Vomiting during pregnancy

Pregnancy-related nausea and vomiting may occur at different times of day and can be triggered by smells, food or an empty stomach. More severe vomiting can lead to dehydration, weight loss and difficulty taking medicines or eating. Food Poisoning and Gastroenteritis can also cause vomiting, while Migraine, Gallstones or Pancreatitis may be considered when headache or abdominal pain is unusual or severe.

Take small, frequent sips of water or an oral rehydration drink and keep a drink nearby. Try plain foods in small portions when nausea eases, and avoid personal triggers such as strong smells. Rest and keep a record of fluids, urine, vomiting episodes and medicines. Contact your maternity team or doctor before starting, stopping or changing any anti-sickness medicine.

Contact your maternity team promptly if you cannot keep fluids down, pass very little urine, feel faint, have marked weakness, vomit blood, develop severe abdominal pain or fever, or are losing weight. Emergency help is needed for confusion, collapse, severe headache with a stiff neck, or rapidly worsening illness.

Ask which fluids, foods and medicines are suitable at your stage of pregnancy and whether you need an examination or treatment for dehydration. Tell them how long vomiting has lasted, your urine output, abdominal symptoms, fever, current medicines and whether you can keep prenatal supplements down.