Top 5 Causes of Pregnancy Sickness

During the first trimester of pregnancy, pregnancy sickness may occur. Pregnancy sickness, or morning sickness, does not have to happen only in the morning hours. Many women report having pregnancy sickness throughout the day. Women who suffer from classic morning sickness typically find they simply need to eat before rising in the morning to stop nausea. When pregnancy sickness happens at other times during the day, it could be associated with pregnancy sickness triggers.

Heightened Sense of Smell. When estrogen levels begin to rise in the first trimester of pregnancy, the sense of smell heightens. Food, perfume and air freshener are all strong enough to cause nausea. Whenever possible, stay away from scents that cause pregnancy sickness until the second trimester when your body gets used to new estrogen levels.

Increase in Hormones. Hormones flood the body during pregnancy. The first is human chorionic gonadotropin or HCG. This is the hormone that triggers the positive pregnancy test. Then estrogen and progesterone start to rise. As hormones change so does the body, both physically and mentally. These changes take some getting used to and may cause nausea or pregnancy sickness from time to time.

Progesterone and the Digestive System. Some pregnancy sickness is caused by the effect of progesterone on the digestive system. When progesterone levels increase the digestive system slows down. This means food will digest more slowly often leading to nausea and constipation. Pregnancy sickness associated with a slow digestive system may ease up a bit if you eat six smaller meals during the day as opposed to three larger meals.

Anxiety Related to Pregnancy. Not all pregnancy sickness is caused by physical changes in the body. Anxiety over the financial and emotional burden of being a new mother can often cause symptoms of pregnancy sickness. Remember to use relaxation techniques whenever you feel anxious or nervous about motherhood. As the pregnancy progresses you will feel more comfortable.

Caffeine Intake. With all of the changes in the body during pregnancy there are some favorites you may have to give up. Coffee and caffeinated beverages may cause an increase in heart rate which can lead to nausea or pregnancy sickness. Some studies have linked caffeine use to an increased risk of miscarriage and other problems in pregnancy, aside from pregnancy sickness.

Pregnancy sickness is just a part of pregnancy for some women. This does not mean that severe pregnancy sickness is okay. If you are violently nauseous or you cannot keep any food or drink down, seek medical attention. You may need to be hospitalized for dehydration.

More from this Contributor

Vaccination Guidelines for Pregnant Women

Worst Exercises for Pregnant Women

Questions About Home Pregnancy Tests Answered