Characterized by nausea and vomiting, women can experience tummy-turning symptoms any time of the day. However, it is often termed as "morning sickness" despite that fact. But why?
What Is 'Morning Sickness' and Its Symptoms?
Experiencing morning sickness is common, especially in the first trimester of pregnancy. However, up to 20% of pregnant women persist with these symptoms throughout their entire pregnancy.
Its prevalence is higher in multiple pregnancies than in single gestations. Nausea, sometimes accompanied by vomiting, is triggered by specific smells or foods during pregnancy. Home remedies, such as snacking, sipping ginger ale, or using over-the-counter medicine, are frequently suggested to alleviate nausea.
Typically starting before nine weeks and peaking in the first three months, morning sickness gradually improves by the middle or end of the second trimester. In rare cases, it evolves into hyperemesis gravidarum, a severe condition involving excessive nausea and vomiting, leading to significant fluid loss or more than a 5% reduction in pre-pregnancy body weight. This extreme form may necessitate hospitalization for proper treatment.
Hyperemesis gravidarum, affecting less than 1% of women, can be debilitating, occasionally requiring hospitalization and rehydration. Studies indicate that women experiencing morning sickness may suffer both physically and psychologically.
The Morning Mystery: Unraveling the Causes of Pregnancy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting
The symptoms of pregnancy-induced nausea and vomiting tend to heighten after waking up, which is why it is commonly known as morning sickness even though they can manifest at any time during the day.
Driven by hormonal fluctuations in early pregnancy, the condition lacks a precise cause, according to a 2016 review in the International Journal of Reproduction, Contraception, Obstetrics, and Gynecology.
The surge in reproductive hormones, particularly human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in the first trimester, is thought to be directly linked to the queasiness associated with morning sickness. However, the precise mechanism through which hCG induces nausea remains uncertain.
Some researchers propose that hCG might stimulate fluid secretion in the digestive tract, and it is also associated with a rapid increase in thyroxines, thyroid-made hormones that regulate digestion.
Estrogen and progesterone, other pregnancy-related hormones, may contribute to symptoms of morning sickness by relaxing stomach and intestinal muscles, slowing down digestion. Hormone levels and genetic factors can vary among individuals, influencing the severity of morning sickness.
Additionally, low blood sugar, exacerbated by hypoglycemia, is linked to worsening nausea, particularly in the morning when blood sugar levels are naturally low.
Factors like an empty stomach, a temporary drop in blood pressure upon getting out of bed, and the body's increased energetic demands during pregnancy can contribute to more pronounced symptoms in the morning. Stress, anxiety, and fatigue can further heighten morning sickness, as negative emotions impact the close connection between the nervous and digestive systems.
Individuals prone to nausea, such as those susceptible to motion sickness or experiencing nausea as a side effect of certain drugs, are more likely to undergo morning sickness.
RELATED ARTICLE: Hyperemesis Gravidarum Explained: What Causes Extreme Morning Sickness in Women?
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