Nausea is most common in early pregnancy. Most people stop feeling sick around week 20 of their pregnancy. Some people feel sick throughout their whole pregnancy.
How you may feel
Some people feel sick at certain times of the day. Others feel sick all the time. It is common for certain smells to make the nausea worse.
Some may feel so nauseous that they vomit.
Extreme nausea
Some people become very nauseous and vomit very often. In such cases, there is a risk of dehydration and not getting enough nutrients.
If you are feeling this poorly, you may need hospital care for periods of time.
When and where should I seek medical care?
Most people who feel nauseous during pregnancy do not need medical care. Talk to a midwife (barnmorska) if you have any questions or need advice.
Contact a healthcare provider if you cannot keep any food or drink down.
Contact one of these clinics:
- A midwifery clinic
- A healthcare centre
- An out-of-hours service.
Self-help tips
Here are some tips that may help:
- Get some fresh air and exercise.
- Get rest.
- Avoid stress.
- Try to eat something as soon as you wake up.
- Eat often, but small portions at a time.
- Avoid foods that are fatty, spicy or fried.
- Try to drink tea or eat foods that contain some ginger.
If you vomit a lot, you will need to drink a little more than usual.
If you need support
Feeling nauseous and vomiting during pregnancy is often taxing. It may feel better to talk to someone about your symptoms. For example, you can talk to a midwife.
Treatment
There are medicines that can help. For example, some people feel better with medicine for motion sickness.
Talk to a doctor, midwife or pharmacist before using any medicine while pregnant.
Some people find that acupuncture helps.
Some people may need hospital treatment
If you are extremely nauseous and vomit a lot, you may need hospital treatment. You can then be given nutrition directly into your bloodstream by IV drip.
What causes nausea during pregnancy?
The nausea is caused by the hormones in your body when you are pregnant. Some people react to these hormones more than others.
The nausea may be worse when you are tired, stressed or have not eaten anything.
Nausea is particularly common if you are pregnant with more than one child.
It is not harmful
Feeling nauseous and vomiting are not harmful to you or your baby. The baby is getting the nutrients it needs.