Health & Wellbeing Pregnancy

Throwing Up White Foam While Pregnant (Causes & Remedies)

Pregnancy comes with some ups and downs, and if you’re reading this there’s a good chance you’ve recently been experiencing one of the lows in the form of throwing up white foam while pregnant.

Why is this happening and is it something you should worry about?

Throwing up white foam during pregnancy is typically caused by changing hormones which can cause heartburn, indigestion, and acid reflux, and all of these can cause you to vomit.

Although unpleasant, the good news is this pregnancy side-effect is typically not serious, and there are some simple things you can do to make things better.

Let’s find out more.

Why Am I Throwing Up White Foam While Pregnant?

The most common reason why you are throwing up white foam during your pregnancy is down to your changing hormones, and the resulting morning sickness this causes.

According to the American Pregnancy Association, more than 50% of women experience morning sickness at some point during their pregnancy, and around 3/4 of those who do experience morning sickness also experience vomiting.

Feeling nauseous, lightheaded and vomiting is more common in early pregnancy and during the first trimester, and for this reason these symptoms can also be early sign of pregnancy.

Although experts cannot be certain, it is believed that vomiting during pregnancy is most likely caused by the sudden increase of hormones in your body.

One of the keys side effects of changing hormone levels in a pregnant woman’s body is slowing down your digestion, which in turn could trigger heartburn, indigestion, and acid reflux, and all of these can cause vomiting and throwing up white foam during pregnancy.

If you are worried, then it’s worth speaking to your midwife, but throwing up foam during pregnancy is usually nothing to be concerned about, and is should go away as you progress towards the second half of your pregnancy.

However, something you should watch out for is severe vomiting, which we’ll come on to now.

Severe Vomiting In Pregnancy

As we saw above, sickness and throwing up during pregnancy is very common, and despite the name morning sickness, it can happen at any time of the day.

This is usually mild, but some pregnant women experience very bad nausea and vomiting, which is called hyperemesis gravidarum (HG).

If you are sick multiple times per day, and are unable to keep food or drink down, then you may have HG, in which case you might need hospital treatment.

Dehydration and weight loss are two of the most serious side effects of HG, so if you believe you are suffering from hyperemesis gravidarum, you should tell your midwife or doctor immediately because severe dehydration can be dangerous for you and your baby.

Are You More Likely To Throw Up White Foam In The Morning?

A common question among moms-to-be is whether you are more likely to vomit in the morning.

This is understandable, because nausea and vomiting are often referred to as “morning sickness”.

The truth is that despite the name, feeling sick while pregnant can happen at any time of the day, and at any point during your pregnancy.

So while throwing up white foam in the morning is common for many pregnant women, there are others who experience vomiting and being sick at other times of the day as well as in the evening or overnight.

Woman Lying on Bed

How To Stop Vomiting During Pregnancy

Fortunately there are some things you can do to help prevent throwing up white foam during pregnancy, and these tips should also help lessen the effects of nausea and morning sickness in general.

  • Eat smaller, more frequent meals and snacks so there is always some food in your stomach.
  • Don’t let yourself get too full, and this can cause indigestion.
  • Limit your caffeine intake.
  • Stop smoking and avoid alcohol (stick to alcohol free drinks and pregnancy mocktails instead)
  • Carry snacks with you so you always have something to eat on hand – high protein snacks are great for this purpose.
  • Avoid smells that could upset your stomach or trigger your nausea.
  • Avoid spicy and fatty foods.
  • Try eating ginger or drinking ginger tea, and certain foods you may be craving such as watermelon or citrus fruits (cravings can be a way of your body telling you a certain food might be beneficial).
  • Spend some time outdoors taking in some fresh air, or take a short walk.
  • Avoid lying down too soon after eating.
  • Drink plenty of fluids (8 to 12 cups per day is the recommended amount for pregnant women).

Related: The Complete Guide To A Happy & Healthy Pregnancy

Conclusion

  • While you may understandably be concerned, throwing up during pregnancy is perfectly common and normal.
  • Throwing up white foam during pregnancy is typically caused by changing hormones, which can lead to heartburn, indigestion, and acid reflux, and all of these can cause you to vomit.
  • Vomiting while expecting can happen at any time during your pregnancy, although it’s typically more common during early pregnancy.
  • Seek professional advice if you are excessively vomiting, and if you are dehydrated or have lost weight.
  • There are several things you can do to lessen the chances of throwing up during pregnancy, including eating smaller and more frequent meals, eating more healthily and drinking plenty of fluids.

Tori is mama to 3 year old Isabella and co-founder of Rockinbaby. She has a BSc in Psychology, is a certified yoga teacher and is a working mom. In her free time Tori loves cooking delicious foods and baked treats, entertaining and working out. Learn more about Tori here.

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