Here's Why Morning Sickness Might Actually Be Good For Your Pregnancy

I don't think I have to reiterate here that morning sickness is pretty awful. Unfortunately, it's also a very common symptom of pregnancy — about 50-90 percent of pregnant people suffer from some kind of nausea or morning sickness, according to Reuters. Given how common morning sickness is and the fact that it can be downright terrible, it's no surprise countless companies have developed drugs to combat the symptom. Before you find solace in medicine, however, you should know that morning sickness can indicate a healthy pregnancy, according to a new study recently published to the Journal of Molecular Endocrinology. Although it might not be fun to ride out morning sickness, it might be what's best for your growing baby.

Researchers at the University of Reading in England recently found that the hormone that causes morning sickness, endokinin, is what also maintains adequate blood flow throughout the placenta, according to the Daily Mail. Considering that all of the "necessary nutrition, oxygen, and life support" that a growing fetus needs comes from the placenta, according to the University of Rochester Medical Center, this supposed finding is pretty important. A disrupted blood flow to the placenta can lead to "low birth weight, premature birth, and birth defects," according to Healthline.

The downside to the endokinin hormone is that it can make you feel really sick. If you have a high concentration of endokinin in your blood, this will activate receptors in your brain that often leads to nausea and vomiting, according to Express.

One of the lead researchers of the study, Professor Lowry, said of the findings, according to Health Medicine Network:

Although morning sickness is very unpleasant, the 'old wives’ tale' that it results in a healthy baby now has a credible scientific explanation."There may be a temptation to use endokinin-blocking drugs to treat morning sickness during pregnancy, but these findings suggest that such drugs could affect the health of the pregnancy and must be avoided. I hope that this article will give some psychological relief to pregnant women suffering from morning sickness...

Plus, there are some potentially controversial morning sickness drugs on the market like Diclegis, for example. There are supposed issues with the initial clinical trial that got Diclegis approved by the FDA, according to CNN, and there have been numerous questions about its safety. Romper reached out to the manufacturer of Diclegis, Duchesnay USA, for comment but did not immediately hear back.

Of course, there are some people out there who have severe cases of morning sickness (hyperemesis gravidarum) like Kate Middleton, for example, and prescription drugs might be the best option in extreme cases. Some people with hyperemesis gravidarum even require hospitalization and IV-administered fluids to off-set dehydration.

There are also natural remedies to help with morning sickness, like ginger and peppermint, to name a few. These natural ingredients will ease the intensity of your symptoms as opposed to blocking the endokinin hormone like a drug might do.

The good news is morning sickness typically doesn't last for too long. Most people stop experiencing nausea and vomiting around 14 weeks, according to Baby Center, and only about 1 percent of people endure hyperemesis gravidarum, according to TODAY.

And if you're feeling particularly down about your morning sickness (it's totally OK to be frustrated), know that you're not alone. Countless celebrities, like Ali Fedotowsky and Kelly Clarkson, for example, have been vocal about their struggles with morning sickness.

So, the main takeaway from this study is that manageable (emphasis on manageable) morning sickness isn't bad for your baby. Although it's best to talk to your doctor if you have concerns about nausea and vomiting while pregnant, rest assured that these annoying symptoms are likely your body's way of telling you that your child is doing just fine.

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