Not Everyone Gets Morning Sickness—Here's Why

Pregnant but no morning sickness? Find out why you might not have to deal with pregnancy-related nausea.

Medically reviewed by Kiarra King, M.D.

If you're in your first trimester of pregnancy but haven't had even a hint of queasiness or bout of vomiting, other pregnant people are likely green with both nausea and envy. But you might be worried. If you're not having any symptoms of morning sickness by 6 weeks, you might start wondering whether your baby is OK—or if the absence of morning sickness signals something is wrong.

Thankfully, there's no need to worry if you have no morning sickness at 6 weeks or even throughout the first trimester. While we tend to equate nausea and tummy troubles with early pregnancy, not everyone experiences those symptoms. In fact, nearly 30% of pregnant people have no morning sickness at all, says Michele Hakakha, MD, FACOG, an OB-GYN in Beverly Hills and author of Expecting 411. "And that's definitely something to be happy about," she notes.

Learn more about why not experiencing morning sickness during pregnancy isn't a cause for concern.

What Is Morning Sickness?

Morning sickness, which is also called nausea and vomiting of pregnancy, is the feeling of nausea that many pregnant people experience during the first half of pregnancy. This pregnancy symptom often begins around 6 weeks and typically peaks by the end of the first trimester before tapering off.

Most pregnant people have mild to moderate morning sickness symptoms, which may also include vomiting, while others have a more intense experience that may last into the second trimester or beyond. This severe type of morning sickness is called hyperemesis gravidarum. While any type of morning sickness is unpleasant, unless it causes dehydration or weight loss, it is not typically harmful to the pregnant person or fetus.

Despite its name, morning sickness can happen any time of day or night. However, some pregnant people are spared this pregnancy symptom entirely.

Related: When Does Morning Sickness Start?

What Causes Morning Sickness?

Researchers are not entirely sure why morning sickness happens or why some pregnant people get it while others don't. However, it's thought that pregnancy hormones—and how the pregnant person's body reacts to them, which is informed by genetics—are to blame.

While the pregnancy hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) has long been blamed for morning sickness, researchers from Cambridge University and the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California identified another potential culprit: GDF15, a hormone that plays a role in nausea and vomiting.

Other things that may play a role in morning sickness include adjustments in eating habits and changes to digestion associated with pregnancy. Additionally, the hormonal changes that come with pregnancy may heighten the sense of smell, which could lead to increased queasiness.

Why Do Some Pregnant People Have No Morning Sickness?

Who are those few who avoid weeks-long nausea during pregnancy? Frankly, it could be anyone. Some pregnant people experience morning sickness, and some don't. Some people even have it in one pregnancy and not the next, says Marra Francis, MD, an OB-GYN in Helotes, Texas, and a contributing author to the Mommy MD Guides. "Not everyone experiences morning sickness, just like not everyone gets motion sickness."

If you don't experience morning sickness, your body just might be better able to handle the rapid rise in levels of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), estrogen, and other hormones that come during the first trimester.

Hormone levels spike quickly during pregnancy—the levels of hCG alone typically double every 48 hours in the first weeks of pregnancy—and, just like a quick ride on a roller coaster, this rapid rise can make your stomach churn. Once you hit the second trimester, those hormone levels taper off to a more manageable level.

Related: 11 Pregnancy Symptoms You Shouldn't Ignore

Should I Worry About Not Having Morning Sickness?

Sometimes, a lack of morning sickness is due to hormone levels that are much lower than normal. In this case, a hormonal dip might indicate an increased risk of miscarriage. Some studies have linked not experiencing morning sickness with a greater chance of pregnancy loss in those who have had previous pregnancy loss. However, there's no reason to worry if you're not experiencing other signs of miscarriage or other pregnancy complications. Most people who have no morning sickness at 6 weeks pregnant or beyond go on to have healthy pregnancies.

"I've had [patients] who freaked out because they didn't get morning sickness because they thought they were at higher risk of having a miscarriage," says Dr. Francis. "But if you don't have morning sickness, it doesn't mean that you have abnormal hormone levels; it just means that you tolerate [pregnancy] better."

It's also possible that the nausea is just a bit delayed. Although most pregnant people who have morning sickness experience it between 6 and 14 weeks of pregnancy, every person and every pregnancy is different. You may find that you develop pregnancy-related nausea later. But if you make it to your second trimester with no nausea, however, it's more likely that you're just one of the lucky ones who simply won't experience morning sickness at all.

When to Call a Health Care Provider

Morning sickness is more common than not, but if you don't develop the symptoms, it does not necessarily mean you need to be concerned. It's not a definitive sign that something is wrong with your pregnancy. However, contact a health care provider if you notice any overt signs of miscarriage, which can include:

• Vaginal bleeding

• Pelvic pain or lower back pain (can be constant or might come and go)

• Pregnancy symptoms that suddenly disappear (this could include morning sickness, fatigue, and breast tenderness that rapidly gets better)

• Other possible symptoms that are less common include increased vaginal discharge, leaking amniotic fluid, or passage of tissue
  

Key Takeaways

While most pregnant people experience morning sickness sometime during their first trimester, many do not—and the vast majority of pregnant people who don't experience it go on to have healthy pregnancies. Ultimately, the absence of morning sickness is nothing to worry about. That said, contact a health care provider if you have any questions or worries about your pregnancy.

Additional reporting by Krissi Danielsson.

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