Morning Sickness Information
Morning sickness, which is also known as misnomer in medical terms, is the nausea and vomiting associated with pregnancy.
For some pregnant women, the symptoms are worst in the morning but can ease up during the day, but morning sickness can act up at any time and even last all day.
Typically, about three quarters of pregnant women experience nausea and sometimes vomiting during their first trimester.
Although it can begin as early as four weeks, nausea usually starts around six weeks of pregnancy.
About half of the women who suffer from morning sickness feel complete relief by about 14 weeks.
But, for most of the rest of the woman it might take takes another month or so for the nausea to ease up.
A small group of women suffer from severe morning sickness which turns into hyperemesis gracidarum. It is unrelenting and excessive nausea and vomiting that prevents the absorption of the right amounts of food and liquids. It could lead to weight loss and the woman becoming dehydrated.
It is unknown what the exact cause of morning sickness it.
Most likely it has to do with the raising hormone levels within a woman’s body that are produced after she has conceived.
Although we don’t know the exact cause, we do know that certain types of women are more likely to get morning sickness than others.
Typically those who are pregnant with twins or higher multiples are more likely to suffer from morning sickness. This may be due to the higher levels of HCG, estrogen, or other hormones in their systems.
Women who also have a history of vomiting or nausea after taking birth control pills are also more likely to suffer from morning sickness during pregnancy due to the body’s response to estrogen.
Genetics might play a role with morning sickness as well. Women who have had mothers or sisters with severe morning sickness typically suffer from it as well.
Plus, if the woman has had a history of migraine headaches, they are more likely to be ill with morning sickness during pregnancy.
There have been long debates as to whether morning sickness was different depending on if the women are carrying a boy or a girl.
One study found that women who were carrying a girl were 50 percent more likely to be ill with morning sickness during their pregnancy.
Although the less debatable topic is that women who are more likely to have a miscarriage are less likely to be suffering from morning sickness during that pregnancy.
If the placenta or the baby were not developing properly, the women would have lower levels of pregnancy hormones in their system resulting in less nausea.
Despite all this, plenty of women do not suffer from morning sickness and go on to have perfectly healthy babies.
There are several ways to ease the effects of morning sickness.
A woman can change her eating habits by eating smaller meals more frequently during the day. Avoid the stomach being completely empty or completely full.
Pregnant women can also make sure they get plenty of rest. They should also avoid smells and foods that aggravate their nausea.
Some woman have also found relief through the use of acupressure or motion sickness bands.
The Cause of Nausea During Pregnancy
The wonders of pregnancy are a miracle as most women see it. But, the beginning of the pregnancy when morning sickness and nausea rears it’s lovely head, most women rethink that notion.
No one is really sure what the cause of morning sickness is but, with so many changes happening inside a woman’s body during pregnancy, it is easy to understand the body’s reaction.
When a woman becomes pregnant, her body releases several different hormones.
Like all drugs, hormones have a couple of unpleasant side effects like intestinal upsets. It is believed that the hormone HCG is the one most likely responsible for morning sickness. HCG stands for human chronic gonadotropin.
This hormone is made by the embryo soon after conception and is later made by the placenta. Its role is to maintain the production of progesterone which is another hormone that is critical for pregnancy.
Progesterone itself might be the cause of morning sickness as well. The increase of the progesterone in the body relaxes the muscles in the uterus which prevents early childbirth. But, as a result, progesterone might also relax the stomach and intestines, leading to excess acids in the stomach and therefore nausea and vomiting.
Another hormone that might be the cause of the nausea and vomiting that comes with the first stages of pregnancy is estrogen. Estrogen is always present in a woman of child bearing years but it rises rapidly in early pregnancy.
It has been suggested that morning sickness can be caused by a vitamin B deficiency.
Taking a vitamin B6 supplement does seem to help ease the nausea in pregnant women. But this does not mean that they have a vitamin deficiency.
Actually, one study showed that there were no significant differences in the levels of B6 in women with morning sickness and those without. So it is unclear why B6 is helpful.
There has also been some evidence that taking a multivitamin at the time of conception and in early pregnancy helps to prevent severe morning sickness as well. But yet again, no one knows why.
On the other hand, the causes of morning sickness might not lie with the body’s hormone levels at all.
It might be triggered by other aspects of the body. The cause of morning sickness might lie with an enhanced sense of smell and sensitivity to odors. Certain aromas instantly trigger the gag reflex in pregnant women.
While it could have to do with the sense of smell it might also be a result of higher levels of estrogen. Plus, some women just might have gastrointestinal tracts that are simply more sensitive to the changes of early pregnancy.
Also, some women might be predisposed to having nausea and vomiting during pregnancy as an abdominal response to stress. Although there is no real evidence of this but, the more vomiting and nausea that is taking place, the more stressed a woman might become and therefore almost continuing the process.
Although the cause of morning sickness is still unclear, experts do know that, in most cases, it does not last throughout the entire pregnancy. Typically, by the end of the third month when the blood level of some of these hormones levels off or begins to decline, so does the intestinal maladies that are caused by these hormones and therefore, the morning sickness begins to reside.
