Ask a doctor - Can pregnancy make one vomit a yellow substance?

Q. Can pregnancy make one vomit a yellow substance?

Doctor Answer is medically reviewed by SecondMedic medical review team.

Answered by Secondmedic Expert

Yes, it is possible for a pregnant woman to vomit a yellow substance. This is known as bile and is produced in the liver and stored in the gallbladder, before being released into the small intestine whenever we eat something. Bile can also be released when there is an upset stomach or too much acid which irritates our digestive system. It's normal for pregnant women to experience vomiting due to morning sickness or other conditions such as gastroenteritis, food poisoning, or reflux disease.

In some cases of pregnancy-related nausea and vomiting, bile may be present in vomit because it has been forced up through the esophagus along with partially digested food (which could include any sort of yellow substances). In addition to being yellow, bile generally has a bitter taste and smells bad. Vomiting bile can cause stomach cramps as well so if this occurs often during pregnancy it should be discussed with your doctor since they may prescribe antacids or other medications depending on what’s causing the problem.

Bacterial infections such as salmonella and E coli have also been linked to causing symptoms like yellow vomiting during pregnancy so it’s important for pregnant women to practice safe food handling techniques when preparing meals at home or eating out at restaurants. If you ever experience episodes of severe nausea and/or vomiting accompanied by abdominal pain that won't go away after several hours then you should seek medical attention immediately since this could indicate a more serious underlying condition such as preeclampsia that needs immediate treatment from your doctor in order to protect both yourself and your unborn baby from further complications down the line.