Frequently asked questions
If you cannot find an answer to your own question in this section, use this form to send a question to Dr. Gargaun.
- When do nausea and/or vomiting (NVP or morning sickness) generally occur?
- Should I advise my health care professional if I only have nausea without vomiting?
- How common is NVP?
- How long should my NVP last?
- Will NVP affect my baby?
- Is there a safe medication available to treat NVP?
- Is there a method of preventing NVP?
- I'm in my 13th week of pregnancy; why do I still feel nauseated?
- Does NVP vary in severity depending on the sex of the baby (boy or girl)?
- Why do pregnant women experience NVP?
- If I had NVP in a previous pregnancy, what are the chances that I will have it in my next pregnancy as well?
- I suffered devastating sickness and nausea throughout my previous pregnancy. I was even hospitalized. I would love to have another child but cannot face the thought of being so ill again. Can you offer me advice on what my obstetrician could prescribe me, something we are not aware of yet?
- If both my sister and mother had NVP, what are the chances that I will have NVP also?
- Is it serious if I vomit so often that I can't keep any food or liquids down?
- My prenatal vitamin tablet is large and difficult to swallow. Also, it seems to be causing me to feel nauseous, what should I do?
- How ill should I be before taking a medication for NVP?
- Why do I feel nauseated throughout the entire day?
- Could it be a good thing to have NVP?
- Are symptoms such as headache and dizziness commonly associated with NVP?
- If Diclectin® isn't relieving my NVP, what should I do?
- Is it possible for NVP to persist throughout my entire pregnancy?
- Is it possible that NVP will have a large impact on the quality of my life?
1- When do nausea and/or vomiting (NVP or morning sickness) generally occur?
In the majority of women NVP develops between the 4th and 8th week of pregnancy (or 4-8 weeks from your last menstrual period). However, it can start as early as the day after conception or as late as the 19th week of pregnancy.
2- Should I advise my health care professional if I only have nausea without vomiting?
Yes, your health care professional should know how you are feeling. Studies have actually shown that nausea itself is the most distressing symptom of morning sickness. It is recommended that you speak to your health care professional any time your symptoms are affecting your wellbeing or activities of daily living.
3- How common is NVP?
NVP is very common; fifty to eighty per cent (50 - 80%) of pregnant women suffer from this medical condition.
4- How long should my NVP last?
For most women NVP starts between the 4th and 8th week of pregnancy and ends between the 12th and 16th week. However, NVP can last longer, for some, up to the very end of the pregnancy. A recent study showed that about 10% of pregnant women suffering from NVP will still have symptoms after 22 weeks of pregnancy.
5- Will NVP affect my baby?
Your baby's health may be affected if you lose too much weight and your health is compromised. If you don't drink sufficient fluids or are vomiting frequently, you may be hospitalized for excessive dehydration. Also, NVP may affect your appetite making it very difficult to maintain a balanced diet. Therefore, it is important that you speak with your health care professional about your NVP.
6- Is there a safe medication available to treat NVP?
Yes, there is a treatment containing vitamin B6 and an antihistamine (doxylamine), called Diclectin®. Currently it is available only in Canada. It has been extensively studied for over 30 years and taken by more than 33 million women. Every study has shown that Diclectin is safe for the baby, no matter how early and for how long you take it during pregnancy. It has been specifically formulated for NVP.
7- Is there a method of preventing NVP?
Unfortunately, NVP is neither predictable nor preventable. However, it is reported that women taking multivitamins may have less severe symptoms of NVP. If you are planning a pregnancy, your health care professional may initiate a treatment of prenatal vitamins. Also, if you develop NVP while pregnant you may prevent the condition from worsening with immediate medical treatment.
8- I'm in my 13th week of pregnancy; why do I still feel nauseated?
It is a common belief that nausea stops by the end of the first trimester. Studies have shown that some women have NVP throughout their pregnancy. If you have nausea, speak with your health care professional as soon as possible. There are safe and effective treatments available.
9- Does NVP vary in severity depending on the sex of the baby (boy or girl)?
Some studies linked the presence of NVP with having a baby girl. However the results were not conclusive. Each woman and each pregnancy is unique in terms of NVP irrespective of the sex of the baby.
10- Why do pregnant women experience NVP?
NVP has been reported in the literature for centuries and we still actually don't know its specific causes. There exist numerous theories on the subject, however, NVP is generally thought to be caused by many factors; higher levels of hormones, physical changes to the bodies of pregnant women or greater sensitivity to odours. If you have NVP, speak with your health care professional for treatment recommendations.
11- If I had NVP in a previous pregnancy, what are the chances that I will have it in my next pregnancy as well?
