Pregnancy Nausea In Your First Few Weeks

Morning sickness is one of the first and best-known symptoms of pregnancy. Many a woman has visited the doctor with flu-like symptoms, only to learn that her nausea and the accompanying vomiting are not caused by a virus in her system, but by something quite different growing inside. It’s probably not going to be over in a week, either—it’s not uncommon for morning sickness to continue for weeks or even through the first trimester (a long three months).

What exactly causes some women to suffer from morning sickness? (By the way, while morning sickness gets its name because it is most common early in the day, it can happen throughout the day.) During pregnancy, hormonal levels of estrogen and progesterone are rising and fluctuating, and an entirely new kind of hormone called hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) is being produced by the placenta and embryo and circulating into the mother’s system. These hormonal changes are responsible for a lot that is happening within the expectant mother’s body, including slowing down the rate at which food passes through the stomach. They may also cause the overreaction to certain odors that can trigger nausea for many women at this time.

Whatever causes it, morning sickness seems likely to serve some function during pregnancy. Its primary effect seems to be to prevent the pregnant woman from consuming certain foods, which leads to speculation that the body is guarding against the ingestion of substances that could harm either mother or child. The organs and immune system of the growing fetus are not sufficiently developed to protect the unborn child against certain toxins that are essentially harmless for adults. So it’s possible that morning sickness functions as a physiological alarm system, protecting the baby by making potentially harmful foods unappetizing and untolerated by the mother.

Women are also more vulnerable to certain diseases and ailments during pregnancy. In order for a woman’s body to accept the growth of a new and partly foreign substance within, her immune system has to be somewhat lowered. This would increase her risk of contracting food-borne and environmental illnesses, so again, the nausea and vomiting may serve as a preventive alarm system—though an uncomfortable one.

In most cases discomfort is really the only harm done by morning sickness, and the discomfort can be alleviated for many women by changes in their eating habits, vitamin supplements, acupressure or even medication if needed. There is generally no risk to either mother or child unless the sickness is so severe or prolonged that the woman is unable to get adequate nutrition and becomes dehydrated. Morning sickness can slow down the weight gain associated with pregnancy, but that should not be a concern during the first 3 months at least.

It’s estimated that as many as 80 percent of pregnant women will feel some morning sickness during the early part of the pregnancy, if only some passing nausea. It may be more likely or more severe during a first pregnancy or for women carrying more than one child. And for some unlucky women, it can continue long into or even throughout the pregnancy.

When morning sickness does extend beyond the first few weeks of pregnancy, it’s wise to keep the doctor informed of the extent of the condition and closely monitor the expectant mother for signs that she might be developing hyperemesis gravidarum—the clinical diagnosis for excessive and persistent vomiting during pregnancy that does not respond to any of the usual alleviating treatments. This condition can lead to malnutrition, premature delivery and other serious health complications for both mother and child. Once identified, hyperemesis gravidarum can be treated effectively—but the sooner the better for all concerned.

And Now that you have learned about pregnancy nausea in your first few weeks and are ready for some in depth details on alleviating morning sickness, then it is time to go grab your copy of “What Every Pregnant Woman Must Know: Alleviating Morning Sickness” here: Pregnancy Nausea Week – you will be glad you did!

And don’t forget to tell me what you think by commenting below……