Morning sickness is nausea and vomiting that you may have during pregnancy. Morning sickness can occur at any time of day and it can last for more than just a few hours. For most women, morning sickness ends around 16-20 weeks (about 4 and a half months) in pregnancy. For some women it can last the entire pregnancy. Although it is uncomfortable and draining on you, morning sickness does not put your baby at risk if you are not losing a lot of weight.

Certain things can make morning sickness worse for you. These things include stress, fatigue, and certain foods. Morning sickness is also more likely if you:

• are having twins or multiples
• feel sick when taking birth control that contains estrogen
• have a history of car sickness

There are many treatments for morning sickness. It is important that you get enough sleep when pregnant, as feeling tired makes nausea worse. There are also several foods and drinks that you can try to fight nausea. If your morning sickness does not improve when you make these lifestyle changes, your medical care provider may prescribe medication.

A severe form of morning sickness, called hyperemesis gravidarum, can develop in some mothers. This condition leads to dehydration and poor nutrition. It also requires special treatment.

If you experience vomiting with one of the following symptoms, call your medical care provider:

• Very dark-colored urine
• You have not peed in more than 8 hours
• Inability to keep food or fluids down for a period of 24 hours or greater
• Very weak, dizzy, or faint when attempting to stand
• Abdominal pain
• High body temperature
• Vomit blood or a substance that looks like coffee grounds (call immediately)
• Losing a lot of weight