes in women experiencing mild or severe hyperemesis gravidarum - a systematic review and meta-analysis - PubMed.BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2023 May 24;23(1):375. doi:10.1186/s12884-023-05691-6.
Tan PC, Kartik B, Thanendran P, Zakaria R, Win ST, Omar SZ.Taste, smell and food-related nausea and vomiting responses in hyperemesis gravidarum: A case-controlled study.Sci Rep. 2020 Mar 10;10(1):4445. doi:10.1038/s41598-020-61114-y
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.FAQs: Morning Sickness: Nausea and Vomiting of Pregnancy.
Tan MY, Shu SH, Liu RL, Zhao Q.The efficacy and safety of complementary and alternative medicine in the treatment of nausea and vomiting during pregnancy: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Front Public Health. 2023 Mar 9;11:1108756. doi:10.3389/fpubh.2023.1108756
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American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.What causes morning sickness (nausea and vomiting during pregnancy)?
Mount Sinai.Morning sickness.
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