The Hormonal Cause of Morning Sickness during Pregnancy
                                                       

During pregnancy, your body is experiencing many hormonal changes that affect the way you feel. The first hormonal effect that is experienced by most pregnant women is often the feeling of nausea, accompanied by mild episodes of vomiting, called morning sickness. Even though it is termed "morning" sickness, it can occur at other times of the day, as well.

Medical experts believe that morning sickness is caused by the rising levels of a hormone called Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) in your blood stream. This hormone is released from the cells that form the placenta, which is an organ that develops to allow your baby to receive nutrients, oxygen, & get rid of wastes. Since the hCG hormone can be detected in both your blood and urine, it is the determining factor of a positive pregnancy test! However, as this hormone increases, not only can it cause you to feel nauseated, but it can also make you more susceptible to illness, as it lowers your immune response to keep your body from rejecting your baby.

The good news is that by the end of your first trimester, hCG hormone levels will decrease as your placenta is fully formed. As a result, you should start to feel better at this time!

Written/Summarized by Shelley Scheibel, RN, BSN

Resources: http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/nab2/when-does-life-begin
                  http://www.whattoexpect.com/pregnancy/pregnancy-health/pregnancy-
                         hormones.aspx
                  http://www.webmd.com/baby/guide/understanding-conception