When Does Morning Sickness Start?

One of the early signs of pregnancy, before the baby kicks or your feet swell, is morning sickness. And many expecting moms experience this nausea or vomiting some time during pregnancy. In fact, morning sickness is the most frequently reported medical complaint of pregnancy.

When does morning sickness start and will it happen to you?

If you are early in your pregnancy, you may be wondering when the morning sickness starts.

Maybe never. But chances are good you will.

Nausea and vomiting are common symptoms in early pregnancy for many women. Depending on the study, 50 to 75% of pregnant women suffer from morning sickness.

Typically, morning sickness starts before the 6th week of pregnancy and peaks between 8 and 12 weeks.

If morning sickness begins after 9 weeks of gestation, be sure to mention it to your doctor to make sure there are no other causes of nausea or vomiting.

So, When Does It End?

If you have it, you want it to end right now. Hopefully, this is some relief to you. Morning sickness is often known as a first trimester condition--it often tapers off between 12 and 16 weeks. In fact, about 60% of women will be over their nausea by the 12th week and over than 90% are feeling better by the 16th week.

Why and how it ends is as unknown as why it starts, but there are methods that are thought to help end morning sickness sooner than later. And, even though it generally is a first trimester condition, a few unfortunate women will continue to have nausea throughout the pregnancy or find it returning in the final weeks of the pregnancy.

Although it's called "morning sickness", that feeling of nausea or vomiting can happen anytime during the day. A couple of studies found slight increases in nausea from 6 a.m. until 9 a.m., but most women who suffer may be sick at anytime during the day.

For most moms-to-be, morning sickness, while annoying, is mild. One to 3% of women of women will experience severe nausea and vomiting that requires monitoring. This is called hyperemesis gravidarum and you should ask your practitioner about it if you

• haven't been able to keep any food or drink down for 24 hours.
• have weight loss.
• have concentrated, dark-colored urine.

Odds are good just based on statistics. However, there are things in your life you can look at to see if you might be more likely.

• If you were sick during the first pregnancy.

• If you are carrying multiples.

• If you have a history of nausea or vomiting with birth control pills.

If you know that you are more likely to experience morning sickness, you can be prepared to deal with the possibility of nausea.