Morning sickness, a combination of nausea and vomiting, is a common side effect of pregnancy. Its cause is unknown, but hormonal changes, sensitivity to smells and tastes, genetics, and migraines may contribute. Doctors and midwives can help manage the condition, but excessive vomiting can lead to dehydration and malnutrition, requiring medical attention.
Many pregnant women experience nausea and vomiting, a combination of symptoms usually known as morning sickness. Despite the fact that morning sickness is one of the most common side effects of pregnancy, doctors still aren’t sure of its cause. Some experts believe that vomiting in pregnancy is a byproduct of hormonal changes. Other possible causes include migraines, genetics, or the heightened sensitivity to sensory stimuli that accompanies pregnancy in some women. Doctors and midwives can monitor a woman’s nausea during pregnancy and help her find ways to manage the condition.
Vomiting in pregnancy often begins during the first trimester and typically continues into the second trimester, although some women may struggle with nausea throughout their entire pregnancy. A common explanation for nausea is that a woman’s hormone levels change significantly during this time, although doctors aren’t sure exactly how the change in hormone level contributes to nausea. Elevated levels of a hormone, human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), have been observed to coincide with episodes of nausea in pregnant women, suggesting a connection. Similarly, pregnant women carrying multiple fetuses have higher levels of HCG and often experience more severe morning sickness than women carrying only one fetus.
Another possible contributor to vomiting in pregnancy is the heightened sensitivity to smells and tastes that many women experience during this time. This sensitivity can trigger nausea or vomiting if a woman is exposed to a food or smell that she finds unpleasant or unpleasant. If a woman already has a sensitive stomach or a history of digestive problems, these conditions, as well as an increased aversion to certain smells and tastes, can lead to nausea or vomiting. There is also some evidence that vomiting in pregnancy has a genetic component, as women whose close relatives experienced morning sickness during pregnancy also often develop it.
Some medical professionals have noted that migraines can appear or increase during pregnancy, although some women find that the headaches actually decrease during this time. Since nausea is a common symptom of migraine, an increase in migraine during pregnancy may also include an increase in nausea. Women who experience migraine or suspect that they developed the condition during pregnancy should talk to their doctor about appropriate options for managing migraine episodes.
While it is uncomfortable and inconvenient, medical professionals generally consider vomiting in pregnancy to be a normal and temporary condition that can be treated with changes in both diet and lifestyle. Some women, however, develop a dangerous condition called hyperemesis gravidarum, in which excessive vomiting can lead to dehydration and malnutrition. A pregnant woman who feels that she is vomiting excessively should inform her doctor or midwife immediately for evaluation and treatment.
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