Can vomiting during pregnancy affect your mood and mental health?

If you’re pregnant and throwing up multiple times a day, you’re not just dealing with physical discomfort-you might also be feeling drained, anxious, or even hopeless. It’s not just in your head. Severe nausea and vomiting during pregnancy, known as hyperemesis gravidarum, doesn’t just empty your stomach-it can empty your emotional reserves too.

How nausea connects to your mind

Your body and brain are wired together in ways you might not realize. When you’re vomiting constantly, your cortisol levels rise. Cortisol is your body’s main stress hormone. High cortisol over days or weeks doesn’t just make you feel tired-it can mess with your sleep, appetite, and even your ability to think clearly. A 2023 study from the University of Melbourne tracked 1,200 pregnant women with severe nausea and found that 68% reported increased anxiety, and 41% showed signs of depression by week 16-long before most people expect emotional changes in pregnancy.

It’s not about being "too sensitive." It’s biology. Your brain is reacting to constant physical distress. When your body is in survival mode, your prefrontal cortex-the part that handles rational thought and emotional regulation-gets suppressed. That’s why you might cry over small things, snap at your partner, or feel guilty for not being "happy" about the pregnancy. These aren’t character flaws. They’re physiological responses.

The cycle no one talks about

Here’s how it often plays out: you feel sick → you can’t eat → you feel weak → you can’t do daily tasks → you feel useless → you feel guilty → you feel more stressed → your nausea gets worse. It’s a loop, and it’s brutal.

Women who used to enjoy cooking now avoid the kitchen because the smell of food triggers vomiting. Those who loved going for walks now stay inside because the motion makes them sick. Social plans get canceled. Work becomes impossible. Friends don’t understand. Family says, "It’s just morning sickness-it’ll pass." But when it doesn’t pass, and you’re stuck in a cycle of sickness and shame, your mental health takes a hit.

One woman in Perth, 32, told me she cried every morning because she couldn’t hold her toddler. "I used to be the one who picked him up, played with him, read to him. Now I’m the one lying on the floor, shaking, wondering if I’m failing as a mom before I’ve even met my baby." That’s not an exaggeration. That’s real.

What’s different about hyperemesis gravidarum?

Not all nausea is the same. Mild nausea that fades after 12 weeks? That’s common. But if you’re vomiting more than 3-4 times a day, losing weight, urinating less than usual, or feeling dizzy when you stand up-you’re likely dealing with hyperemesis gravidarum (HG). It affects about 1-3% of pregnancies, but its impact is far from rare.

Women with HG are three times more likely to develop anxiety disorders during pregnancy and twice as likely to experience postpartum depression. A 2024 review in the Journal of Obstetric Medicine found that HG was the strongest predictor of prenatal depression among all pregnancy symptoms-even stronger than a history of depression before pregnancy.

The key difference? HG doesn’t go away with time. For some, it lasts until delivery. And while your body is fighting to keep nutrients in, your mind is fighting to stay sane.

Why mental health gets ignored

Doctors often focus on weight loss, electrolytes, and IV fluids. That’s important. But if your mental state isn’t checked, you’re left alone with the emotional fallout.

Many women don’t bring it up because they think: "I should be grateful I’m pregnant. Others have it worse." Or they fear being labeled "hysterical" or "overreacting." But mental health isn’t a luxury-it’s part of prenatal care. Just like you get blood tests and ultrasounds, you need emotional check-ins.

Ask your provider: "How is my mental health holding up with this nausea?" If they brush you off, find someone who won’t. A midwife, OB-GYN, or perinatal psychologist who understands HG is not a luxury. It’s necessary.

What helps-beyond anti-nausea meds

Medications like Diclegis or Zofran can help with vomiting, but they don’t fix the loneliness, guilt, or fear. Here’s what actually helps:

• Therapy tailored to pregnancy: CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) works well for pregnancy-related anxiety. A therapist can help you reframe thoughts like "I’m failing" into "My body is under extreme stress, and that’s not my fault."
• Support groups: Online communities like the Hyperemesis Education and Research Foundation have thousands of women sharing real experiences. Reading "me too" messages can be healing.
• Low-pressure routines: Don’t force yourself to be productive. Rest is treatment. Even 20 minutes of quiet with a heating pad or calming music counts.
• Partner education: Show your partner this article. Let them know your mood swings aren’t about them-they’re about your body being overwhelmed.

Some women find relief with acupuncture or ginger supplements (625 mg, 4x daily), but only under medical supervision. Don’t try unproven remedies-your body is already under strain.

When to get help-right now

If you’re feeling:

• Hopeless, worthless, or like you don’t want to keep going
• Overwhelmed by guilt or shame about your pregnancy
• Unable to care for yourself or others
• Having thoughts of harming yourself

-call a crisis line immediately. In Australia, you can reach Lifeline at 13 11 14 or PANDA (Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia) at 1300 726 306. These services are free, confidential, and staffed by people who’ve worked with pregnant women in crisis.

You are not weak for needing help. You are human.

You’re not alone, even when it feels that way

There’s a quiet epidemic happening in homes across Australia: women suffering silently from nausea that’s stealing their joy. They’re not broken. They’re not failing. They’re fighting a physiological storm that no one talks about enough.

Your mental health matters as much as your physical health during pregnancy. If vomiting is keeping you from sleeping, eating, or feeling like yourself-it’s not just a symptom. It’s a signal. Listen to it. Ask for help. Reach out. You deserve care-not just for your baby, but for yourself.

What to do next

Start small. Today, text one person: "I’ve been really sick and it’s affecting my mood. I need someone to talk to." That’s it. No grand gesture. Just one message.

If you’re a partner, friend, or family member-don’t say "it’ll pass." Say: "I see how hard this is. What do you need right now?" Presence matters more than solutions.

You’re not alone. You’re not weak. And you’re not failing. Your body is doing something extraordinary-and it’s okay if it’s breaking you down a little while it does.