Key takeaways

Nausea during pregnancy affects about 70% of pregnant women, often most severe in the first trimester, and is linked to the pregnancy hormone (HCG) as well as elevated levels of estrogen and progesterone.
Lifestyle remedies for managing nausea include eating small, bland meals, avoiding strong odors and stuffy rooms, getting enough rest, and trying ginger products or anti-nausea wristbands.
Safe over-the-counter (OTC) treatments for pregnancy nausea include vitamin B6 supplements, Emetrol syrup, and Unisom, with Diclegis being the only FDA-approved medication specifically for nausea and vomiting during pregnancy.
Prescription medications may be necessary for severe cases of nausea and vomiting, known as hyperemesis gravidarum, but it is important to consult a healthcare provider due to the limited research on the safety of these drugs during pregnancy.

Most women who have ever been pregnant are familiar with that queasy, lingering nausea that comes with carrying a fetus.

“Nausea during pregnancy is one of the most common and uncomfortable symptoms that impacts about 70% of pregnant women,” says Janelle Luk, MD, medical director and co-founder of Generation Next Fertility in New York City.

What causes nausea during pregnancy?

“Nausea is linked to the pregnancy hormone (human chorionic gonadotropin [or HCG] hormone), which is released when the fertilized egg attaches to the uterine lining,” Dr. Luk says. It’s also linked to elevated estrogen and progesterone levels during pregnancy.

What week of pregnancy does nausea start?

Nausea is usually most severe during early pregnancy within the first trimester (which includes the first 13 weeks of pregnancy), and may even be associated with vomiting. Luckily, these sickness symptoms should start to disappear in the second trimester after HCG hormone levels have peaked and no longer interfere with your daily life. Unfortunately for some women, pregnancy nausea can last the duration of the pregnancy. You’ve probably heard the term “morning sickness,” but that’s a misnomer. It should really be called “all day sickness,” because the truth is that it can strike at any time of the day or night. And it feels awful.

The good news is, the typical nausea and vomiting related to hormone changes experienced during pregnancy is unlikely to harm the fetus. If you can’t keep any food or fluids down due to severe nausea and vomiting—a condition known as hyperemesis gravidum—you should seek medical attention. If left untreated, it has the potential to be harmful to the developing fetus. More on this in a bit. Aside from this very rare scenario, pregnancy nausea and vomiting is harmless. To the fetus.

For the pregnant woman, it’s a relentless queasiness that makes you want to hide in bed all day (as long as there’s a bathroom nearby). Here are 9 remedies you can try.

9 lifestyle changes for nausea during pregnancy

Outside of pregnancy, feelings of nausea might have you running to the pharmacy for an over-the-counter (OTC) solution; however, drug choice requires more thought when you’re pregnant.

Often, pregnant people are able to manage their nausea on their own, according to Rebecca Berens, MD, lactation consultant and board-certified family medicine physician at Vida Family Medicine in Houston. Here’s a list of natural remedies to try if you experience nausea while pregnant:

Eat small meals or bland foods. “Home remedies with small, frequent, bland snacks, such as saltine crackers or dry toast [may be enough],” says Dr. Berens. “Hard candies such as peppermints, sour candies, and commercial products such as ‘Preggie Pops’ can also be effective.” Avoid skipping meals and having an empty stomach, which can make nausea worse.
Try ginger products. Products containing ginger are known to be helpful, such as ginger candies and ginger teas,” Dr. Berens says. For nausea relief, it may help to try products like ginger ale).
Limit acidic or spicy foods. During pregnancy, the hormone progesterone causes the esophageal sphincter to relax, increasing the odds of heartburn, and acidic foods like citrus fruit or spicy foods like hot peppers can make heartburn worse.
Avoid stuffy rooms or strong odors. Family nurse practitioner and owner of Staunton Primary Care in Cincinnati, Ciara Staunton says that avoiding nausea triggers like heat, humidity, stuffy rooms and odors (perfume, chemicals, food, and smoke) is important.
Get enough rest and sleep in the correct position. Quickly changing positions and not getting enough rest/sleep may also aggravate symptoms of morning sickness, says Staunton. Don’t forget to get some exercise. It can help with nausea.
Wait to lie down after eating. Lying down soon after eating and lying on the left side are additional potentially aggravating factors,” Staunton says. She explains that this could slow down digestion and keep food in your stomach for longer.
Wear anti-nausea wristbands. Using acupressure bands like Sea-Bands can decrease the severity and frequency of nausea and vomiting. You can also try homeopathic remedies like acupressure, but be sure to seek a practitioner who has experience treating pregnant patients.
Change the timing of your prenatal vitamins. If your prenatal is making you feel sick, consider taking the vitamin at a different time. For example, if you normally take them in the morning, switch the timing up to the afternoon or evening. Also, don’t take your prenatal on an empty stomach.
Try alternative treatments. Although not scientifically proven, some people have reported relief from alternative therapies such as acupuncture, hypnosis, aromatherapy and others.

