Those first few months of pregnancy can be tough, especially when you suddenly can't stand the sight (or smell) of food. Morning sickness, or Nausea and Vomiting of Pregnancy (NVP), is the most common medical condition facing moms-to-be. It affects up to 80 percent of pregnant women, says Caroline Maltepe, coordinator of Motherisk's NVP Hotline at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto. Here's what you need to know to get through it.

What it is

Despite its name, morning sickness can begin at any time of day and is believed to be caused by higher hormone levels during pregnancy. In most cases, morning sickness poses no risk to a pregnant mother or her baby, but approximately one percent of women suffer from its more severe form, hyperemesis gravidarum (HG), which can result in dehydration, electrolyte imbalance and a need for hospitalization.

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• When does morning sickness begin? >