Although many people mistakenly believe morning sickness is excessive or uncontrollable vomiting, morning sickness is actually the feeling of nausea during pregnancy, explains the American Pregnancy Association. Since more than half of all pregnant women will experience morning sickness, it is wise for all women to learn about nausea during pregnancy so they will know what to expect and how to handle this uncomfortable condition.
Risk Factors
Although there is no way to tell which women will be afflicted with nausea during pregnancy, there are certain factors that may make it more likely, explains the medical advisory board for the website Baby Center. These risk factors include carrying twins or other multiples, previous cases of morning sickness during other pregnancies and having a genetic predisposition to morning sickness, such as having a mother or sister who suffered from morning sickness during her pregnancy. In addition, a history of motion sickness, nausea in response to taking birth control or frequent migraine headaches may make a woman more susceptible to morning sickness.
Causes
It is unclear exactly what causes nausea during pregnancy, but several factors may be to blame. Hormonal surges in progesterone and estrogen may play a role, but the American Pregnancy Association speculates the pregnancy hormone hCG (human chorionic gonadotrophin) may have a direct link to morning sickness. The levels of hCG typically peak at approximately the same time feelings of morning sickness peak. Women carrying multiples tend to have higher levels of hCG and more severe morning sickness, which also supports this theory, explains Baby Center. Others theorize that morning sickness developed as an evolutionary defense mechanism to protect the unborn baby against harmful toxins. In the article "Causes of Morning Sickness Revealed" published on MSNBC.com, Charles Q. Choi explains that women with morning sickness would be less likely to consume foods that may potentially harm the developing fetus. The fact that morning sickness typically occurs during the time the fetus is at its most fragile and that nausea is often triggered by things such as alcohol or cigarette smoke both seem to support this theory.
Remedies
Those suffering from nausea during pregnancy can do things to make themselves feel better. The American Pregnancy Association suggests eating foods such as lemons, watermelon, ginger-based products and salty foods such as potato chips. Eating small, frequent meals throughout the day and keeping upright after eating may also help. Avoid warm places, drinking fluids with meals and eating or cooking spicy foods because these things may trigger the nausea. Acupressure wrist bands, commonly found at drugstores and typically used to treat motion sickness, may also help relieve the nausea. For particularly severe cases, a doctor may suggest vitamin B6, doxylamine or anti-nausea medications, explains the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
Warning
Most cases of nausea during pregnancy are not severe and will not harm the mother or unborn child. Some women, however, develop hyperemesis gravidarum, a potentially dangerous condition characterized by excessive nausea with vomiting. Hypermesis gravidarum may cause severe dehydration, weight loss and an electrolyte imbalance and may be harmful to both the mother and the baby. This condition may require hospitalization for treatment.
When to Call a Doctor
Nausea by itself typically does not need medical intervention. If a woman experiences other symptoms, however, she should call her doctor. These other symptoms include severe excessive vomiting, vomiting blood, small amounts or dark-colored urine, dizziness or feeling faint when standing up, pain, fever or severe nausea or vomiting that lasts well into the second trimester of pregnancy.
