Is Morning Nausea During Pregnancy Beneficial?; The Real Cause of Pregnancy Nausea

According to SAEDNEWS, morning sickness during pregnancy usually begins with feelings of nausea or vomiting about 12 to 20 weeks after fertilization in the uterus. Fortunately, despite being unpleasant, this condition does not harm pregnant women or their fetuses.

Salamat News wrote: However, in some cases the nausea and vomiting become extremely severe, a condition referred to as “hyperemesis gravidarum.” Because this condition causes dehydration and malnutrition, it puts both the mother and fetus at risk, and they must receive medical care.

Morning sickness during pregnancy

Morning sickness occurs because of several sudden biological changes, including the excessive release of pregnancy hormones and significant fluctuations in blood pressure. Strong smells and tastes can also trigger nausea or vomiting. Therefore, to control nausea, pregnant women should consume foods with mild flavors. It is also better to eat smaller meals more frequently. They should drink enough water and get sufficient rest.

Another cause of this unpleasant condition is the release of the hormone GDF15, which is secreted by the embryo or fetus. The higher the level of this hormone, the more severe the mother’s nausea becomes. However, women who had previously been exposed to this hormone before pregnancy are usually more resistant to it during pregnancy.

Women with the inherited blood disorder beta thalassemia also usually either do not experience pregnancy nausea or experience it in a very mild form. Because of this disorder, their bodies naturally contain high levels of the GDF15 hormone, and their bodies have long been familiar with and adapted to processing this type of protein before pregnancy.

The role of evolution in morning sickness during pregnancy

Some researchers believe that morning sickness during pregnancy had an evolutionary purpose. In fact, it may protect the fetus from harmful substances found in certain foods. Considering the condition of pregnant women, it is clear that many of them feel nauseated by vegetables and meat products that have strong smells and flavors. These types of foods contain more toxins than many other foods, and pregnancy nausea may reduce exposure to disease-causing substances.

In prehistoric times, when our ancestors had to obtain food through gathering and hunting, they were exposed more often to contaminated foods, and pregnancy nausea may have helped expel poisoned foods from the mother’s body and increase the chances of a healthy pregnancy.

To treat morning sickness, pregnant women should drink plenty of fluids and avoid triggers such as strong smells and sharp flavors. Their food should also be nutritious and easy to digest.