What to Expect From Morning Sickness Week by Week: Symptoms, Timeline, and Relief 2025

May 28th, 2025 | Motion Sickness, Pregnancy

Morning sickness is a rite of passage for many expecting parents. For some, it’s a mild annoyance. For others, it changes routines and daily life. Each person’s experience is different. What stays the same is the unpredictability: symptoms can fade, come back, or morph as the weeks go on. Understanding what to expect from morning sickness, week by week, can offer comfort and help you plan. Knowing when it may start, how it might change, and when it tends to ease is crucial for self-care and peace of mind.

Morning Sickness: Overview and Onset

Morning sickness describes the nausea—and sometimes vomiting—that often comes with early pregnancy. The name doesn’t tell the whole story. It might strike at sunrise, sunset, or any time in between. It often appears around week six, but this can vary. Some feel it as early as week four, while others notice only mild hints before week seven.

The mix of hormones in your body jump-starts the queasiness. While some old advice claims it only hits in the morning, many can attest that nausea and food aversions can disrupt afternoons and evenings just as much.

If you want a more in-depth look at when symptoms often first appear, visit this helpful page on When Morning Sickness Starts.

Week-by-Week Breakdown: How Morning Sickness Progresses

Symptoms of morning sickness ebb and flow. They may start out faint, then gain strength, then lighten up as the second trimester arrives. Below is a closer look at what to expect from morning sickness, week by week.

To get a deeper understanding of why morning sickness isn’t the same each day, read more about Fluctuating Morning Sickness.

Weeks 4–6: Early Signs and First Symptoms

In these first few weeks, your body is still getting the message that you’re pregnant. Some notice a mild queasy feeling, a little like the early warning signs of a stomach bug. Sensitivity to smells and food aversions might begin. A few might start feeling sick soon after waking up or when the stomach is empty.

Common symptoms include:

• Subtle waves of nausea
• Avoidance of favorite foods
• Odd cravings
• Tiredness that feels heavier than usual

It’s normal if you don’t feel much yet. Early symptoms sometimes blend with the general strangeness of pregnancy’s early days.

Weeks 7–9: Increasing Intensity and Peak Nausea

Now the hormones are in full swing. For many, this is when morning sickness truly makes an entrance. The queasiness can stick around all day. Vomiting may become more common. Simple smells or foods can trigger sudden nausea. Grocery shopping, cooking, or even walking into certain rooms might feel like a marathon.

Signs that nausea has peaked:

• Strong, persistent queasiness
• Actual vomiting (sometimes several times a day)
• Smells and routines that once felt normal might now feel overwhelming

During this stage, you may run into the “worst of it.” For more detailed info about the peak, check out the Peak of Pregnancy Nausea guide.

Tips for this phase:

• Eat small, frequent meals
• Keep dry crackers or snacks nearby
• Sip water or ginger tea throughout the day
• Get fresh air when possible
• Try to rest

Weeks 10–14: Symptom Fluctuations and Relief

For many, the intensity of morning sickness begins to fade during this window. Some notice day-to-day ups and downs. One day you might eat a normal breakfast, the next morning, toast is too much to handle. Fatigue often remains, but nausea slowly lets go.

A lucky group finds that nausea vanishes entirely by week 14. Others may hover with mild queasiness a bit longer. It’s common to feel “almost normal” again but with occasional setbacks.

This is when hope returns:

• Appetite starts coming back
• Energy may pick up
• Food aversions calm down
• Good days outnumber the tough ones

To see more about how symptoms may subside and for extra tips, see Managing Morning Sickness Tips.

Conclusion

Morning sickness is unpredictable. What to expect from morning sickness, week by week, is often a story of twists and turns. It usually starts around week six, peaks by week nine, and gently fades as the second trimester begins. Some days you may want to hide under the covers, others you’ll feel a spark of energy and hunger again.

Every pregnancy is unique. Listen to your body and reach out to a healthcare provider if your symptoms are severe—especially if you can’t keep fluids down or start losing weight. Support, rest, and a little extra kindness go a long way.

Remember, your experience is your own. Knowing what’s common and when to seek help ensures you don’t face this phase alone. If you ever wonder if what you’re feeling is normal, or just need reassurance, there are many resources and helpful guides to explore.