Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsDoes It Indicate Sex?TimelineNot Getting ItTreatmentSevere Morning Sickness
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Does It Indicate Sex?
Timeline
Not Getting It
Treatment
Severe Morning Sickness
Eight out of 10 pregnant people experience morning sickness, which isnauseawith or without vomiting during pregnancy.It typically occurs around week six and goes away after the first trimester (between weeks 14 and 16). However, severe forms of morning sickness can last longer.
Despite its name, morning sickness doesn’t always mean you’ll have nausea in the morning. Some people experience mild nausea in the morning, while others have bouts of sickness or nausea throughout the day.
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Pregnancy
Does Morning Sickness Mean You’ll Have a Boy, or Girl?
However, a small group of studies shows that those with a severe form of morning sickness,hyperemesis gravidarum, are more likely to give birth to females. Researchers note, however, that more, extensive research and larger population studies are needed to verify or refute this claim.
Hyperemesis GravidarumHyperemesis gravidarum is a serious health condition that involves excessive nausea and vomiting during pregnancy. It can lead to significant weight loss,dehydration, and nutrient deficiencies.
Hyperemesis Gravidarum
Hyperemesis gravidarum is a serious health condition that involves excessive nausea and vomiting during pregnancy. It can lead to significant weight loss,dehydration, and nutrient deficiencies.
Top 18 Ways to Get Rid of Nausea
Timeline of Morning Sickness
Some pregnant people experience morning sickness as early as the fourth weeks of pregnancy,but it typically starts around week six and peaks around week nine. Most morning sickness disappears between weeks 14 and 16 (after the first trimester). About 15% to 20% have morning sickness that lasts into the second trimester, and with 5%, it lasts until delivery.
Does Morning Sickness Only Occur in the Morning?For many, morning sickness occurs in the afternoon or evening. One study reports that 80%–95% of pregnant people report nausea with or without vomiting in the afternoon or throughout the day.
Does Morning Sickness Only Occur in the Morning?
For many, morning sickness occurs in the afternoon or evening. One study reports that 80%–95% of pregnant people report nausea with or without vomiting in the afternoon or throughout the day.
What Does Not Getting Morning Sickness Mean?
Not experiencing morning sickness does not necessarily mean something is wrong with your pregnancy. Some people are less prone to the symptom and may experience othersigns or symptoms,such as fatigue or breast tenderness, more intensely.
But if morning sickness suddenly goes away before the second trimester (after already having it) or if you suddenly stop having other pregnancy symptoms, it could mean something is out of the norm with the pregnancy, and you should notify your healthcare provider.
Causes of Morning SicknessWhile the exact cause of morning sickness is unknown, many experts believe it is a sign that your body is adjusting to hormone shifts.Examples of hormone levels that could affect morning sickness are human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG,the hormone that pregnancy tests detect),estrogen, progesterone, or thyroid hormones.
Causes of Morning Sickness
While the exact cause of morning sickness is unknown, many experts believe it is a sign that your body is adjusting to hormone shifts.Examples of hormone levels that could affect morning sickness are human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG,the hormone that pregnancy tests detect),estrogen, progesterone, or thyroid hormones.
Risk factors of morning sickness include:
What Helps the Most With Morning Sickness?
While some nausea and vomiting is unavoidable, here area few tips and tricks to help ease morning sickness:
Avoiding TriggersIt also helps to avoid triggers that make you nauseous. Keeping a food diary or a log of when nausea occurs may help you identify triggers such as:Odors (e.g., chemicals, coffee, perfumes or fragrances, coffee, smoke)Certain food flavors or texturesGreasy or spicy foodsHot weather or humidityFlickering lightsNoiseSkipping mealsNot sleepingExcess exerciseFatigue
Avoiding Triggers
It also helps to avoid triggers that make you nauseous. Keeping a food diary or a log of when nausea occurs may help you identify triggers such as:Odors (e.g., chemicals, coffee, perfumes or fragrances, coffee, smoke)Certain food flavors or texturesGreasy or spicy foodsHot weather or humidityFlickering lightsNoiseSkipping mealsNot sleepingExcess exerciseFatigue
It also helps to avoid triggers that make you nauseous. Keeping a food diary or a log of when nausea occurs may help you identify triggers such as:
TheBRATdiet (bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast)—or BRATT diet (bananas, rice, applesauce, toast, and tea)—may help ease stomach upset. It is low in fat and easy to digest. But if these foods aren’t appealing, try others. The goal is to find something you can tolerate and keep down. Ideas include:
Really Bad Morning Sickness
While it may not feel like the most glamorous part of pregnancy, morning sickness is not harmful as long as it doesn’t affect your activities of daily living and you’re still able to keep fluids and food down.
However, 3% of pregnant people experience a rare and severe morning sickness called hyperemesis gravidarum.
Symptoms of hyperemesis gravidarum include:
Talk to your healthcare provider immediately if you’re experiencing symptoms of hyperemesis gravidarum. Treatment may include hospitalization, intravenous fluids, or medications to stop the vomiting.
Summary
For most pregnant people, morning sickness is temporary as their body adjusts to the changes of pregnancy. It typically begins around week five or six and usually resolves during the second trimester, around weeks 14 through 16. In the meantime, there are a few things you can do to help ease symptoms, such as eating crackers before getting out of bed in the morning, eating light and bland food throughout the day, sipping cold drinks frequently, using acupressure wristbands, avoiding triggers, trying ginger, and more.
If your symptoms are severe enough to affect your daily living activities, this could indicate a severe form of morning sickness, hyperemesis gravidarum, a serious condition requiring medical attention.
8 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.
Dean E.Morning sickness.Nurs Stand. 2016;30(50):15. doi:10.7748/ns.30.50.15.s16
Smith JA, Fox KA, Clark SM.Patient education: Nausea and vomiting of pregnancy (Beyond the Basics). In: Lockwood CJ, Barss VA, eds.UpToDate. UpToDate;2023.
Liu C, Zhao G, Qiao D, Wang L, He Y, Zhao M, Fan Y, Jiang E.Emerging progress in nausea and vomiting of pregnancy and hyperemesis gravidarum: Challenges and opportunities.Frontiers in Medicine. 2020;8. doi:10.3389/fmed.2021.809270
Young NR, La Rosa M, Mehr SA, Krasnow MM.Does greater morning sickness predict carrying a girl? Analysis of nausea and vomiting during pregnancy from retrospective report.Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2021;303(5):1161-1166. doi: 10.1007/s00404-020-05839-1
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG).Morning sickness: Nausea and vomiting of pregnancy.
MedlinePlus.Morning sickness.
American Pregnancy Association.Hyperemesis gravidarum.
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