When to get medical advice - Morning sickness (nausea and vomiting)

Speak to your GP, obstetrician or midwife if either

• your morning sickness is severe, or
• you're unable to keep water down without vomiting

Urgent medical help

You may need treatment or have to go to hospital if you have any of the following symptoms:

• being sick and unable to keep any fluids down for 24 hours
• feeling dizzy or faint
• losing weight
• having very dark-coloured pee
• not peeing as much as usual, especially if it's been more than 8 hours since you last peed
• vomiting blood
• feeling pain when peeing, or seeing any blood in your pee

Severe morning sickness - how your health professional can help

Your GP, obstetrician or midwife may:

• give you advice on ways to help your symptoms
• give you a sickness certificate for work if they feel you need rest
• prescribe some medication
• ask you to go to the maternity hospital or emergency department

Questions they might ask you

You may be asked questions to find out if:

• you're keeping fluids down, such as water
• you're keeping food down
• your pee is very dark in colour
• you have other symptoms such as pain in your tummy or pain when passing peeing
• you have lost any weight
• this has happened before in previous pregnancies
• you have tried anything to help with your morning sickness

Tests for severe morning sickness

You might be offered the following examinations:

• pulse and blood pressure tests
• pressing gently on your tummy
• testing your pee for signs of infection
• testing your pee for a substance called ketones - ketones in your urine may be a sign you are becoming dehydrated

Medication for severe morning sickness

Your GP or midwife may prescribe an anti-emetic.

An anti-emetic is anti-sickness medication.

You'll be given one that's safe to take during pregnancy, if your morning sickness is severe.

It's usually prescribed as a tablet that you'll need to swallow. Always read the label to make sure you take the correct amount of medication at the correct times.