NVP is not predictable, however, studies published in the medical literature suggest that about half to two thirds of women that had NVP in a previous pregnancy will have similar symptoms in subsequent pregnancies.
12- I suffered devastating sickness and nausea throughout my previous pregnancy. I was even hospitalized. I would love to have another child but cannot face the thought of being so ill again. Can you offer me advice on what my obstetrician could prescribe me, something we are not aware of yet?
A study* reported that women who have experienced severe nausea and vomiting of pregnancy (NVP) or Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG) in a previous pregnancy might benefit from taking a medication with an anti-vomiting and anti-nauseant action before or immediately at the start of symptoms in a subsequent pregnancy. The fact that preventive symptom management with such drugs appears to be helpful in preventing severe NVP is encouraging for women like you, who have experienced severe NVP in previous pregnancies. Based on the severity of NVP in your previous pregnancy, treatment should be started as soon as you become aware of your new pregnancy, and no later than the beginning of NVP symptoms. Early treatment may prevent the condition from getting worse. I would recommend that you consult your health professionnal and discuss all available treatment options.
*Koren G, Maltepe C. Pre-emptive therapy for severe nausea and vomiting of pregnancy and hyperemesis gravidarum. J Obstet Gynaecol. August 2004;24(5):530-533.
13- If both my sister and mother had NVP, what are the chances that I will have NVP also?
Unfortunately, we do not know the answer to this question. In some families all pregnant women have NVP, but in others it's specific to the individual. Each woman and each pregnancy is unique. If you have NVP, speak with your health care professional for treatment recommendations.
14- Is it serious if I vomit so often that I can't keep any food or liquids down?
When you are vomiting frequently, it is difficult for you to eat properly and to maintain a balanced diet. It is recommended to speak to your health care professional for proper follow-up and treatment.
15- My prenatal vitamin tablet is large and difficult to swallow. Also, it seems to be causing me to feel nauseous, what should I do?
Speak with your health care professional about your situation for suggestions on alternative treatments. PregVit is a new generation prenatal multivitamin specifically formulated to solve this problem. To learn more about PregVit,
click here.
16- How ill should I be before taking a medication for NVP?
Each woman's tolerance to discomfort is highly variable; however when the symptoms of NVP affects your wellbeing or the activities of daily living, you should speak with your health care professional for treatment recommendations.
17- Why do I feel nauseated throughout the entire day?
It is common belief that the majority of pregnant women have nausea in the morning only. Less than 20% of pregnant women actually has nausea only in the morning ("morning sickness"). The majority of pregnant women (80%) have NVP throughout the day "all-day sickness". Speak with your health care professional for treatment recommendations. If your wellbeing or activities of daily living are affected by your NVP, speak with your health care professional for treatment recommendations.
18- Could it be a good thing to have NVP?
Some studies have associated NVP with a lower risk of miscarriages, however, not all women experience nausea and vomiting during pregnancy. Fifty to eighty per cent (50-80%) of pregnant women suffer from NVP. Conversely, twenty to fifty per cent (20-50%) are not subject to this problem. Symptoms of nausea and vomiting should not be considered a confirmation of pregnancy, as the absence of these symptoms should not be viewed as a poor sign of pregnancy outcome.
19- Are symptoms such as headache and dizziness commonly associated with NVP?
No, symptoms commonly associated with NVP include heartburn, dyspepsia (gastric distress), indigestion, mood changes, and dehydration. It is important that you discuss your symptoms with your health care professional.
20- If Diclectin® isn't relieving my NVP, what should I do?
Each individual is very unique when it comes to the timing and severity of NVP. If the initial treatment regimen is not relieving most of your symptoms, speak with your health care professional for the adjustment of your treatment to your specific needs. Diclectin tablets are of a "delayed release" nature which means that it will only begin relieving your symptoms of NVP a few hours after swallowing the tablets. The 2 tablets taken at bedtime will help manage the symptoms of NVP in the morning hours when you awake. A tablet taken in the morning will help control the NVP symptoms you may be experiencing in the afternoon and a tablet taken in the afternoon will help control your night time NVP symptoms.
21- Is it possible for NVP to persist throughout my entire pregnancy?
Yes, in some cases, pregnant women will have NVP until the end of their pregnancy. Therefore, therapy may be extended until time of delivery. It is important to discuss your symptoms with your health care professional.
22- Is it possible that NVP will have a large impact on the quality of my life?
Unfortunately, NVP can have a significant impact on pregnant women. If the symptoms of NVP are affecting your wellbeing and activities of daily living, speak with your health care professional for immediate treatment recommendations.
