Morning sickness is nausea or vomiting in pregnancy, and despite the name it can happen at any time of day. It is most likely between weeks 6 and 14, usually settles by the second trimester, and for some people lasts longer. It is not a sign you are doing anything wrong. This guide covers why it happens, why eating well through it is harder than it sounds, how to tell when it is more than morning sickness, and when to see your doctor or midwife.
At a glance
- Morning sickness can strike at any time of day and is most likely between weeks 6 and 14.
- It is common and not a sign you are doing anything wrong, but it can make eating well very hard.
- What you can face eating changes week to week, so one list of foods rarely fits.
- A dietitian can build a plan around the foods and drinks you can actually manage.
- If you cannot keep fluids down, see your doctor straight away.
Why it happens
The exact cause is not known, but it is thought to be linked to the hormonal changes of early pregnancy. Most pregnant women have some morning sickness at some point, and it is hard to predict who will be affected. Pregnancy, Birth and Baby notes there is no research showing that morning sickness harms your baby unless it is very severe.
The bigger practical problem is that feeling sick changes what you can face eating, just when you and your baby need a good variety of nutrients.
Why one list of foods rarely works
Most advice for morning sickness sounds simple, and yet many people find none of it works for them. What you can keep down is personal. It shifts with the time of day, the week of pregnancy, smells, tiredness and what you were eating before. It is also worth being honest about the evidence: a Cochrane review found no trials of diet or lifestyle changes for nausea in pregnancy, and the evidence for ginger is limited and inconsistent.
The bigger risk is nutritional. When only a handful of foods feel possible, keeping fluids up and covering the nutrients you and your baby need takes planning.
That is what the consult is for. In 20 minutes we look at what you can face right now, and build a plan for eating, drinking and nutrients around it, so the days feel more manageable. Morning Sickness Mini Consult: 20 minutes, $39, by telehealth →
When your prenatal vitamin makes it worse
For some people, a pregnancy multivitamin makes nausea worse. If that sounds familiar, talk to your doctor or midwife before stopping or changing anything, especially folate, which matters most in early pregnancy. A dietitian can then help you cover the gaps through food.
Is it morning sickness, or hyperemesis gravidarum?
Hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) is severe, persistent nausea and vomiting that makes it hard to eat and drink enough. It often doesn’t improve with the simple measures above, and many people with HG need treatment in hospital at some point, including fluids through a drip. Australian and New Zealand guidelines set out how it should be assessed and treated.
HG needs medical care first. Once it is being managed, Pregnancy, Birth and Baby notes it can help to see a dietitian for specific nutrition advice, alongside your doctor.
When to see your doctor or midwife
See your doctor or midwife if you are vomiting often or cannot control it, if nausea makes it hard to eat and drink enough, or if you are losing weight. Other signs to see your doctor are very dark urine, blood in your vomit, or extreme tiredness. If you cannot keep fluids down at all, see your doctor straight away or go to your local emergency department.
Free one-page guide: What to eat with morning sickness, with the warning signs and questions to bring to your dietitian. Print it or keep it on your phone.
Download the PDFWhere a dietitian helps
A short telehealth consult can look at what you can keep down, when to eat, how to keep fluids up, and what to do about a prenatal vitamin that is making things worse.
The Morning Sickness Mini Consult is 20 minutes with an Accredited Practising Dietitian, by telehealth from anywhere in Australia, for $39.
About the morning sickness mini consult →Common questions
How long does morning sickness last?
It is most likely between weeks 6 and 14 of pregnancy and settles for many people by the second trimester, though it can last to weeks 14 to 20, and for some people all the way through pregnancy.
What should I eat when I have morning sickness?
It depends on what you can face, and that changes from week to week. A dietitian can build a plan around the foods and drinks you can manage, and make sure your fluids and nutrients are covered. If you cannot keep fluids down, see your doctor.
Does ginger help morning sickness?
It may help some people, but a Cochrane review found the evidence is limited and inconsistent. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking ginger supplements.
Is morning sickness harmful to my baby?
There is no research showing morning sickness harms your baby unless it is very severe. If you cannot keep fluids down or are losing weight, see your doctor.
What is the difference between morning sickness and hyperemesis gravidarum?
Hyperemesis gravidarum is severe, persistent vomiting that makes it hard to eat and drink enough. It needs medical treatment, and many people with it need hospital care at some point.
Where this comes from
General information only, not personal advice. It does not replace your GP, midwife or obstetrician.
- Pregnancy, Birth and Baby (healthdirect Australia). Morning sickness. www.pregnancybirthbaby.org.au/pregnancy/health-conditions-and-complications/dealing-with-morning-sickness
- Pregnancy, Birth and Baby (healthdirect Australia). Severe vomiting during pregnancy (hyperemesis gravidarum). www.pregnancybirthbaby.org.au/pregnancy/health-conditions-and-complications/severe-vomiting-during-pregnancy-hyperemesis-gravidarum
- Matthews A, Haas DM, O’Mathúna DP, Dowswell T. Interventions for nausea and vomiting in early pregnancy. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2015;CD007575. doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD007575.pub4
- Lowe SA, Armstrong G, Beech A, et al. SOMANZ position paper on the management of nausea and vomiting in pregnancy and hyperemesis gravidarum. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. 2020;60(1):34-43. doi.org/10.1111/ajo.13084