Morning Sickness – Symptoms and Causes
Overview
Morning sickness involves nausea and vomiting during pregnancy. Despite its name, it can happen at any time of day.
Most pregnant people experience morning sickness during the first trimester, though some have it throughout their entire pregnancy.
Several remedies may help manage symptoms:
- Snacking throughout the day
- Sipping ginger ale
- Taking over-the-counter medications
In rare cases, severe morning sickness develops into hyperemesis gravidarum. This serious condition occurs when nausea and vomiting cause significant fluid loss or weight loss exceeding 5% of pre-pregnancy weight.
Hyperemesis gravidarum is more serious than typical morning sickness and may require hospitalization for proper treatment. Most cases of morning sickness, however, can be managed with simple home remedies and don’t require medical intervention.
Signs of Morning Sickness
Morning sickness brings nausea that may include vomiting during pregnancy. Many pregnant women notice these feelings when they smell certain things or eat specific foods.
Most women experience morning sickness in the first trimester. It typically begins before the ninth week of pregnancy. For most women, these symptoms get better by the middle or end of the second trimester.
When Medical Help Is Needed
Contact your healthcare provider right away if you notice:
- Little or no urination with dark-colored urine
- Inability to keep fluids down
- Dizziness or faintness when standing up
- Rapid heartbeat
These signs may indicate dehydration or other serious problems that need medical attention.
Causes
The exact cause of morning sickness remains unknown. Changes in hormone levels during pregnancy are believed to contribute to this condition.
In rare cases, nausea and vomiting might stem from non-pregnancy-related health issues such as thyroid problems or gallbladder disease.
Risk Factors
Some pregnant people face higher chances of experiencing morning sickness. If you had motion sickness or migraines before pregnancy, you might be more likely to feel nauseous while pregnant. Those who felt sick during past pregnancies often face it again.
Carrying twins or multiples can also increase your risk of morning sickness.
For severe nausea and vomiting (hyperemesis gravidarum), certain factors raise the risk:
- Carrying a female baby
- Having family members who experienced severe pregnancy sickness
- Having had severe sickness in previous pregnancies
Complications
In most cases, mild pregnancy nausea and vomiting don’t cause problems. However, severe symptoms can lead to serious issues if not treated.
Severe nausea and vomiting may cause dehydration, which means the body lacks enough fluids. This can also disrupt electrolytes—important salts in the blood that help control fluid balance in the body.
Another possible complication is reduced urine output, which signals that the body isn’t processing fluids normally.
Research shows mixed findings about whether severe pregnancy sickness (hyperemesis gravidarum) affects baby weight gain during pregnancy.
Prevention
Taking a daily vitamin supplement before and during pregnancy may help reduce morning sickness. However, there is no guaranteed way to prevent it completely.
Talk to your healthcare provider about which prenatal vitamins might be best for your specific needs.
