Understanding Morning Sickness Tyldesley

Being pregnant is one of the most joyous times of a woman’s life. It is a time filled with hopes, dreams, change and for some women, morning sickness.

NVP (nausea and vomiting in pregnancy) or “morning sickness”, affects an estimated 50-90% of pregnant women worldwide. Although it is called morning sickness, it can happen at any time of the day but is often worst upon waking. Pregnant women can experience great discomfort due to vomiting and nausea. The effects of NVP may appear for only a short period, but sometimes it lasts for weeks.

NVP usually starts between the fourth and sixth week of pregnancy and ends by the sixteenth week. Unfortunately, experts remain unsure about its cause; some believe it is caused by a combination of all the chemical changes that happen in a pregnant woman’s body. These include an increase in progesterone and oestrogen levels, as well as a heightened sense of smell. Progesterone “softens” the muscles of the body, including the muscles of the uterus, thus preventing early labour. However, it also affects the intestines and the stomach, which can lead to the production of excess stomach acid. Some experts suggest that the stress and fatigue experienced during pregnancy could also be a possible cause of NVP.

The increase of human chorionic gonadotopin (hCG) in the body during pregnancy is another possible cause. Production of hCG starts after the onset of pregnancy and dramatically increases until the twelfth week. hCG levels fall at that point and the effects of NVP usually lessen.

Statistics show that women who experience morning sickness are less likely to miscarry, so it appears that NVP has a good side, after all.