Pregnancy: How to Deal With Extreme Nausea and Vomiting

Nausea and vomiting, often called morning sickness, are common in pregnancy. They happen most often in the first 3 months and are caused by pregnancy hormones.

Some women get very sick and are not able to keep down food and fluids. This extreme morning sickness can lead to a dangerous loss of fluids in the body called severe dehydration.

Severe nausea and vomiting also can keep you from gaining weight and getting proper nutrition during your pregnancy.

If your morning sickness is very bad and you are severely dehydrated, you need to put your body fluids in balance with water and minerals called electrolytes, and be sure you get proper nutrition.

You may need fluids or nutrition put directly into a vein (intravenous fluids, or IV), or you may need to go to the hospital.

What should you do at home?

Medicine, food, and drink

  • Your doctor may suggest medicines if you have severe nausea and vomiting. Take these medicines exactly as prescribed. Call your doctor if you think you are having a problem with any medicine.
  • Drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration. Choose water and other clear liquids until you feel better. Ask your doctor about drinks that contain minerals and electrolytes, such as sports rehydration drinks.
  • Keep food in your stomach, but not too much at once. An empty stomach can make nausea worse. Eat five or six small meals a day instead of three large meals.
  • For morning nausea, eat a small snack, such as crackers or dry biscuits, before you get out of bed. Wait a few minutes, and then get out of bed slowly.
  • Eat more protein, such as chicken, fish, lean meat, beans, nuts, and seeds. Eat less fat.
  • Eat carbohydrate foods, such as potatoes, whole-grain cereals, rice, and pasta.
  • Avoid smells and foods that make you feel nauseated. Spicy or high-fat foods, citrus juice, milk, coffee, and tea with caffeine often make nausea worse.
  • Do not drink alcohol.

Lifestyle tips

  • Get lots of rest. Stress and fatigue can make your morning sickness worse.
  • Do not smoke. Try not to be around others who smoke. If you need help quitting, talk to your doctor about stop-smoking programs and medicines. These can increase your chances of quitting for good.
  • You may want to try acupressure bands. They put pressure on an acupressure point in the wrist. Some women feel better using the bands.

Vitamins

  • Take your prenatal vitamins at night on a full stomach.
  • If you are taking iron supplements, ask your doctor if they are necessary. Iron can make nausea worse.
  • Ask your doctor about vitamin B6 and ginger, both of which are safe, proven ways to relieve symptoms. Try ginger tea and ginger candy. You still may have some nausea or vomiting when taking vitamin B6 or ginger.
    • You can get a healthy amount of vitamin B6 from your regular diet. Sources include fortified breakfast cereals, garbanzo and other beans, meat, poultry, fish, potatoes, and bananas.
    • Talk to your doctor before taking vitamin B6 supplements. High doses of vitamin B6 can be dangerous. The safe upper limit is 100 milligrams a day for adults.
  • If vitamin B6 does not relieve your morning sickness, talk to your doctor about taking doxylamine (Unisom). It is a safe way to reduce nausea and vomiting during pregnancy.

When should you call for help?

Call 911 anytime you think you may need emergency care. For example, call if:

  • You passed out (lost consciousness).

Call your doctor now or seek medical care right away if:

  • You vomit more than 3 times in a day, especially if you also have a fever or pain.
  • You are too sick to your stomach to drink any fluids.
  • You have signs of needing more fluids. You have sunken eyes and a dry mouth, and you pass only a little urine.
  • Your morning sickness gets worse or does not get better with home care.
  • You are not able to keep down your medicine.

Watch closely for changes in your health, and be sure to contact your doctor if you have any problems.