Nausea and vomiting that occurs in pregnancy is often called "morning sickness," as these symptoms typically begin in the morning and usually resolve as the day progresses. For most women, nausea and vomiting subside by the 4th month of pregnancy. Others may have these symptoms for the duration of their pregnancies. The cause of morning sickness is not known, but researchers have proposed that it protects the fetus against toxins and disease-causing organisms in foods and beverages.

During the first trimester your body undergoes many changes. Hormonal changes affect almost every organ system in your body. These changes can trigger symptoms even in the very first weeks of pregnancy. Your period stopping is a clear sign that you are pregnant. Other changes may include:

• Extreme tiredness
• Tender, swollen breasts. Your nipples might also stick out.
• Upset stomach with or without throwing up (morning sickness)
• Cravings or distaste for certain foods
• Mood swings
• Constipation (trouble having bowel movements)
• Need to pass urine more often
• Headache
• Heartburn
• Weight gain or loss

As your body changes, you might need to make changes to your daily routine, such as going to bed earlier or eating frequent, small meals. Fortunately, most of these discomforts will go away as your pregnancy progresses. And some women might not feel any discomfort at all! If you have been pregnant before, you might feel differently this time around. Just as each woman is different, so is each pregnancy.

(Pronounced HEYE-pur-EM-uh-suhss grav-uh-DAR-uhm). Some women experience severe, persistent nausea and vomiting during pregnancy beyond the typical "morning sickness." Medication may be prescribed to help with the nausea. Women with hyperemesis gravidarum may need hospitalization to get the fluids and nutrients they need through a tube in their veins. Often, the condition lessens by the 20th week of pregnancy.

Approximately 70% of women have morning sickness during their first trimester of pregnancy. Morning sickness usually starts at around 6 weeks of pregnancy and peaks at 9 weeks.

Most women start to feel better by 14 weeks of pregnancy; however, morning sickness can last throughout the pregnancy for some women.

No one knows what causes morning sickness. Some experts believe it may be caused by hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) or increased pregnancy hormones.

Stress, lack of sleep, tiredness, and certain foods can make morning sickness worse.

Some factors that can increase your risk of having severe morning sickness include:

• Multiple pregnancy (being pregnant with more than one baby)
• Being pregnant with a female fetus
• Episodes of migraines or motion sickness (nausea when you travel) before pregnancy
• Having had morning sickness in a previous pregnancy
• Your mother or sister experienced morning sickness in their pregnancies
  

In the first trimester hormone changes can cause nausea and vomiting. This is called "morning sickness," although it can occur at any time of day. Morning sickness usually tapers off by the second trimester.

What might help:

• Eat several small meals instead of three large meals to keep your stomach from being empty.
• Don't lie down after meals.
• Eat dry toast, saltines, or dry cereals before getting out of bed in the morning.
• Eat bland foods that are low in fat and easy to digest, such as cereal, rice, and bananas.
• Sip on water, weak tea, or clear soft drinks. Or eat ice chips.
• Avoid smells that upset your stomach.

Call your doctor if you have flu-like symptoms, which may signal a more serious condition.

Call your doctor if you have severe, constant nausea and/or vomiting several times every day.

Morning sickness is a common occurrence that usually goes away over time. However, you should contact your health care provider immediately if:

• You vomit more than 3 times per day and can’t keep anything down
• Your morning sickness continues beyond your 4th month of pregnancy
• Your morning sickness does not get better after trying several home remedies
• You’re feeling more tired than usual because of the vomiting
• You’re feeling confused
• You have a rapid heartbeat (palpitations)
• Your vomit has blood or is dark brown
• You lose more than 2 pounds in a week
• You are urinating less than usual, or your urine is very dark

You can do many things to help you feel better and even prevent morning sickness:

• Take a prenatal vitamin. Talk to your doctor to know if you can take your prenatal vitamin before going to bed, as the iron they contain may upset some women’s stomach. Take your vitamin with a snack, never on an empty stomach.
• Keep some snacks, like soda crackers or dry toast, by your bedside table. Having a snack as soon as you wake up before getting out of bed can help settle your stomach.
• Avoid large meals. Eat 5 or 6 small meals throughout the day before you get hungry.
• Avoid fatty foods, spicy foods, and foods that are rich in sodium (salt).
• Eat a lot of carbohydrates and proteins. You can try eating some nuts, low-fat dairy products, rice, cheese, and adding some peanut butter to celery or apple slices.
• Soothe your stomach with bland foods such as broth, soda crackers, gelatin, cereal, bananas, and frozen desserts.
• Drink plenty of fluids, ideally between meals rather than with meals, as this can prevent you from getting too full.
• Stay away from smells that upset your stomach.
• When nausea does occur, you can try drinking sparkling waters, ginger ale, or seltzer. Foods that contain ginger may also help; these include ginger candy and ginger tea.

There are other ways to help prevent or relieve morning sickness; however, you should talk to your doctor before trying any of these:

• Acupuncture: some women find acupuncture to be beneficial when other treatments have failed. This treatment involves putting thin needles into your skin; therefore, you should get your doctor’s approval and find a trained acupuncturist.
• Acupressure and acustimulation wristbands: these wristbands work by putting pressure on or stimulating certain points of the body to help prevent nausea.

Do NOT use marijuana to help prevent or treat morning sickness, even if it’s legal where you live. Marijuana has not been proved to be safe during pregnancy.