"The majority of expectant mothers -- up to 70% -- experience nausea and vomiting", states the Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy (2004, The Mayo Foundation). Although misery loves company, many pregnant women suffering from nausea and vomiting may be concerned about the effects of pregnancy sickness on their unborn babies. Such women are eager to find strategies for dealing with morning sickness so they can keep breakfast down again and ease their worries as well.
Other pregnant women who have luckily evaded pregnancy-related nausea and vomiting may wonder if they and their babies are completely healthy, since such a well-known symptom of pregnancy is absent.
Is Pregnancy Sickness Normal?
"Morning" sickness is quite common between the 6th and 12th weeks of pregnancy, according to the American Pregnancy Association (www.americanpregnancy.org, web page viewed on November 14, 2009). In fact, up to 70% of pregnant women experience nausea and vomiting occasionally. Some doctors feel that morning sickness is a sign of a healthy pregnancy because it can indicate that the placenta, the lifeline between the mother and her unborn child, is developing well. In addition, Dr. Samuel Flaxman and Dr. Paul Sherman of Cornell University suggest that "morning" sickness compels a pregnant woman to avoid foods that may have a detrimental effect on her developing baby ("Morning Sickness: A Mechanism For Protecting Mother and Embryo," Quarterly Review of Biology, Volume 75, 2000).
However, many pregnant women never feel nauseated or experience vomiting, and go on to have completely healthy babies. Therefore, pregnant women may feel reassured if they do experience pregnancy sickness, but pregnant women who do not have nausea or vomiting should not be anxious or feel that their pregnancies are problematic.
Duration of Morning Sickness
When it is present, morning sickness becomes noticeable around week six of pregnancy but tends to sharply decrease at the end of the first trimester (week 12). For some women, pregnancy sickness may continue up to week 18. An unlucky few may continue to suffer from nausea and vomiting throughout their pregnancies, but this is relatively uncommon.
How to Cope With Morning Sickness
The American Pregnancy Association recommends:
- eating several small meals per day rather than three large meals
- eating a few saltines or soda crackers before getting out of bed in the morning
- drinking fluids before or after eating, but not with meals
- avoid smells or foods that increase nausea
- use "Sea Bands" (acupressure bands) to combat nausea
Avoid lying down right after eating, skipping meals, eating spicy food, and getting overheated, all of which can exacerbate nausea.
Nausea and Vomiting During Pregnancy Not a Prerequisite for a Healthy Pregnancy
Although many doctors consider "morning" sickness an indicator of a healthy pregnancy, many pregnant women never experience nausea or vomiting and have healthy babies. Therefore, it's normal to have morning sickness, and also normal (albeit less common) to not have morning sickness. A lack of pregnancy sickness should not make expectant women anxious about their unborn babies. For women suffering from nausea and vomiting, there are many simple strategies -- such as eating frequent small, bland meals -- that can reduce pregnancy sickness.
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