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Morning sickness
Definition:
Nausea and vomiting during pregnancy which often occurs in the morning. For severe, persistent vomiting during pregnancy see the information on hyperemesis gravidarum.

Alternative Names:
Nausea in the morning - females; Vomiting in the morning - females

Considerations:
Morning sickness is extremely common, occurring in about half of all pregnant women. The problem usually begins during the first month of pregnancy and continues until the 14th to 16th week.

Emotional stress, traveling, or some kinds of food may aggravate the problem.
Common Causes:
The cause of morning sickness is unknown. However, it may be caused by either hormonal changes or lower blood sugar during early pregnancy.
Home Care:
Try to keep a positive attitude. Morning sickness usually stops after the first 3 or 4 months of pregnancy. Other than preventive measures, only time or the birth of the child will ultimately cure morning sickness.

Well-ventilated rooms which prevent accumulation of cooking odors or cigarette smoke may help prevent morning sickness. Avoid cigarette smoking.

Avoid medications (which are usually not necessary for this disorder) without consulting the doctor first.

To help minimize nausea, try eating a few soda crackers or dry toast before arising from bed in the morning, eating a small snack at bedtime and when getting up to go to the bathroom at night, and eating a snack as often as every hour or 2 during the day.

Avoid large meals and try snacks that consist of high-protein food, such as peanut butter on apple slices or celery, nuts, cheese and crackers, milk, cottage cheese and yogurt. Avoid foods that are high in fat and salt, but low in nutrition.
Call your health care provider if:
  • Morning sickness does not improve, despite trying home remedies.
  • You are vomiting blood or material that looks like coffee grounds.
  • You lose more than 2 pounds.
  • There is prolonged, severe vomiting, which can cause dehydration and malnutrition.
What to expect at your health care provider's office:
The medical history will be obtained and a physical examination performed.

Medical history questions documenting your symptom in detail may include:
  • Quality
    • Are you only nauseated?
    • Do you vomit?
    • Does the nausea and vomiting occur every day?
    • Does it last throughout the day?
    • Can you keep down any food or fluid?
  • Aggravating factors
    • Have you been traveling?
    • Has your schedule been disrupted?
    • Are you emotionally stressed?
    • What foods have you been eating?
    • Do you smoke?
  • Relieving factors
    • What have you done to try to relieve the problem?
    • How effective was it?
  • Time pattern
    • When did this begin?
    • How long has it lasted?
  • Menstrual history
    • Are you known to be pregnant?
    • Are you possibly pregnant?
    • Are you a female of a menstruating age?
    • Are you sexually active?
    • Do you use birth control?
      • What type?
      • Have you missed any birth control pills or not used the birth control method?
  • Other

The physical examination may include a pelvic examination and evaluation for signs of dehydration and malnutrition.

Diagnostic tests that may be performed include:

After seeing your health care provider:
You may want to add a note related to morning sickness to your personal medical record.
Review Date: 1/18/2002
Reviewed By: Peter Chen, M.D., Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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