What is morning sickness and what are its symptoms?
Morning sickness is nausea, with and without vomiting, during pregnancy. It may occur at any time of day, especially when the stomach is empty. While it is most common during the first three months of pregnancy, it may continue beyond that time and may recur toward the end of pregnancy. But the problem usually goes away by 13 to 20 weeks of gestation. What causes morning sickness? It is not well understood, but many doctors believe that hormonal changes may be involved. Women prone to morning sickness often report that particular odors, sights, or tastes may trigger an episode. Are some more susceptible than others? Yes, although one study estimated that nausea and vomiting occur in up to 70 percent of pregnancies. What treatment is recommended? We usually recommend that women prone to morning sickness eat five or six small meals each day in order to avoid an empty stomach as much as possible. Some women are helped by eating dry soda crackers, a peeled apple or a plain potato (peeled a
