Nausea and vomiting in pregnancy

Nausea and vomiting are common in early pregnancy and can occur at any time of day. Inability to drink, dehydration, weight loss or unusual pain and fever may indicate hyperemesis or another condition and need same-day assessment. Timely anti-sickness medicine is usually safer than severe untreated symptoms.

• Nausea with or without vomiting, aversion to foods and smells, excess saliva and difficulty eating normal meals.
• Inability to drink enough, dark or little urine, dry mouth, dizziness, a fast heartbeat and weakness suggest dehydration.
• Take small, frequent sips of whatever you tolerate and try cold or clear drinks, ORS or ice cubes; do not wait until you are completely dehydrated to seek help.
• Eat small portions of carbohydrate- or protein-rich food and avoid your own smell triggers; keeping something down temporarily matters more than a perfect diet.
• Call your midwife or doctor the same day if you repeatedly cannot keep anything down, pass little or dark urine, feel dizzy or lose weight.
• For urgent GP care outside office hours, call HAP 9252. Call Ambulance 912 only for an immediate threat to life.