If you're feeling nauseous, incredibly tired, and perhaps a bit overwhelmed by the sudden changes in your body—you are not alone. Nausea and vomiting are incredibly common, affecting up to 70% of pregnant women.
While it’s often called "morning sickness," the reality is that these symptoms can strike at any hour of the day or night. While the exact cause remains unknown, the rapid rise in pregnancy hormones is believed to play a major role.
Mild nausea is generally not a cause for concern and will not harm your baby. However, if your symptoms are severe enough to interfere with your daily life—or if you're struggling to keep food and fluids down—we want to help you find relief. At MomDoc, we approach nausea and vomiting in a tiered, step-by-step manner.
Step One: Dietary and Lifestyle Changes
Often, simple adjustments to what you eat and when you eat can significantly reduce nausea and prevent vomiting.
- Eat Small, Frequent Meals: Aim to eat every 2 to 3 hours. An empty stomach can actually increase nausea. Try eating a small snack right at bedtime, and keep plain crackers or dry cereal by your bed to eat before you even stand up in the morning.
- Opt for Bland, Protein-Rich Foods: Foods high in protein and carbohydrates are often easiest to keep down. Try apples, peanut butter, nuts, rice, plain potatoes, toast, or plain noodles. Some women also find relief with dairy products like yogurt, gelatin, or broths.
- Adjust Your Fluids: Drink small amounts of fluids continuously throughout the day to prevent dehydration (thirst is actually a late sign of dehydration). Try drinking fluids 30 minutes before or after a meal, rather than with your meals. Cold or icy drinks are often better tolerated than hot ones.
- Replenish Electrolytes: If you have been vomiting, water alone isn't enough. Incorporate electrolyte-rich fluids like Gatorade or Pedialyte.
What to Avoid
- Triggers: Avoid foods with strong odors, as well as foods that are greasy, fried, overly spicy, or very hot. High-fat, high-salt foods with low nutritional value can exacerbate an upset stomach.
- Laying Down After Eating: Wait at least 30 minutes after eating before laying back.
- Problematic Prenatal Vitamins: If your prenatal vitamin seems to trigger your nausea, try taking it at night with food. If the iron in the vitamin is the culprit, you can switch to a children’s chewable vitamin with folic acid, or simply take a standalone folic acid supplement (400mcg) until your stomach settles.
Step Two: Natural Remedies
If dietary changes aren't quite enough, several natural, over-the-counter remedies have proven effective and safe for pregnancy.
- Ginger: Ginger has been used to treat nausea for centuries. All forms—including ginger root tea, ginger gum, ginger snaps, ginger ale, or ginger syrup added to water—are considered safe in pregnancy (up to a maximum dose of 1 gram per day).
- Acupressure: Sea-Bands are elastic wristbands with a built-in plastic knob that applies pressure to the P6 acupressure point inside your wrist. While often used for motion sickness, many women find them helpful for pregnancy nausea.
Step Three: Medical Support
If you have tried dietary adjustments and natural remedies without success, it may be time to consider medication.
Over-The-Counter Options
Multiple randomized trials have demonstrated that the combination of Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine) and Doxylamine (Unisom) can reduce nausea and vomiting by up to 70%.
Note: Always consult your MomDoc provider before starting any new medication protocol. Make sure your formulation of Unisom contains Doxylamine, not Diphenhydramine.
Prescription Medications
If your nausea persists, if you are vomiting frequently, or if you are losing weight, do not try to "tough it out." There are several prescription medications that have been extensively studied and proven safe for use during pregnancy. Your provider can help you find an option that provides relief so you can function—and stay hydrated—safely.
Warning Signs: When to Call Us Immediately
While common morning sickness is bothersome but harmless, severe nausea (Hyperemesis Gravidarum) requires prompt medical intervention. Call your provider immediately if you experience any of the following:
- Inability to keep any liquid or food down for 24 hours.
- Vomiting several times a day, or after every single meal.
- Vomiting blood or material that looks like coffee grounds.
- Infrequent urination, or urine that is very dark in color.
- Feeling weak, dizzy, or fainting when you stand up.
- Abdominal pain, fever, or difficulty urinating.
- Weight loss over the course of a week.
This content is for informational purposes only and does not replace professional medical advice. Always consult your MomDoc provider regarding your specific symptoms and treatment options.