The short explanation
For most women, pregnancy sickness eases somewhere between the twelfth and twentieth week, but for some it lasts longer, and a small number feel sick for much of the pregnancy. Continuing nausea past the third month is not by itself a sign that something is wrong with you or the baby, especially if you can keep fluids and some food down and are not losing weight. It is still worth telling your doctor, because ongoing vomiting can wear you out, and there are treatments used in pregnancy that can help when simple measures are not enough. Your doctor may also check your urine and weight.
What depends on your situation
The parts of this that change from woman to woman. Uncertainty is stated, not hidden.
- Twins, a previous pregnancy with severe sickness, and migraine history are linked to longer-lasting sickness.
- Vomiting that starts again or gets worse later in pregnancy, or comes with belly pain, fever, headache or burning urine, may have a different cause and needs checking.
- Small frequent meals, sips of fluid between meals, and avoiding strong smells and oily food in the kitchen still help many women.
- Ask family to help with cooking if smells trigger the nausea.
What this answer cannot determine
The boundary of online education. These need a clinician who can see you.
- This cannot tell you why your sickness is lasting or whether you need treatment. Your doctor can assess that.
Questions for your clinician
Take these with you. You can add any of them to an appointment card.
- Is it usual for sickness to last this long in my pregnancy?
- Are there treatments you would suggest now?
- Should my urine or blood be checked for dehydration?
- Which symptoms should make me come back quickly?
When to seek help
Clinician-approved guidance for this topic. When in doubt, being seen is never the wrong choice.
Emergency — call 112 now
- Call 112 or go to the nearest emergency department if you vomit blood, have severe belly pain, or feel faint and confused.
Get help the same day
- Get care the same day if you cannot keep fluids down for a whole day or pass very little dark urine.
Book an appointment soon
- See your doctor within a few days if sickness is stopping you from eating or you are losing weight.
Raise it at a routine appointment
- Mention ongoing nausea at your routine antenatal visit.
Sources
The evidence this explanation is built on.
- Pregnancy MedlinePlus (NIH)
- Prenatal care MedlinePlus (NIH)
Who wrote and reviewed this
Every AskHer answer names its author. A clinically reviewed answer also names the clinician who signed it off — if no clinician is named below, it has not been clinically reviewed.
- Author
- AskHer Editorial (AI-assisted draft) AskHer's editorial team — not an individual clinician Works in English, தமிழ், हिन्दी
- Clinical reviewer
- Nobody yet No clinician has signed this answer off, and no person on the editorial team has read it yet. That is what the “Written with AI assistance” label means. It is queued for an editor to read, and then for a clinician who works in this area. The sources it was drafted against are listed above.
- Review status
- Written with AI assistance — not yet reviewed by a person
- Last reviewed
- Not yet reviewed by a person
- Version
- 1
Correction history
Substantive changes are listed, not quietly edited away.
No corrections have been made since this answer was first published.
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