Pregnancy Nausea; When to Call the Doctor
A lot of women experience morning sickness in their first trimesters of pregnancy. Although it is not life threatening in most cases, for some women, morning sickness can become a big problem.
Some women are so affected by the nausea and vomiting that they might become dehydrated. It is important to know what signs to look for so you know when you should call your doctor due to morning sickness.
Morning sickness usually starts at about four weeks of pregnancy and typically ends around six weeks of pregnancy.
If your nausea and vomiting continues past that time, make sure to let your doctor know at your next visit.
Sometimes during that time frame, morning sickness might become really bad. You should get in touch with your doctor to let him know if your nausea is not getting better despite the use of a few home remedies.
You also need to make sure that you call the doctor if you haven’t been able to eat or drink anything or keep anything down for twenty-four hours.
In extremely rare instances, nausea and vomiting may be so severe that a woman cannot maintain proper nutrition, fluids or gain enough weight.
It may lead to a condition called hyperemesis gravidarum.
Hyper means “over”, emesis means “vomiting” and gravidarum means “pregnant state.” It affects about one in every three hundred pregnant women.
The condition is classified as vomiting that is frequent, persistent and severe. If is left untreated, the mother will not be able to get the nutrition and fluids she needs. If it goes untreated long enough it could threaten the health of the fetus.
Make sure your doctor knows how much you have been vomiting during the day. If you are vomiting more then two or three times a day you should call your doctor.
Excessive vomiting can lead to dehydration.
Dehydration happens when your body eliminates more water than you can replace. Simply put, you are vomiting and loosing fluids more rapidly then you can drink and use fluids.
Luckily the body lets us know in a variety of ways when we are becoming dehydrated.
Make sure to call your doctor if you are feeling dizzy or feeling faint. Dizziness is due to low blood pressure caused by dehydration.
You should also call your doctor if you are urinating less, and your urine appears darker in color.
You should also call if your mouth, eyes, and skin are feeling dry.
Dehydration can also cause headaches. You also might feel increasingly tired, weak or that your mental acuity is lessening.
When it comes to dehydration, you do not need to try to "be strong" or "tough it out". Most likely, if you are feeling any of these symptoms due to vomiting, you are already dehydrated.
Dehydration can become a serious problem if it is not treated. It can cause preterm labor and other pregnancy complications. To ward off dehydration, make sure you are drinking plenty of water; at least 10 pints of water a day or more, if you can handle it.
Nausea Late in Pregnancy
Typically, when people hear the words “morning sickness”, they associate this term with early signs of pregnancy or the first trimester of pregnancy.
But the vomiting and nausea of morning sickness are not confined strictly to the first trimester of pregnancy. Some women experience nausea late in the pregnancy, during the third trimester.
There are several reasons why some women experience nausea later in the pregnancy.
As you know, part of the cause of nausea in the first trimester is due to hormonal changes within the body. This can happen again later in the pregnancy as hormone levels continue to fluctuate.
Plus, in the third trimester the baby is larger and encroaching on more space within the body.
Nausea after eating is common in the third trimester because of the uterus pressing up on the stomach. This can occur with or without heartburn as well.
A good idea to avoid late pregnancy nausea is eating smaller meals and eating them more frequently during the course of the day. There is not as much room to hold a large meal anymore within the stomach.
The most important thing is to make sure that you remain healthy.
Make sure that you call your doctor if you experience severe stomach pain or vomiting. Sometimes a virus or another illness can be the cause of the problem.
You also want to make sure that the nausea or vomiting is not interfering with your ability to eat. The baby as well as the mother needs the vital nutrients they receive from a good diet.
You also want to make sure that you avoid dehydration, which can bring on preterm labor, by sipping water continually.
Unfortunately, a condition known as hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) causes women to experience severe morning sickness right up until the baby is born, and even after the birth of the baby in some cases.
HG is defined as vomiting that is frequent, persistent and severe. The nausea and vomiting prevent an adequate amount of food and liquids to be absorbed by the body.
It is unclear what the causes of HG are but it might be linked to higher then usual levels of hormones and estrogen that some women produce.
Women suffering from HG will typically loose 5percent or more of their pre-pregnancy body weight. They will also become dehydrated.
They tend to have difficulty with their daily activities, have an altered sense of taste and might even have hallucinations.
The condition might also put the fetus at risk of diabetes or heart disease later on in life, or neurobehaviorial issues right from birth due to the malnutrition and dehydration during pregnancy.
Because of the risk of dehydration and complications to the pregnancy, women with HG need to be treated as a medical emergency. Antiemetic medications, intravenous re-hydration or nutritional support might be needed.
Thankfully, nausea later in pregnancy is not common to most women.
Those who do suffer from it may find relief in repositioning themselves while eating to alleviate the pressure on the stomach.
If you or someone you know is suffering from extreme nausea during a pregnancy, make sure that the treating doctor is aware of how often the vomiting is happening and the things they have done to treat it on their own.
And of course, if any dehydration symptoms are being seen or felt, make sure you seek help right away.
Pregnancy Nausea Remedies
Dealing with the nausea of pregnancy is something that most women understand that they might go through when they become pregnant.
