When Does Nausea Start in Pregnancy? What to Expect and How to Manage Symptoms

Pregnancy is a time of excitement and big changes, but it can also come with challenges. Perhaps the most commonly talked-about is morning sickness.

If you’ve heard much on this subject before, then you might be wondering when does nausea start in pregnancy? and will I experience morning sickness? If so, you’re not alone. Let’s talk about what morning sickness is, when you might expect nausea to start in pregnancy, and some excellent options for managing it.

What Is Morning Sickness?

Despite the name, morning sickness isn’t just limited to mornings. The term refers to nausea and/or vomiting that many women experience at any time of day while pregnant.

For some, it’s mild and occasional, a queasy feeling that comes and goes. For others, it’s much more intense, leading to frequent vomiting and difficulty keeping food down. In severe cases, it can result in dehydration and weight loss, requiring medical intervention.

When Does Nausea Start in Pregnancy?

On average, nausea often starts around six weeks of pregnancy, though it can begin earlier or later. For some women, nausea begins as early as four weeks, perhaps right around the time they find out they’re pregnant! Other women never experience pregnancy-related nausea at all.

For those who do get morning sickness, the intensity and duration vary. While symptoms often ease by the second trimester, some continue to have nausea longer into pregnancy, especially in more severe cases.

What Causes Pregnancy Nausea?

Morning sickness has long been linked to rising levels of hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin), a hormone produced during pregnancy. The peak of nausea often coincides with the peak of hCG levels, which rise rapidly between six and ten weeks.

More recently, researchers have found another possible culprit: GDF15 (growth differentiation factor 15). How much nausea moms experience may hinge on how sensitive they are to GDF15, a hormone made by fetal tissue. Interestingly, women with conditions like Beta thalassemia — who have naturally high levels of GDF15 before pregnancy — often report less morning sickness, suggesting a connection that may be useful in developing new treatments for nausea in pregnancy down the road.

What Is Hyperemesis Gravidarum?

For some expectant mothers, morning sickness becomes much more than just an inconvenience. Hyperemesis gravidarum is an extreme form of nausea and vomiting in pregnancy that leads to dehydration and significant weight loss due to an inability to keep food or fluids down.

This uniquely unpleasant form of morning sickness requires medical interventions like IV fluids, medications, and close monitoring to manage symptoms and prevent complications.

How to Manage Nausea in Pregnancy

If your morning sickness is mild to moderate, plenty of solutions are available to help ease it.

Holistic Remedies

At Haven Birth and Wellness, we prefer to take the more holistic route when possible. Milder morning sickness often responds well to simple remedies like:

• Ginger in capsules, teas, or chews
• Vitamin B6
• Acupressure from a professional or with at-home tools like Sea-Bands
• Citrus squeezed into your water or in lozenges
• Peppermint aromatherapy
• Keeping blood sugar stable with high-protein snacks throughout the day, especially before bed
• Eating small, frequent meals since an empty stomach can make nausea worse (Pro tip: Keep crackers by your bedside for when you wake up!)

Medications

If natural remedies don’t provide the relief you need, your provider may recommend medications such as:

• Zofran (ondansetron)
• Reglan (metoclopramide)
• Phenergan (promethazine)
• A combination of Vitamin B6 and Unisom (doxylamine), either over the counter or as a prescription (Diclegis)

When to Get Help

If your nausea is severe and interfering with your ability to eat, drink, or function, don’t hesitate to reach out to your midwife or provider for support. Signs you should seek medical attention include:

• Not being able to keep fluids down for more than 12 hours
• Indications of dehydration, like dark urine, dizziness, and dry mouth or skin
• Weight loss due to nausea and vomiting

You don’t need to suffer in silence. IV hydration and prescription medications can make a significant difference in severe cases of pregnancy-related nausea.

When Does Nausea Start in Pregnancy: Final Thoughts

Though many ask when does nausea start in pregnancy?, the bigger question is usually when does it end?

Every pregnancy is unique, so we can’t say with certainty when or if you’ll experience morning sickness, or when it will end. We can say that it often begins around six weeks and eases by the second trimester. If your journey looks different, however, don’t worry. Simply reach out for support when you need it.

Remember, this too shall pass. You and your body are doing an incredible job, and in the end, you’ll have a precious new addition to your family and heart.