Morning sickness remedies: what helps, vitamin B6, and when it's hyperemesis

The morning sickness remedies with the best backing are simple: small meals every two hours, cold food that smells less, sips of fluid between meals, and ginger. HealthHub says most nausea in pregnancy needs no medicine, but when it gets in the way of daily life a doctor can prescribe safe options. The first is usually vitamin B6 or a doxylamine and B6 tablet. It affects three in four pregnant women, usually eases by week 12 to 16, and carries on past 20 weeks for about one in ten. If you can't keep any food or fluids down, are losing weight or see blood in your vomit, that may be hyperemesis gravidarum, and you need a doctor the same day; KKH's Urgent O&G Centre is open 24 hours for women under 22 weeks.

When morning sickness starts and when it stops

KKH says nausea and vomiting usually start around six weeks into pregnancy and settle by about 14 to 16 weeks. HealthHub puts it within the first 12 weeks for most women. Despite the name, it can come at any time of day, and for some women it lasts all day.

Nausea past the first trimester

KKH's obstetricians say nine in ten women find it gone by the third month, but about one in ten still feel sick after 20 weeks, and it tends to come back in later pregnancies. HealthHub adds that a few women have symptoms throughout pregnancy. If you're still being sick in the second trimester, it's worth telling your doctor, both to rule out other causes and because there are medicines that can help.

Mild morning sickness doesn't harm your baby. HealthHub says your baby is only at risk if you become very ill with dehydration that goes untreated. Our due date calculator shows how far you are from the 14 to 16 week mark.

Home remedies that help

These come from HealthHub's and KKH's advice. Most mums mix several.

• Eat small meals often, about every 2 hours, so your stomach is never empty or overfull. An empty stomach makes nausea worse.
• Keep dry biscuits or crackers by the bed and eat a couple before you sit up in the morning.
• Choose cold or cooled food over hot dishes. Cold food smells less, and smells set off nausea.
• Sip fluids between meals rather than with them. If even water comes back up, suck ice cubes or crushed ice.
• Try ginger. KKH suggests ginger tablets, dry ginger ale, peppermint tea, or ginger tea made with three or four slices of fresh ginger steeped in hot water for five minutes.
• If you have extra saliva, spit it out instead of swallowing; HealthHub notes the bitter taste can make you sick. Our guide to metallic taste and other mouth changes in pregnancy covers extra saliva and dry mouth too.
• Rest when you can. Tiredness makes nausea worse.
• Avoid your triggers: frying smells, perfume, a stuffy room. An open window or a fan helps.

Some mums find acupressure wristbands from the pharmacy help. The NHS says there's some evidence that pressure on the inner wrist may ease symptoms, and the bands are cheap and drug-free. For plain foods that sit well, see our guide to eating well in pregnancy.

Vitamin B6 and medicines for morning sickness

HealthHub's medication leaflet, written with the Pharmaceutical Society of Singapore, lists the medicines shown to be safe for nausea and vomiting in pregnancy. It doesn't give doses, and neither do we: your doctor or pharmacist sets the dose for you.

HealthHub says to take these only when you need them, not if you have no symptoms, and to tell your doctor about any supplements, traditional medicines or herbal remedies you're already taking. Online articles quote B6 doses from 10 mg to 100 mg a day; none of them comes from a Singapore health authority, so ask your pharmacist rather than guessing.

When it's hyperemesis gravidarum

Hyperemesis gravidarum is a severe form of pregnancy sickness, not just a bad version of the usual kind. KKH's obstetricians describe it as excessive vomiting and nausea before 20 weeks. HealthHub's line is this: if you have severe vomiting, can't keep any food down and lose more than 10% of your pre-pregnancy weight, see your doctor immediately. For a 60 kg woman, that's 6 kg.

Left untreated, it can lead to dehydration, low potassium and, KKH warns, rare complications such as Wernicke's disease from a lack of vitamin B1 and bleeding from a tear in the food pipe. A large weight loss also raises the chance of a smaller baby. Treatment works: KKH may prescribe tablets for milder cases and admit you for a drip and medicine if it's severe.

See a doctor the same day if:

• You can't keep down any meals or fluids at all
• You feel exhausted and are losing weight
• You see blood in your vomit
• You have signs of dehydration: feeling very dry or thirsty, drowsy or unwell, or urine turning from light yellow to dark yellow or brown
• You feel weak, dizzy or faint when you stand up, or haven't passed urine for 8 hours (NHS)
• You have severe tummy pain or a fever

While you wait to be seen, KKH suggests small sips of water, about 30 ml an hour, or small amounts of fluids with electrolytes between meals.

Where to go in Singapore

Your own gynae or a GP or polyclinic can treat moderate sickness. If you can't keep fluids down, it's after hours, or you feel very unwell, go to hospital. KKH's Urgent O&G Centre, at Basement 1 of the Women's Tower, is a 24-hour walk-in centre for problems in early pregnancy (under 22 weeks) and lists vomiting in pregnancy among the conditions it sees; since 4 May 2026 you can also book a same-day appointment. From 22 weeks, KKH asks you to go to its Delivery Suite on Level 2 instead. Otherwise, go to your nearest emergency department. If you're still choosing a doctor, our guide on how to choose a gynae in Singapore helps.

Looking after yourself through the queasy weeks

Weeks of nausea wear you down, especially when you're working and haven't told anyone yet. Eat what you can keep down for now, lower the bar on cooking and chores, and let your partner or family take over meals. Gentle movement, such as a short walk after eating, helps some women; our notes on safe exercise during pregnancy cover what's sensible early on. If the worry is getting to you as well, read our mental wellness page, and talk to your doctor.

Morning sickness is one of several early-pregnancy changes; our rundown of common pregnancy discomforts by trimester helps you tell what's normal. For more on this stage, browse the Pregnancy and Prenatal hub.

Frequently asked questions

What are the best morning sickness remedies?

Small meals every two hours, dry crackers before getting up, cold food, sips of fluid between meals and ginger. If these aren't enough, ask your doctor about vitamin B6 or a doxylamine and B6 tablet, which HealthHub lists as safe.

How much vitamin B6 should I take for morning sickness?

Ask your doctor or pharmacist. HealthHub lists B6 as safe in pregnancy but gives no dose, and the doses quoted online vary widely. Tell them about any other supplements you already take.

Is it normal to have morning sickness after the first trimester?

For some women, yes. KKH says about one in ten still feel sick after 20 weeks, and HealthHub says a few have symptoms throughout pregnancy. Tell your doctor if it carries on, as medicine can help.

When should I go to the hospital for morning sickness?

If you can't keep any food or fluids down, you're losing weight, you see blood in your vomit, or you have signs of dehydration such as dark yellow or brown urine. Under 22 weeks, KKH's Urgent O&G Centre is open 24 hours.

Does morning sickness harm my baby?

Not when it's mild. HealthHub says the baby is only at risk if you become very ill with dehydration that isn't treated. Severe, prolonged weight loss can mean a smaller baby, which is why hyperemesis needs treatment.

Does having no morning sickness mean something is wrong?

No. Plenty of women have little or no nausea and go on to have healthy pregnancies. If something else feels off, check with your gynae.