While there are some women who are able to dodge that affliction, most just have to grit their teeth and bear it. But, bearing it is easier when lists of remedies are at your finger tips to try.
Not all remedies work for everyone, but it doesn’t hurt to try some things out to see if they work for you.
Some home remedies for morning sickness are pretty obvious, like staying away from foods or odors that might trigger the gag reflex.
You can also try to eat bland food that is cold or at room temperature. Hot food has more of an odor.
We have all heard the old wives tale of eating crackers to cure morning sickness.
For some women find that carbohydrates are most appealing when they feel nauseated, and putting a little something in your stomach wards off vomiting.
Keep crackers near your bed and nibble a few before you even get out of bed. You can even nibble on some as you get ready to start the day or on your drive to work.
You can also try to eat small, frequent meals and snacks throughout the day so that your stomach is never empty.
Plus, try sipping fluids frequently throughout the day between meals. But be careful not to drink so much at one time, as it will make you less hungry for food. Aim to drink about a quart and a half of fluids altogether.
If you have been vomiting a lot you can try drinking a sports drink that contains glucose, salt, and potassium to replace lost electrolytes.
If nausea is really bad you can try acupressure.
Both Eastern and Western medical practitioners describe a pressure point on the body that is about two inches above the crease on the inner part of the wrist.
If this pressure point is stimulated, it may relieve the nausea and vomiting associated with pregnancy.
There are bands available that you can get without prescription at pharmacies and marine stores, which are worn around one or both wrists. Each band contains a button that presses on the vomiting-sensitive pressure point on the wrist.
Health care providers can also prescribe a device that stimulates the underside of your wrist with a mild electric current. The device costs about $75 but it is safe and works well for some women.
Ginger is another alternative remedy that is said to settle the stomach and help with nausea.
Look for a ginger ale that is made with real ginger, unlike most supermarket ginger ales.
Or you can grate some fresh ginger into hot water to make ginger tea or use ginger candies.
Make sure to talk to your health care provider before you take powdered ginger root supplements. There is no way of being positive how much of the active ingredient you’re getting in those capsules. Some experts advise not using them at all.
Several other small steps can be taken to keep pregnancy nausea at bay.
Stay as relaxed and as stress free as possible.
Take time out to watch your favorite television show or movie or simply take a nap. Take your prenatal vitamins with a big meal or just before bed.
You can also ask your healthcare provider whether you can switch to a prenatal vitamin with a low dose of iron (or no iron) for the first trimester. Iron can be hard on your digestive system sometimes.
Although nausea and vomiting is a normal stage in pregnancy, it doesn’t have to be a horrible experience.
Pregnancy Nausea within the First Few Weeks
It is unclear what the exact cause of the nausea most pregnant women experience – known as morning sickness – is.
One theory is that vomiting and nausea in the first few weeks of pregnancy may be due to hormone changes produced by the placenta and the fetus.
Changes in the gastrointestinal system may also play a role in morning sickness, because the stomach empties more slowly under the influence of the hormones of pregnancy.
Morning sickness affects about 70 percent of pregnant women.
It usually begins at four to eight weeks of pregnancy and subsides by fourteen to sixteen weeks.
Even though it is called “morning sickness” the vomiting and nausea in early pregnancy can occur at any time of the day.
However, experts agree that it is not all bad. Morning sickness is thought to protect the fetus.
Contained in many plants are chemical toxins that protect the plant from being eaten.
Adults have defenses against toxins such as these, including extensive arrays of detoxification made by the liver and the surface of tissues of certain other organs.
These defenses have not fully developed within the fetus.
Even a small dose of plant toxins might have certain effects on the adult – but might be lethal to the fetus.
Pregnancy nausea causes the woman to become nauseated when exposed to the smell or taste of foods that are likely to contain toxins that might injure the fetus, therefore protecting it.
Morning sickness may also protect the mother as well.
The immune system of a pregnant woman is suppressed during pregnancy, most likely to reduce the chances of rejecting tissues of her own offspring.
Because of this, consuming animal products containing parasites or harmful bacteria can be especially dangerous to a pregnant woman.
Luckily, the mild to moderate nausea and occasional vomiting associated with morning sickness won’t threaten your baby’s well-being.
If a pregnant woman does not gain any weight in the first trimester, it generally is not a problem. As long as they are able to stay hydrated and aren’t starving, the fetus will remain healthy.
In most cases, the pregnant woman’s appetite will return soon enough and they will start gaining weight.
Most women tolerate morning sickness pretty well.
They have to make sure they are keeping themselves healthy and are letting their doctor’s know if there are any problems along the way.
Young women who are experiencing their first pregnancies (and women who are carrying twins or multiple fetuses) might experience more morning sickness than others.
Some women have nausea and vomiting beyond their first trimester and a few have it continually throughout their entire pregnancy.
Pregnant women do need to be aware that severe or prolonged vomiting has been linked to a greater risk of preterm birth.
It can also lead to low birth weight or newborns that are small for their gestational age.
If a woman is having problems with morning sickness they should see their doctor, who might prescribe anti-nausea medication to ward off dehydration and further pregnancy complications.