Most cases of nausea and vomiting are not harmful. However, when nausea and vomiting are severe and persist, they can affect your health. This pamphlet will help you learn more about:

Nausea and vomiting that is normal during pregnancy How they can be relieved When treatment is needed

During pregnancy your body goes through many changes. Nausea and vomiting are common complaints of pregnant women.

What Causes Nausea?

While you are pregnant, nausea and vomiting can occur as your body goes through many changes. Although no one is certain what causes the nausea and vomiting, increasing levels of hormones during pregnancy may play a role. In most women, symptoms of nausea and vomiting are mild and go away after the middle of pregnancy. But, some cases of nausea and vomiting are severe. This condition is called hyperemesis gravidarum. It can lead to loss of weight and body fluids.

Effects on Pregnancy

Most mild cases of nausea and vomiting do not harm you or your baby's health. Morning sickness does not mean your baby is sick. It can become more of a problem if you cannot keep any foods or fluids down and begin to lose weight. If your nausea and vomiting are severe, call your doctor.

What You Can Do

There is no sure way to prevent morning sickness. However, studies have shown that women who are taking a multivitamin regularly at the time of conception are less likely to have severe cases of morning sickness. If you experience morning sickness, there are some things you can do that might help you feel better:

• Get plenty of rest.
• Avoid smells that bother you.
• Eat five or six small meals each day instead of three large meals.
• Avoid spicy foods and fatty foods.
• Eat crackers before you get out of bed in the morning.

Medical Treatment

When to Call Your Doctor You should call your doctor if you have any of the following problems: You have a small amount of urine and it is dark in color You cannot keep down liquids You are dizzy or faint when standing up You have a racing or pounding heart You vomit blood

If your nausea and vomiting are severe, you may need medical treatment. Your doctor may suggest vitamin B₆, doxylamine, or anti-nausea medications. In severe cases, this has been shown to help reduce the number of times a woman vomits. If your doctor suspects that you have hyperemesis gravidarum, you may need to receive fluids through an intravenous (IV) line and stay in the hospital for a while.

Finally...

During pregnancy your body goes through many changes. Nausea and vomiting are common complaints of pregnant women. While your body adjusts to the many changes during the first part of your pregnancy, you may find some relief if you follow the tips given here. Call your doctor right away if your nausea and vomiting become severe.

Glossary

Conception: Fertilization of an egg by a sperm.

Hormones: Substances produced by the body to control the functions of various organs.

Hyperemesis Gravidarum: Severe nausea and vomiting during pregnancy that can lead to loss of weight and body fluids.

This Patient Education Pamphlet was developed under the direction of the Committee on Patient Education of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Designed as an aid to patients, it sets forth current information and opinions on subjects related to women's health. The average readability level of the series, based on the Fry formula, is grade 6–8. The Suitability Assessment of Materials (SAM) instrument rates the pamphlets as "superior." To ensure the information is current and accurate, the pamphlets are reviewed every 18 months. The information in this pamphlet does not dictate an exclusive course of treatment or procedure to be followed and should not be construed as excluding other acceptable methods of practice. Variations taking into account the needs of the individual patient, resources, and limitations unique to the institution or type of practice may be appropriate.

Copyright © September 2005 by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without prior written permission from the publisher.

ISSN 1074-8601

Requests for authorization to make photocopies should be directed to the Copyright Clearance Center, 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923.

To reorder Patient Education Pamphlets in packs of 50, please call 800-762-2264 or order online at sales.acog.org.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
409 12th Street, SW
PO Box 96920
Washington, DC 20090-6920

12345/98765