Morning sickness: what it is, when it starts and when to see a doctor
In this article
Morning sickness is the nausea and vomiting many women get in early pregnancy, and despite the name it can hit at any hour. HealthHub says it affects 3 out of 4 pregnant women. KKH says it usually starts around six weeks into pregnancy and settles by about 14 to 16 weeks. The NHS says it does not put your baby at extra risk.
| How common | 3 in 4 pregnant women, HealthHub says |
|---|---|
| Starts | Around 6 weeks, KKH says |
| Settles | By 14 to 16 weeks for most; the NHS says 16 to 20 |
| Severe form | Hyperemesis gravidarum |
| See a doctor | If you cannot keep food or fluids down |
When morning sickness starts and ends
For most women it begins in the first half of the first trimester. A KKH obstetrician quoted on HealthXchange says symptoms start between the sixth and ninth weeks and disappear by the third month in nine out of 10 women. About one in 10 still feel sick after 20 weeks.
Sources draw the finish line a little differently. KKH says 14 to 16 weeks, the NHS says it usually clears up by weeks 16 to 20, and HealthHub says a few women have symptoms all the way through. If you are past 16 weeks and still struggling, you are not unusual, but mention it at your next antenatal check.
What helps with the nausea
KKH suggests smaller, more frequent meals, cutting back on fatty, spicy and fried food, and trying ginger: ginger tablets, dry ginger ale, peppermint tea, or a few slices of fresh ginger steeped in hot water. Small, frequent sips are easier than a big drink at once. Water, fruit juice, clear soups and frozen fruit all count.
The NHS adds a few more: dry toast or a plain biscuit before you get up, cold food if the smell of hot meals sets you off, and plenty of rest, since tiredness makes nausea worse. It says to check with a pharmacist before taking ginger supplements. Our guide to morning sickness remedies goes through what works with local food.
Medicine and hospital care
Mild sickness does not need treatment. When it gets in the way of eating, KKH says a doctor can prescribe oral medicine, and severe cases may be admitted for a drip and medication. HealthHub says there are anti-vomiting medicines that are safe for your baby, and asks you to check with your doctor before taking any medicine. In hospital, HealthHub says, a drip treats dehydration and prevents problems such as low potassium and kidney failure.
Signs you need a doctor today
KKH says to see a doctor if you cannot keep any meals or fluids down, you feel exhausted and are losing weight, or there is blood in your vomit. HealthHub says to see your doctor immediately if you lose more than 10% of your weight from before pregnancy. The NHS adds very dark urine, not passing urine for more than 8 hours, feeling faint when you stand, tummy pain and a high temperature.
These can point to hyperemesis gravidarum, a severe form that HealthXchange describes as excessive nausea and vomiting before 20 weeks that may need intravenous fluids and a hospital stay. Your gynae, a GP or a polyclinic can see you for milder cases. At KKH, the Urgent O&G Centre in Basement 1 of the Women's Tower takes women under 22 weeks.
Frequently asked questions
When does morning sickness start?
Usually around six weeks of pregnancy, KKH says. A KKH obstetrician quoted on HealthXchange gives a range of the sixth to ninth week.
Can morning sickness harm my baby?
Mild sickness usually does not. HealthHub says your baby draws on your body's reserves, and the effort of retching does not harm the baby. The risk comes if you become very dehydrated and it is not treated.
Why is it called morning sickness if it lasts all day?
The name stuck, but the NHS says it can come at any time of the day or night, and some women feel sick all day long.
What is hyperemesis gravidarum?
A severe form of pregnancy sickness. The NHS says it can leave you dehydrated or short of nutrients and may need specialist treatment, sometimes in hospital.
Related terms
- Trimester: One of the three stages of pregnancy, each about three months long.
- Antenatal (also Prenatal): Antenatal means before birth. Antenatal care is the check-ups, scans and tests you get while you are pregnant.
- Polyclinic: A public primary care clinic with subsidised fees, where Singapore families can take children for jabs and checks.
- EDD (Estimated Due Date): The date your baby is expected: 40 weeks from the first day of your last period, checked by a dating scan.
- KKH - Coping with common symptoms in pregnancy (read 9 November 2026)
- HealthHub (Health Promotion Board) - Morning sickness: should you be worried? (read 9 November 2026)
- NHS - Vomiting and morning sickness (read 9 November 2026)
- HealthXchange (KKH Obstetrics and Gynaecology) - Hyperemesis gravidarum: extreme morning sickness (read 9 November 2026)
- KKH - About your pregnancy (read 9 November 2026)
