What should you know about medicine for nausea during pregnancy?

Nausea and vomiting are common in pregnancy, but they can also have another cause, such as gastroenteritis, food poisoning, gastritis, acid reflux, or gallstones. Heat exhaustion, hepatitis A, and hypoglycaemia may also cause nausea and require different care. A clinician considers how often you vomit, whether you can drink, your stage of pregnancy, weight change, medical history, and any medicines or supplements before recommending treatment.

Keep crackers or another plain snack nearby, eat small portions more often, and avoid foods or smells that trigger symptoms. Sip fluids regularly; if plain water is difficult, ask a clinician about suitable alternatives. Do not start, stop, or borrow a medicine without checking its pregnancy suitability. Keep taking prescribed prenatal treatment unless your maternity team advises otherwise. Discuss persistent symptoms early so treatment can be adjusted before dehydration develops.

Contact your maternity team or clinician urgently if you cannot keep fluids down, pass very little urine, feel faint, have severe abdominal pain, vomit blood, develop a high fever, or notice yellowing of the skin or eyes. Prompt assessment is also needed if vomiting prevents essential medicines or food from staying down.

Ask which medicine is suitable at your stage of pregnancy, how to take it, what side effects to watch for, and when dehydration or weight loss needs review.