Pregnancy

A small number of women have morning sickness that lasts into the second and even third trimester of pregnancy. So while uncommon, it is normal for some expecting moms.

Still, you should definitely talk to your healthcare provider if you're past the first trimester and still suffering from nausea or vomiting. As well as making you miserable, lasting morning sickness can prevent you from gaining enough weight and can lead to dehydration, says ob-gyn Laurie Gregg of Sacramento, California.

Severe and prolonged vomiting during pregnancy is risky for your baby — it's been linked to a greater risk of having a baby who is born too soon or too small because of malnourishment. However, a recent study of women who were hospitalized with severe vomiting found that those who were able to gain at least 15.4 pounds during their pregnancy had no worse outcome than other women.

For most expecting moms, morning sickness starts in weeks 4 to 6 and fades around week 14. A whopping 75 percent of moms-to-be in their first trimester experience this dreaded pregnancy symptom, says George Macones, head of the department of obstetrics and gynecology at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. And though the queasiness is worst in the morning for some women, morning sickness can strike at any time and last all day long.

Though it's uncertain exactly what causes morning sickness, some point to rapidly rising hormone levels in early pregnancy.

To get relief from mild to moderate morning sickness, try snacking frequently on bland foods, eating ginger, wearing acupressure bands, and other remedies. If these don't help control your vomiting and nausea, your healthcare provider may recommend a safe and effective medication.

Some moms-to-be feel pangs of nausea later in pregnancy, as their growing babies begin to press on their stomachs. This is also normal, says Macones.

However, a sudden case of daily nausea or vomiting or uncontrolled vomiting in the second or third trimester isn't normal, and can indicate an illness like flu, food poisoning, or a rare health problem. Be sure to talk to your healthcare provider if this happens, or any time you've been vomiting off and on for more than 24 hours, because this puts you at risk for dehydration.