Morning sickness is really a misnomer. Many women
in the early months of pregnancy get all day sickness or occasional
sickness. Regardless of when you get sick, nausea and/or vomiting during
pregnancy can put a damper on your best intentions to exercise.
The most common theory of why nausea and vomiting or pregnancy occurs is
the rise in the hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) or Beta-HCG
and other hormones. Pregnancy hormones also increase the sense of smell,
making expectant moms more sensitive to odors. This sensitivity can lead
nausea as well as an upset stomach. Stress also seems to exacerbate
symptoms.
It’s hard to say why some women have more nausea and vomiting than
others, but those who tend to experience morning sickness include women
carrying multiple births, who have a history of motion sickness, who get
migraines, and those with a history of nausea and vomiting on birth
control pills.
For more information about this and other subjects
related to preparing for childbirth,
read Motherwell® Maternity Fitness
Plan by Bonnie Berk, RN.
Copyright 2005 Bonnie Berk, Inc.
