I'm pregnant. Why am I vomiting bitter yellow liquid?

The bitter yellow liquid you’re vomiting is your stomach juices. You’ll most often see it first thing in the morning, before you’ve eaten, or if you’ve been vomiting repeatedly.

This liquid in your stomach contains enzymes and other things to help digest your food. But when you vomit and have no food in your stomach, you can bring up some of it. It makes your vomit a yellow or greenish-yellow colour. It may also be clear, if you’ve just drunk water, or frothy or phlegmy.

During pregnancy, vomiting can be a normal symptom of morning sickness or reflux. Nausea is often worst in your first trimester and mostly eases by 20 weeks, though for some women it never really goes until their babies are born.

If you vomit stomach liquids when you first get up in the morning, it may help to try to eat something plain and light before you get out of bed. Try some plain biscuits or crackers, plain almonds or cashews, or even a little apple or banana, if you don't mind the smell. You could also snack during the night if you wake up.

It’s important you don't get dehydrated, so keep drinking lots of water. Drinking small amounts often may be better than drinking a large amount in one go. Have some water by your bed that you can sip during the night if you wake.

If plain water is hard to tolerate, try soda or mineral water, ginger tea or dry ginger ale. Add a slice of lemon or some mint leaves for a little flavour.

You may be left with a bitter or metallic taste in your mouth after vomiting stomach juices. But try not to brush your teeth straight away. Stomach juices temporarily soften the enamel on your teeth, so brushing soon after vomiting can damage your enamel.

Instead, try drinking a glass of water, or rinsing your mouth with water and spitting it out. A little lemon in your water or sucking on an ice cube may help.

Excessive vomiting during pregnancy is called hyperemesis gravidarum (HG). If you’re vomiting many times a day, finding it hard to eat or drink without being sick, and losing weight, you may have HG.

See your doctor or midwife straight away if you:

• have very dark wee, or no wee for more than eight hours
• have any pain or a fever
• are very weak or feeling faint
• see blood in your vomit
• vomit several times a day
• can’t keep food or water down for 24 hours or more
• have a severe headache, problems with your vision, strong pain below your ribs, or sudden swelling of your face, hands or feet

And talk to your doctor or midwife if you continue to lose weight over time.

There are over-the-counter and prescription medicines that can help ease your vomiting. Always talk to your doctor or midwife, though, before taking any medication, or herbal or natural remedies.

If you're vomiting a liquid that's more olive-green or brownish-green than yellow, this may be bile. You should seek medical advice straight away if you think you're vomiting bile.

Read more about nausea and vomiting in pregnancy.