There are certain morning sickness symptoms that you shouldn’t ignore, even if you feel like it’s a normal part of being pregnant. Not taking action can jeopardize not only your health, but the health of your unborn baby. Seek medical attention if you experience any of these three symptoms during your pregnancy.

1. You’re unable to keep any food or drink down for 24 hours. The lack of food is not nearly as dangerous as the risk of dehydration. Dehydration can lead to a number of different problems, including feeling faint, nausea, heart irregularities, and muscle cramps. Since the uterus is a muscle, dehydration will often times cause an increase in contractions.
2. Stomach pain. While nausea and vomiting are normal during morning sickness, pain is not. Pain can indicate several dangerous conditions such as an ectopic pregnancy or appendicitis and should be checked as soon as possible.  Feeling sore in your abdominal muscles is probably normal due to the forceful action of vomiting.
3. Extreme Weakness. Although it is common to feel slightly weak during morning sickness, feeling extremely weak is a sign that something is not right.  Whether you are dehydrated or perhaps anemic, you should see a doctor to find the cause of your weakness and correct it.

Although morning sickness symptoms such as nausea and vomiting can be miserable, don’t feel as though every symptom is normal.  If you experience any of these three things, do not hesitate to contact your doctor.  Their job is to make sure you and your baby are healthy and it is always better to be safe than sorry.

Severe morning sickness strikes a relatively small number of pregnant women, but unlike more milder cases, it can actually be dangerous for you and your baby.    Because of this, if you have any of the following signs of severe morning sickness, they shouldn’t be ignored and you should contact your doctor to find out how they want to treat you.

1. Excessive Vomiting – Most women who experience morning sickness will vomit at least once a day, but more severe morning sickness may cause you to vomit multiple times a day.  Some women throw up so much that they break blood vessels in their throat and may see blood in their vomit.  Others may feel sore in their abdominal muscles or ribs just from the sheer force of heaving.
2. Inability to Keep Down Any Food – Some doctors won’t worry just because you’re throwing up several times a day and instead they are more concerned with whether or not you can keep down any food at all.  If you become unable to consume any food and drink without throwing it back up, you run a very high risk of becoming dehydrated.  Dehydration in pregnancy can lead to a whole host of problems from low amniotic fluid to premature contractions and should be avoided.
3. Extreme Lethargy – If you find that you’re getting extremely lethargic, to the point that it’s difficult to get up or walk, you should call your doctor.  This is also a good sign that you’re becoming dehydrated and will probably need some replacement fluids.
4. Racing Heart – Especially watch for this when you stand up from laying down as this can be another sign of dehydration.
5. Other Dehydration Signs – Some of the other most common signs are low urine output, dry skin, lack of tears and skin tenting (Pull up on the back of your hand and see how long it takes to go back into place – it should be quick).

While morning sickness is very common, severe morning sickness is more rare.  If you find yourself extremely sick, take care of yourself and watch for symptoms of dehydration.  Above all, if you don’t feel right for whatever reason, contact your doctor right away.  It’s better to be treated quickly than to continue being so sick.