Free family guide · Warning signs and common problems

Morning sickness and hyperemesis gravidarum

The NHS says morning sickness can happen at any time of day or night, or all day.[1]

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Sources on this page: NHS; ACOG; OWH; CDC; MedlinePlus

This page shares what health organizations say. It is not medical advice. It is general information. Talk to your doctor, midwife or pediatrician about your own situation.

In an emergency, call 911.

How long it lasts

Sources differ

Sources describe how long morning sickness lasts in different ways:[2][1]

  • ACOG says it usually starts before 9 weeks, and for most women it goes away by 14 weeks.[2] It says for some it lasts several weeks or months, and for a few the whole pregnancy.[2]
  • The NHS says it usually clears up by weeks 16 to 20, and does not put the baby at increased risk.[1]

OWH lists nausea, with or without vomiting, as a common change in the first trimester.[3] The NHS says hormonal changes in the first 12 weeks are probably one cause.[1]

What may help

The NHS suggests:[1]

  • rest, and avoiding foods or smells that trigger nausea;[1]
  • dry toast or a plain biscuit in the morning;[1]
  • small, frequent meals that are plain, high in carbohydrate and low in fat;[1]
  • cold foods, and sipping fluids little and often;[1]
  • ginger, after checking with a pharmacist before taking ginger supplements;[1]
  • wrist acupressure.[1]

ACOG says a prenatal vitamin can lower the risk of severe nausea.[2] It suggests crackers before getting up, 5 or 6 small meals, bland foods, protein with meals and 8 to 12 cups of water a day.[2]

After vomiting, ACOG suggests rinsing your mouth with 1 teaspoon of baking soda in a cup of water to protect your teeth.[2]

The NHS says that if sickness is severe and these changes do not help, a doctor may recommend a short course of a medicine that is safe in pregnancy.[1] CDC says to talk to your providers before you start or stop any medicine.[4]

Hyperemesis gravidarum

MedlinePlus says hyperemesis gravidarum is extreme, lasting nausea and vomiting that can cause dehydration and weight loss, while people with milder morning sickness can usually still eat and drink some of the time.[5]

ACOG says it affects up to 3 percent of pregnancies.[2] The NHS says it may need specialist treatment, sometimes in the hospital.[1]

The NHS lists higher risk if you:[1]

  • are expecting twins or more;[1]
  • had severe sickness in a past pregnancy;[1]
  • get motion sickness or migraines;[1]
  • have a family history of it;[1]
  • are in your first pregnancy.[1]

When to call

Sources differ

Sources give different time frames for not keeping fluids down:[5][1]

  • MedlinePlus says to call a provider if you cannot keep fluids down for more than 12 hours.[5]
  • The NHS says to call if you cannot keep food or fluids down for 24 hours.[1]

The NHS also lists these reasons to call:[1]

  • very dark urine, or no pee in more than 8 hours;[1]
  • feeling very weak, dizzy or faint when you stand up;[1]
  • tummy pain or a high temperature;[1]
  • vomiting blood;[1]
  • weight loss.[1]

ACOG says nausea that starts for the first time after 9 weeks, or comes with belly pain, fever, headache or a swollen neck, may have another cause.[2] The NHS says urine infections can also cause nausea and vomiting.[1]

Questions families ask

How long does morning sickness last?

ACOG says for most women it goes away by 14 weeks.[2] The NHS says it usually clears up by weeks 16 to 20.[1]

Does morning sickness hurt the baby?

The NHS says morning sickness does not put the baby at increased risk.[1] ACOG says it usually does not harm the fetus.[2]

What is the difference between morning sickness and hyperemesis?

MedlinePlus says hyperemesis is extreme and lasting and can cause dehydration and weight loss, while people with milder morning sickness can usually still eat and drink some of the time.[5]

Free from UpOnly Learning. Written for families of every faith. No outside ads and no affiliate links. Every fact on this page comes from the sources listed below. How we source and review these pages

Updated 2026-10-24: first published.

Sources

All sources were opened and checked on the date shown.

  1. NHS (United Kingdom). Vomiting and morning sickness. Checked October 24, 2026.
  2. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Morning Sickness: Nausea and Vomiting of Pregnancy. Checked October 24, 2026.
  3. Office on Women's Health (HHS). Stages of pregnancy. Checked October 24, 2026.
  4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Medicine and Pregnancy: An Overview. Checked October 24, 2026.
  5. MedlinePlus (National Library of Medicine). Hyperemesis gravidarum. Checked October 24, 2026.