De Jong advised pregnant women to seek immediate medical attention if they are vomiting fluids, as this is a key warning sign of dehydration.
While nausea and vomiting are common during pregnancy, a far more severe condition known as hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) can place both mother and pregnancy at risk if not treated promptly.
Dr Peter de Jong, an obstetrician and gynaecologist at Netcare Christiaan Barnard Memorial Hospital, said persistent vomiting that prevents a pregnant woman from keeping down food or fluids should never be dismissed as ordinary morning sickness.
"When a pregnant woman can't keep any food or fluids down, it should never be dismissed as 'just morning sickness'. Dehydration in pregnancy is always a medical emergency," he said.
Hyperemesis gravidarum, the medical term for excessive vomiting during pregnancy, typically develops during the first trimester. It is characterised by repeated daily vomiting, weight loss and severe dehydration.
