Causes of Morning Sickness

Because morning sickness is such a common part of pregnancy, many women just accept this symptom of pregnancy. But have you ever wondered exactly why it is that you experience morning sickness? Is it due to your fluctuating hormones? Is it the result of hCG, the "pregnancy hormone"? Or could it possibly be caused by some other factor, like stress?

Up and Down Hormones

Unfortunately, when it comes right down to it, no one is exactly sure just what causes morning sickness. Yet, most experts on the subject believe that morning sickness is the result of the hormonal changes that occur when you become pregnant. Specifically, most believe that it is the human chronic gonadotropin (hCG) that causes you to feel nauseous and vomit in the early stages of your pregnancy. Supporting this is the fact that some research has shown that women with morning sickness tend to have higher levels of hCG than women who show no morning sickness symptoms.

However, there is some evidence to suggest that your increasing estrogen and progesterone levels could also be playing a role in your morning sickness. Similarities have been made between the nausea and vomiting a woman experiences in pregnancy and the nausea caused by the birth control pill. This has led many to believe that hormones play a common role in both instances.

The final hormonal factor that supports this theory is the fact that morning sickness peaks around the 12th week of pregnancy, which is about the same time that hCG levels begin to subside.

Other Causes

While the evidence strongly supports the theory that hormones are the culprit behind morning sickness, some researchers have noted other factors that can contribute towards morning sickness. Many pregnant women have noticed that their sense of smell becomes acutely heightened during pregnancy. Having the ability to suddenly smell many more scents than ever before can be overwhelming for your senses, which can certainly play a role in your nausea.

If you need a good reason to put your feet up and relax while you’re pregnant, here are two. Research has shown that women who don’t get enough sleep while they are pregnant are more likely to experience nausea and vomiting. Additionally, women who have more stress tend to have more morning sickness. So, get to bed early and don’t worry about the small stuff if you want to help get rid of morning sickness!