Causes of Morning Sickness and Nausea During Pregnancy

Every woman of pregnancy and marriageable age knows a thing or two about morning sickness and nausea during pregnancy, though many do not know much about causes of morning sickness and nausea. Also, many men are fully aware that this feeling is generally associated with pregnancy, but very little is known about the real reasons behind it.

According to medical statistics, more than 70% of pregnant women across the globe battle with morning sickness and nausea during pregnancy. More than 3% of this total number do not experience mild symptoms as is always the case. Instead, they experience severe nausea, and vomiting can be severe.

Interestingly, yours truly is among the minute 3%. I am among those who have been tasked with the burdens and ill feelings associated with severe vomiting, morning sickness, and nausea associated with pregnancy.

The severity of my conditions during my first pregnancy prompted me to carry out extensive researches to understand the causes and reasons behind morning sickness and nausea during pregnancy.

In this article, we will discuss the intricacies behind morning sickness and nausea during pregnancy – how it occurs, and how best to manage the situation.

There are also times when you need to seek the assistance of a medical practitioner, but how do you know when? This article answers these and more. Let’s get to it already!

What is Morning Sickness?

Morning sickness basically refers to the feverish feelings, nausea, and vomiting that a woman experiences during pregnancy.

Interestingly, despite its name, morning sickness and nausea do not occur only in the mornings. It can be experienced at any time of the day and can cause untold discomfort to women during the early stages of pregnancy.

Also, while many pregnant women experience morning sickness only during their first trimester of pregnancy, others experience it all through the duration of the pregnancy. Yours truly falls into the second class, and not only did I experience the feeling all through the pregnancy, but I also experienced it every time I was pregnant.

Why is it Called Morning Sickness?

Many persons have asked me this exact same question countless times – and rightly so. Personally, I have asked too. I mean, why is it called morning sickness when it doesn’t only occur in the morning. Like, it doesn’t make sense, does it?

Morning sickness does not occur only in the day – or throughout the whole day! So, why is it called morning sickness?

Well, the answer is remarkably easy. It is called morning sickness because, on most occasions, it occurs in the morning and causes a high level of discomfort in women experiencing pregnancy for the first time. Somehow, the tag ‘morning sickness’ was often repeated, and it stuck.

Also Read: Reason Your Baby Shake, Twitch & Vibrate In the Womb

Causes of Morning Sickness

Let me go straight to the point like I often love to do. The actual causes of morning sickness and nausea during pregnancy is unknown, other than the fact that it is a sign of pregnancy in women.

However, there are medical reports that indicate that morning sickness is caused as a result of low blood sugar in the pregnant woman.

There are also some medical hypotheses that indicate that morning sickness is as a result of the secretion of pregnancy hormones, such as Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) or Estrogen.

Also, it is safe to note that morning sickness can also be worsened by stress, tiredness, motion sensitivity, or diet. So, it is best to be conscious of triggers that tend to increase the feeling in order to be able to control it.

What Hormone Causes morning Sickness?

After some extensive research, medical experts have come to the conclusion that the hormones responsible for morning sickness and nausea in pregnant women are the Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) and Estrogen.

These hormones are also known as the pregnancy hormones and naturally begin to increase in volume when a woman becomes pregnant.

Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) is the hormone majorly responsible for morning sickness, and it is produced in the placenta after a fertilized egg is attached to the uterine lining of the woman.

Human chorionic gonadotropin is produced by the syncytiotrophoblastic cells in the placenta after fertilization has occurred. It is primarily responsible for the stimulation of the corpus luteum, which in turn produces progesterone – responsible for maintaining the pregnancy.

Also, little amounts of HCG are produced in the liver, colon, and pituitary glands.

In the same vein, Estrogen is a hormone that plays an important role in the reproductive development of women – during fertilization and pregnancy. The hormones are produced in the ovaries, and tiny amounts are produced in the adrenal glands. [Read Also: 3 Possible Hair Changes During Pregnancy]

Symptoms of Morning Sickness

As it’s the case with virtually all illnesses and conditions, morning sickness has some peculiar symptoms. The most common symptoms of morning sickness include vomiting and nausea.

