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Is morning sickness serious?

While most women experience mild to moderate symptoms of morning sickness that gradually improve without treatment, a small percentage of women experience severe, persistent nausea and vomiting that can last the entire pregnancy. This condition is called hyperemesis gravidarum. Persistent vomiting can lead to dehydration which, if severe, can be dangerous and may require hospitalization. Signs that you may require further care include: dehydration (look for dark-colored urine, urinating infrequently, or feeling dizzy while standing); vomiting continually throughout the day; blood in the vomit; being unable to keep any food or liquids in your stomach for more than 12 hours, and; losing weight.

FAQ Frequently asked questions

What is morning sickness?

Morning sickness is nausea and vomiting during a pregnancy. Despite its name, it can strike pregnant women at any time of the day.

What are the symptoms of morning sickness?

Symptoms of morning sickness include feeling nauseous or sick in the stomach, loss of appetite and aversion to some foods, and vomiting.

What causes morning sickness?

The exact causes of morning sickness are not clear. A range of theories have been suggested, including changes in hormone levels, or reductions in blood pressure or blood glucose (sugar) level, but none of these has been proven. You are more likely to …

How is morning sickness treated?

There are many things that can trigger morning sickness and they can vary between women. By working out what triggers your morning sickness and avoiding it, you can reduce your symptoms. Common triggers include stuffy rooms, lots of noise and strong …

Will morning sickness clear on its own?

In most cases, morning sickness symptoms will disappear on their own between the 16th and 20th week of pregnancy.

What can be done at home to treat morning sickness?

You can reduce symptoms of morning sickness by avoiding smells foods and other things that trigger nausea and vomiting. Take care to move slowly, particularly when getting out of bed, and avoid fatigue and stress.

Who gets morning sickness?

Up to around 85% of pregnant women experience some signs of nausea or vomiting during pregnancy.

Can morning sickness be prevented?

Morning sickness cannot be prevented, but taking steps to reduce symptoms when they first appear may help to reduce their severity.

What increases the chances of developing morning sickness?

You may be more likely to experience morning sickness if you: have experienced morning sickness in a previous pregnancy; tend to experience motion sickness; have had gastrointestinal problems such as reflux or stomach ulcers; have …

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About this article

Author: Lauren Donley BSc (Hons)
First answered: 10 Nov 2014
Last reviewed: 19 May 2018
Rating: 4.5 out of 5
Votes: 768 (Click smiley face below to rate)
Category: Motion sickness

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