Morning sickness
Here is an article posted at www.mymorningsicknessremedies.com. There is a lot of good information available about morning sickness and while you are there sign up for the free mini-course.
Pregnancy Nausea within the First Few Weeks
It is unclear the exact cause of the nausea most pregnant women experience known as morning sickness. One theory is that vomiting and nausea in the first few weeks of pregnancy may be due to hormone changes produced by the placenta and the fetus. Changes in the gastrointestinal system may also play a role in morning sickness because the stomach empties more slowly under the influence of the hormones of pregnancy. Morning sickness affects about 70 percent of pregnant women. It usually begins at four to eight weeks of pregnancy and subsides by fourteen to sixteen weeks. Even though it is called “morning sickness” the vomiting and nausea in early pregnancy can occur at any time of the day.
But experts agree that it does play role within the pregnancy for one reason or another. Morning sickness is thought to protect the fetus. Contained in many plants are chemical toxins that protect the plant from being eaten. Adults have defenses against toxins such as these including extensive arrays of detoxification made by the liver and the surface of tissues of certain other organs. These defenses have not fully developed within the fetus. Even a small dose of plant toxins might have certain effects on the adult but might be lethal to the fetus. Pregnancy nausea causes the woman to become nauseated when exposed to the smell of taste of foods that are likely to contain toxins that might injure the fetus therefore protecting it.
Morning sickness may also protect the mother as well. The immune system of a pregnant woman is suppressed during pregnancy most likely to reduce the chances of rejecting tissues of her own offspring. Because of this, consuming animal products containing parasites or harmful bacteria can be especially dangerous to a pregnant woman.
Luckily, mild to moderate nausea and occasional vomiting associated with morning sickness won’t threaten your baby’s well-being. If a pregnant woman does not gain any weight in the first trimester, it generally is not a problem. As long as they are able to stay hydrated and aren’t starving, the fetus will remain healthy. In most cases, the pregnant woman’s appetite will return soon enough and they will start gaining weight.
Most women tolerate morning sickness pretty well. They have to make sure they are keeping themselves healthy and are letting their doctor’s know if there are any problems along the way. Young women who are experiencing their first pregnancies and women who are carrying twins or multiple fetuses might experience more morning sickness then others. Some women have nausea and vomiting beyond their first trimester and a few have it continually throughout their entire pregnancy. Pregnant women do need to be aware that severe or prolonged vomiting has been linked to a greater risk of preterm birth. It can also lead to low birth weight or newborns that are small for their gestational age. If a woman is having problems with morning sickness the doctor might prescribe anti-nausea medication to ward off dehydration and further pregnancy complications.