What can I take for nausea during pregnancy?

OTC treatments

Our experts say if those interventions fail to ease your nausea, it’s time to talk to your provider. There are OTC and prescription medications that may help. The following treatment options are safe for pregnancy nausea:

Vitamin B6: Your best bet for nausea, Staunton says, is vitamin B6 supplements: “Vitamin B6, 50–100 mg orally once daily, is nontoxic and may help some patients.” If your prenatal vitamin already contains vitamin B6, which is also known as pyridoxine, consult your healthcare provider before taking additional supplements. Too much vitamin B6 can cause nerve damage and numbness.
Emetrol: The over-the-counter syrup is considered safe to take during pregnancy. Take 1-2 tablespoons in the morning when you wake up, or if you are vomiting, take 1-2 tablespoons every 15 minutes until the vomiting stops. Do not exceed five doses in an hour.
Unisom: Dr. Berens says that Unisom (doxylamine 25mg) is another drug that is safe and sometimes effective in treating nausea and vomiting during pregnancy.
Diclegis: The FDA has approved a prescription medication for use during pregnancy that is a combination of Vitamin B6 and doxylamine called Diclegis. This is the only FDA approved medication for treating nausea and vomiting during pregnancy.

“The same effect is possible, and much cheaper, by buying [Vitamin B6 and doxylamine] over the counter,” says Dr. Berens. “Many physicians recommend trying Vitamin B6 alone first, then adding doxylamine, which is also a sleep aid, if Vitamin B6 alone is not effective. The sedating side effects of doxylamine may not be desired by a woman in her first trimester who is already exhausted!” One way to potentially avoid the unwanted sedating effects of doxylamine—but also to reap the anti-nausea benefits!—is taking it first at bedtime and waiting to see if it reduces daytime nausea.

Researchers are not totally sure why the Unisom/Vitamin B6 combination works to treat morning sickness. It might be because the drug combination blocks the neurotransmitters that send nausea signals in your brain. Or it could be that it simply disrupts your bodily processes that lead to vomiting.

You may be tempted to try CBD or cannabis to help with nausea during pregnancy, since these products are popping up everywhere and known to help with stomach issues. However, the FDA strongly recommends against using CBD or THC during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.

Prescription medications for nausea during pregnancy

Some women experience extreme nausea and vomiting during pregnancy that can’t be controlled with dietary changes or OTC medications; this is known as hyperemesis gravidarum. If this is the case for you, talk to your provider to first make sure no other medical conditions are involved and to explore other prescription medications that might help.

Although rare, occurring only in approximately 0.3-3% of pregnancies, hyperemesis gravidarum can cause such extreme nausea that it’s difficult to keep anything down, including fluids, resulting in weight loss and extreme dehydration. It can also make it hard to get enough nutrients for a growing baby. Per Dr. Berens, “Dehydration associated with hyperemesis gravidarum … can be serious and requires urgent treatment.” Seek medical treatment if you are experiencing severe nausea or vomiting.

There are many prescription medication options available to treat severe cases of extreme nausea and vomiting, but unfortunately clinical trials often exclude pregnant women, which makes it difficult to fully understand if potential harm exists when used during pregnancy. Working with your healthcare provider, it is important to weigh the potential risks of leaving your nausea and vomiting untreated with the benefits of trialing these medications on a case-by-case basis.

If you are experiencing nausea with your pregnancy or wondering what’s the strongest medicine that you can take safely during your pregnancy, consult with your healthcare provider. Possible prescription medications for severe morning sickness and pregnancy nausea include the following:

It’s important to speak with your primary care provider or your OB-GYN, before taking any of the above medication.