Morning Sickness in Pregnancy: What’s Normal, What Helps and When to Seek Support

Expert advice from Obstetrician Dr Peter Jurcevic

For some women, morning sickness is a mild wave of nausea that comes and goes. For others, it can feel relentless and it can last all day. Women can experience nausea, vomiting, exhaustion and feel like they are simply trying to survive one hour at a time.

And despite the name, 'morning sickness' doesn’t always occur just in the morning.

If you’re pregnant and struggling with nausea, here’s what you need to know.

What Is Morning Sickness?

Morning sickness is nausea and vomiting that happens during pregnancy, most commonly in the first trimester.

But according to Dr Peter Jurcevic, the name can be misleading.

“It’s ironically a bit of a misnomer because we traditionally call it morning sickness, but it can annoyingly be all-day sickness,” says Peter.

For most women, symptoms occur during the first 14 weeks of pregnancy, although every pregnancy is different.

Some women experience mild nausea. Others vomit regularly, feel constantly unwell, struggle to eat or drink, and in severe cases they may develop hyperemesis gravidarum which is an extreme form of pregnancy sickness which requires medical care.

What Causes Morning Sickness?

Morning sickness largely occurs due to pregnancy hormones, particularly the rapid rise in hormones during early pregnancy.

Peter explains that a sensitive part of the brain called the hypothalamus reacts to these hormonal changes.

As hormone levels rise to support your growing pregnancy, they can trigger nausea, vomiting, food aversions, changes in taste, sleep disruption and heightened sensitivity to smells.

“That hormonal support circulating throughout the whole of your body can trigger this sensitive part of your brain and that makes you feel sick,” Dr Peter explains.

And unfortunately, there’s no way to predict how severe it will be.

Even more frustrating? It can be completely different from pregnancy to pregnancy.

You may breeze through one pregnancy and struggle significantly in another.

When Does Morning Sickness Usually End?

The good news is that for most women, symptoms improve around the second trimester.

As pregnancy hormones begin to stabilise around 12–14 weeks, nausea often starts to settle.

Once hormone levels fall below that threshold, symptoms improve.

However, for some women, nausea continues well beyond the first trimester and occasionally for the entire pregnancy.

“Some women unfortunately have a really, low threshold… even as hormone levels drop, they may still feel sick,” says Dr Peter.

If this is you, know that you’re not imagining it and importantly, there are treatment options available.

What Does Morning Sickness Feel Like?

Every woman experiences it differently.

For some, it’s mild queasiness. For others, it can feel like a constant hangover.

Symptoms may include:

• Nausea at any time of day

• Vomiting

• Food aversions

• Sensitivity to smells

• Fatigue and exhaustion

• Difficulty eating or drinking

• Feeling “hungover” or constantly unwell

Some women even realise they’re pregnant before a positive test because the nausea arrives so early.

Home Remedies for Morning Sickness

While there’s no magic cure, there are strategies that may help make symptoms more manageable. Dr Peter suggests the following may help

• Try to rest more than you normally would

• Stay hydrated (small frequent sips throughout the day)

• Eat smaller meals more frequently (‘grazing’)

• Try Ginger

• Try Vitamin B6

• Seek advice from your Health Care professional if you need medication 

Is Medication for Morning Sickness Safe?

If home remedies are not working it may be worth speaking with your Health Care provider to see if medication is needed.

Medication Treatment options may include:

• Metoclopramide (Maxolon)

• Doxylamine (Restavit) (often used at night due to drowsiness)

• Cyclizine (a travel sickness medication)

• Ondansetron (Zofran) (commonly used for severe nausea)

Like any medication, side effects can occur.

For example:

• Some medications may cause tiredness

• Ondansetron may cause constipation

• Restavit may leave you groggy the next day

Always consult your healthcare practitioner to find out what is right for you. When Morning Sickness Becomes: Hyperemesis Gravidarum

For a small number of women, morning sickness becomes much more serious and turns into a condition called Hyperemesis gravidarum. This is when Morning Sickness is severe, involving excessive vomiting, dehydration and difficulty keeping food or fluids down.

It can lead to:

• Weight loss

• Dehydration

• Nutritional deficiencies

• Hospital admission

• IV fluids and hydration

If symptoms become severe, medical care is important.

Treatment may involve:

• Anti-nausea medication

• IV hydration

• Hospital admission

• Specialist care

• Sterioid Treatment 

Are Some Women More at Risk?

While morning sickness is unpredictable, certain women may be at higher risk of severe symptoms.

Risk factors may include:

• A previous pregnancy with severe morning sickness

• Twins or multiple pregnancies (due to higher hormone levels)

• A history of hyperemesis gravidarum

• UTI and (rare) molar pregnancies

But for many women, there is simply no obvious reason why one pregnancy feels completely different from another.

Dr Peter Jurcevic’s Advice for Parents

If you’re struggling, ask for help. Morning sickness may be common but that doesn’t mean you have to simply suffer through it. There are lots of strategies to help you and the right support can make all the difference. 

Want to hear more expert advice from Dr Peter Jurcevic on pregnancy, birth and parenting? Check out Parents You’ve Got This – The Expert Guide to Parenthood Podcast for evidence-based advice from Australia’s leading experts in fertility, pregnancy, birth, baby and parenthood. Pregnant and want to know more about the Pregnancy Journey? Book your place at Parents You've Got This upcoming Pregnancy Masterclass.