Is It Morning Sickness or Hyperemesis Gravidarum? 8 Signs to Watch For

Frequent vomiting

Normal morning sickness in pregnancy can cause occasional vomiting, but if you’re tossing your cookies three times a day or more, this may be a sign that it’s not merely morning sickness but actually Hyperemesis Gravidarum. Mild cases can often be treated with dietary changes, rest, and antacids, but more severe cases could merit a trip to the hospital. The main sign is extreme nausea and excessive vomiting, which can cause tears to the esophagus if left unchecked. For treatment, you might need medication such as Diclegis, a time-released pill that’s a combination of an antihistamine and vitamin B6. “This drug has the safest rating of all drugs in pregnancy. It’s taken as two tablets at bedtime because the Doxylamine causes sleepiness; some women find themselves too sleepy so cutting the dose in half helps with this,” says Yvonne Bonn, MD, OBGYN at Providence St. John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, California.