Morning Sickness During Pregnancy – 6 Causes & 7 Symptoms You Should Be Aware Of
Image: Shutterstock
Are you spending a majority of your time in the bathroom getting sick? Does the mere smell of food leave you heaving? You, my dear, are suffering from morning sickness!
One of the first symptoms pregnancy brings with it is morning sickness. Nausea and pregnancy go hand in hand. But just because it is common, doesn’t make it any easier to deal with, right?
Are you suffering from morning sickness and don’t understand how to deal with it? Well, let us tell you all that you need to know about this pregnancy morning sickness!
What Causes Morning Sickness During Pregnancy?
The exact cause of morning sickness is still not known. But according to most experts, the possible causes of nausea and vomiting during pregnancy are:
1. Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG):
During pregnancy, the hormones in your body take a life of their own. One of the most important hormones during pregnancy is the hCG. It is produced by the placenta and starts pumping between 9 to 12 weeks of pregnancy. The first trimester is also the time when most women have their first encounter with morning sickness. When measured, the level of hCG is considerably higher in women suffering from pregnancy related nausea (1).
2. Multiples:
If you are carrying twins or multiples, chances are that you’ll have to face a worse case of morning sickness.When you are carrying twins, the amount of hCG in your body is higher compared to women carrying a single child. With this extra hormone in the body, you are more likely to experience severe nausea and vomiting during pregnancy (2).
3. Sensitivity To Smells:
The level of estrogen goes up during pregnancy. This can lead to hyperacuity of the olfactory system, in other words, a heightened sense of smell. Odor is one of the most common triggers of morning sickness. With your nose working overtime, you can expect nausea and vomiting while you are pregnant (3).
4. Sensitive Digestive System:
Your digestive system goes out of gear during pregnancy and can cause morning sickness in many cases too. In some women, Helicobacter pylori infection may well be the cause of nausea and vomiting (4).
5. Stress:
It is normal to feel stressed when you are going through something as life transforming as pregnancy. But in many women, stress is what causes morning sickness (5).
[ Read: How To Reduce Stress During Pregnancy ]
6. High Fat Diet:
Are you craving for high-fat food? Well, that may the cause behind the bouts of nausea! Research shows that a diet rich in fat can cause morning sickness in pregnant women (6).
Morning Sickness – Who Is At Risk?
Pregnancy time nausea and vomiting (NV) is common. Around 75% of pregnant women experience morning sickness in some form. But are there some women who are more likely to experience NV during pregnancy? Yes, there are! If you fulfill any of the following criteria, your chances of getting morning sickness go up:
- If you have previous experience of nausea and vomiting due to motion sickness, migraine, strong smells, etc. you are more likely to experience morning sickness during pregnancy (7).
- According to folklore, a bad case of morning sickness indicates that you are carrying a girl. Now this is one pregnancy ‘myth’ which has some basis in reality. Research shows that most women with a severe case of nausea and vomiting during pregnancy go on to give birth to a girl child (8).
[ Read: Pregnancy Myths ]
Symptoms Of Morning Sickness In Pregnancy:
So, what can you expect if you get morning sickness? Here is a checklist of symptoms that most women with morning sickness experience:
- Nausea
- Loss of appetite
- Food Aversion
- Vomiting
- Depression
- Weight Loss
- Dehydration
Not all women experience all the symptoms listed here. Some women are in luck and only develop mild symptoms. Some develop food aversions and end up losing weight in the first trimester. While in some extreme cases, morning sickness can last all through the pregnancy and can even require hospitalization!
Morning Sickness That Lasts All Day!
One of the biggest irony about morning sickness is that it can last all day long, and not just during mornings! The reason for calling pregnancy nausea and vomiting (NV) ‘morning sickness is that in most cases, it hits during the beginning of the day. The symptoms normally lessen as the day progresses. But this is just a general statement. The reality is that morning sickness can strike anytime. In fact, the intensity of symptoms too can vary from one pregnancy to another.
Community Experiences
Join the conversation and become a part of our vibrant community! Share your stories, experiences, and insights to connect with like-minded individuals.
