Why Do Pregnant Women Have Morning Sickness?
Morning sickness is common in the first trimester of pregnancy. Some women are unlucky enough to deal with morning sickness throughout the pregnancy.
Basics
Morning sickness can occur at any time of the day or night. Some pregnant women only experience nausea, though for most, vomiting is common.
Causes
According to the American Pregnancy Association, morning sickness is due to the hormone fluctuations as the body makes all of the preparations to build the placenta and support the fetus throughout the pregnancy.
Treatment
For some women, nothing they do eases the symptoms. Others find that eating bland foods, such as crackers, before getting out of bed and throughout the day helps. Sipping, instead of gulping, drinks and exercising may also help. Severe morning sickness may be treated with medications if deemed necessary by the doctor.
Risks
The American Pregnancy Association states that if vomiting is excessive and the mother is unable to eat any food without vomiting, hyperemesis gravidarum may be diagnosed. This condition can cause weight loss and electrolyte imbalance and may require hospitalization with administration of intravenous nutrition.
Considerations
The sense of smell is generally stronger for most women in pregnancy. By avoiding these smells, the symptoms of morning sickness may be decreased.
