Feeling Queasy

Try these morning sickness busters...

- Tina Otte

Ever wondered why one of the first signs of pregnancy can leave you feeling so sick and tired? Well, your body makes sure your developing baby receives everything she needs to grow – even if it is at your own expense. As crazy as it may seem, some evidence shows that moms with morning sickness are unlikely to miscarry and usually go on to give birth to very healthy babies.

Many women are afflicted with this well-known (and misnamed) side effect of pregnancy – not only in the mornings, but all day. In fact, only about 20 percent of women who experience nausea or vomiting say it occurs only in the morning.

Although experts aren’t entirely sure what causes morning sickness, most agree it’s due to the high levels of the pregnancy hormone HCG (human chorionic gonadotrophin). This hormone stops the breaking down of the lining of the uterus – as would happen during a normal, not pregnant cycle. HCG levels rise rapidly during the first six weeks, peak at eight to 10 weeks, and begin to fall at 11 to 13 weeks. Additionally, foetal organ development is usually completed by week 14 of pregnancy. This may explain why nausea is usually an early sign of pregnancy and why in most women it tapers off after three to four months. Recent studies suggest that this may the embryo’s attempt to ensure a healthy pregnancy.