Morning Sickness: What Helps and When to Worry

Morning sickness affects up to 80% of pregnant individuals, typically starting around week 6 and improving by weeks 12 to 14. Despite its name, it can occur at any time of day. Strategies that may help include eating small, frequent meals (an empty stomach can worsen nausea), keeping bland snacks by the bed (crackers, dry toast), ginger (ginger tea, ginger capsules - some evidence supports its anti-nausea properties), vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) supplements (recommended as first-line by SOGC), staying hydrated (sipping fluids throughout the day), and avoiding strong smells and greasy or spicy foods. If dietary strategies are insufficient, speak to your physician. Diclectin (doxylamine-pyridoxine) is approved in Canada specifically for nausea and vomiting of pregnancy and is considered safe for the baby. When to seek medical attention: if you cannot keep any food or liquids down for 24 hours, you are losing weight, you have signs of dehydration (dark urine, dizziness, rapid heartbeat), or vomiting is severe and persistent. Hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) is a serious form of pregnancy nausea affecting 1 to 3% of pregnancies, requiring medical intervention including IV fluids and medication. *This article is for informational purposes only.*

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Content reviewed by licensed Canadian physicians. Last updated February 2026.