These symptoms are often triggered by increased salivation, odour, spicy foods, heat, etc. When a woman is pregnant, she becomes easily irritated and cranky – sometimes, her craving for ‘odd’ diets is highly increased.

Interestingly also, there are some cases where the woman experiences morning sickness without any triggers at all.

Morning sickness usually begins nine weeks after conception and is most common during the first trimester (i.e., three months of pregnancy.).

As time goes on, the symptoms improve, and the woman will feel less feverish in the second and mid trimester.

While the symptoms of morning sickness are relatively normal, there are certain times when you may need to consult a medical expert for advice. Consult a medical expert if you are experiencing the following:

Severe nausea and vomiting

Inability to hold down liquids
Passage of dark urine
Heartache

Inability to stand for a few minutes without support

What does Morning Sickness Feel Like Without Vomiting?

Yes, every woman wants this – by the sound of it, but not everyone can have it – can we? A woman can experience morning sickness without the usual vomiting that comes with it.

However, you should know that whether or not there is no vomiting, the person is likely to have mild or severe nausea – depending on the individual.

On many occasions, women do not know they are pregnant even though they are pregnant because they do not vomit. A woman who is pregnant and experiencing morning sickness without vomiting is likely to experience the following:

Swollen and Tender Breasts

Fatigue
Nausea
Missed Menstrual Circle

Increase in Urine

When does Morning Sickness End?

When is all this going to end? Every pregnant woman has at one point or the other asked that question.

Only a woman who has been pregnant can understand and relate to how much morning sickness and nausea can affect the day-to-day life and activities of an individual.

But the beautiful thing is that all the unpleasantness usually stops around 16 to 20 weeks of pregnancy. The good thing is that the illness you will feel does not put your baby at any risk whatsoever.

How to Stop Morning Sickness in Early pregnancy

Let me take a second to set the records straight here. There is no automatic or hundred percent tested and trusted way of stopping morning sickness. But there are a few things you can do to control it, and frankly, these methods can come in handy.

There is no science backing the potency of these methods and remedies, but they have helped me, and also many other women attest that it helped them too. So, let’s check them out together, shall we?

Avoid spicy foods

Drink plenty of fluids
Please pay attention to things that will trigger nausea, and avoid them
Avoid stuffy environments

Take vitamins
Always rinse your mouth

Foods to Eat While Nauseous During Pregnancy

Sometimes, diet is everything, and it can go a long way in making a difference. As a woman, when you are pregnant and having nauseous feelings – severe or not, it is advisable that you stay off some diet.

Earlier in our discussion, we have highlighted some of the foods and diets you should stay clear off, in order to reduce the effects of the morning sickness. Now, we want to quickly highlight the foods you should eat while nauseous during pregnancy.

Below, we have highlighted the foods, diets, and spices you should eat:

Ginger
Almond, and Almond Milk
Solids

Smoothies
Herbal Tea
Carbonated Drink

Peppermint
Citrus Fruits

How Much Morning Sickness is too Much During Pregnancy

We discussed earlier that there are times when you need to consult a doctor. This is when you are experiencing a wave of overly severe nausea and vomiting.

Also, you should know that you are experiencing too much morning sickness if your illness lasts all through the day, and it is not making you eat or drink. When this occurs, you should be concerned so that you do not slip into malnutrition which can affect the unborn child.

Also, the severe illness can cause Hyperemesis Gravidarum, a condition that usually occurs around the first trimester of pregnancy. It can be so severe that it could cause you to lose more than 10 pounds within a short period.

Other helpful tips to manage morning sickness

Below, we have offered some helpful tips that will help you manage morning sickness and nausea in order not to ruin your pregnancy experience.

Yes, pregnancy is a special time of your life, and you should do all you can to enjoy the moment.

Check out these helpful tips listed below:

Talk to someone about your morning sickness experience, talk with an experienced mother or medical expert
Track the triggers for your nausea

It would be best if you remained hydrated by taking a lot of fluids
Distract yourself with an exciting movie or magazine

Consider taking some medication as recommended by your doctor.

Lie down and take as much rest as you can.