Morning sickness

Nausea and vomiting in pregnancy (NVP) is an unwelcome, but perfectly normal, part of pregnancy. It does not put your baby at any increased risk.

Although it is commonly called morning sickness, NVP can occur at any time during the day.

How common is NVP?

During early pregnancy, nausea, vomiting, and tiredness are common symptoms. Around half of all pregnant women will experience both nausea and vomiting, and around 3 in 10 women will experience nausea without vomiting.

Outlook

NVP usually starts to get better after the first three months of pregnancy. However, some women continue to experience NVP for a longer period of time. For example, about 1 in 10 women continue to feel sick after week 20 of their pregnancy.

NVP is sometimes considered to be a minor inconvenience of pregnancy, but it can have a significant, adverse effect on an expectant mother’s day-to-day activities and quality of life.

NVP can often be treated by making dietary changes and by taking plenty of rest.  The support of family and friends can also help to make NVP more manageable.

Glossary

Nausea

Nausea is when you feel like you're going to be sick.