How can i stop nausea and vomiting during pregnancy

“Morning sickness” is a common complaint during pregnancy. The symptoms of nausea and vomiting generally begin by the 5th or 6th week of pregnancy. In 60% of women, symptoms will resolve by the 12th week and in 90% by the 16th week. In less than 1% of cases women may develop hyperemesis gravidarum, a severe case of nausea and vomiting associated with dehydration, weight loss and lab abnormalities. This condition may require hospitalization.

The following are some general guidelines for managing nausea and vomiting of pregnancy:

ACTIVITY:

• Rest.
• After awakening from sleep, remain in bed for 15 minutes before getting up.

DIET:

• Eat frequent small meals rather than 3 large meals.
• A diet high in carbohydrates (starches) is often easiest to
  tolerate. Try toast, crackers, rice, potatoes, etc.
• High protein meals may reduce nausea and vomiting.
• Avoid spicy or greasy foods.
• Drink a lot of fluids. Water is best, but sometimes carbonated drinks, like gingerale or 7-up, will help settle your stomach.
  You may need to drink fluids between meals rather than with them.
• Keep saltine crackers or similar bland food at the bedside and with you during the day.
  If you are nauseated upon awakening, eat some crackers, etc. before getting out of bed.
  Avoid sensory stimuli (such as smells) which make you feel worse..

SUPPLEMENTS/MEDICATIONS & OTHER MEASURES:

• Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine) 10-30 mg three times daily.
• Ginger. Try gingerale, ginger tea or a ginger supplement (250 mg three times daily).
• Unisom (over the counter sleep aid) with Doxylamine 10 mg can be effective and is safe, but will make you sleepy.
• Relief bands, seabands (wrist bands with pressure points).
• There are medications which can be prescribed by your doctor if the above measures are ineffective and nausea and vomiting are severe.

CONTACT YOUR DOCTOR If The Following Occur:

• You are unable to tolerate any food or drink due to nausea and vomiting.
• You experience worsening weakness or dizziness or if fainting/near fainting occurs.
• You are losing weight due to nausea and vomiting.
• You experience severe abdominal pain, especially right lower abdomen.
• You have fever, chills or persistent diarrhea.

#150F (Rev. 04/04)

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FAQ126

Published: May 2020

Last reviewed: December 2021

Copyright 2022 by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. All rights reserved. Read copyright and permissions information.

This information is designed as an educational aid for the public. It offers current information and opinions related to women's health. It is not intended as a statement of the standard of care. It does not explain all of the proper treatments or methods of care. It is not a substitute for the advice of a physician. Read ACOG’s complete disclaimer.

When you get pregnant, you may have morning sickness. This is feelings of nausea or vomiting. These symptoms often happen during your first trimester or first 12 weeks pregnancy. Then they go away. However, in some cases, these symptoms can last through your pregnancy. The exact cause for morning sickness isn't known.

While uncomfortable, morning sickness is rarely serious. In fact, morning sickness affects about 90 percent of all pregnant women. Most of the time, natural approaches can help you feel better.

Tap into the power of ginger

Ginger is safe and effective in relieving nausea caused by morning sickness. But it doesn’t seem to work for vomiting. 

Ginger comes in many forms.  Moms- to-be can take ginger supplements three or four times a day, with a total daily dose of about 1 gram. Foods that contain ginger may also help ease nausea. These include ginger ale, ginger lollipops, and ginger tea. 

Self-care techniques

You can also try some self-care care techniques. These can help prevent and relieve morning sickness:

• Eat several small meals a day. Try eating every 1 to 2 hours. This can keep your stomach from getting empty.

• Choose foods high in complex carbohydrates. These include whole wheat bread, pasta, bananas, and green, leafy vegetables.

• Don’t eat greasy and spicy foods. 

• Sip on liquids that are cold, clear, and carbonated in between meals.

• Keep crackers near your bed. Munch on them before getting up in the morning.

• Don’t shift positions too quickly.

• Suck on a peppermint or sniff sliced lemon if an odor bothers you.

• Try motion sickness or acupressure wristbands.

Seek medical treatment for serious symptoms

Sometimes, nausea and vomiting can be severe, or last into the second trimester. Talk with your healthcare provider about other treatments. In some cases, hyperemesis gravidarum can happen. Women with this serious condition need treatment with medicine and intravenous (IV) fluids.