$Unique_ID{BRK01215}
$Pretitle{Pregnancy and Childbirth}
$Title{Can a Woman Have Morning Sickness After the First Three Months of Pregnancy?}
$Subject{morning sickness cause}
$Volume{K-23}
$Log{}

Copyright (c) 1991   Tribune Media Services, Inc.


Can a Woman Have Morning Sickness After the First Three Months of Pregnancy?


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QUESTION:  I have been having terrible morning sickness with this pregnancy.
I always thought it normally stops after three months, but my girl friend
claims her problems continued past then.  Can a woman have morning sickness
after the first three months of a pregnancy?

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ANSWER:  Yes, the discomfort and unpleasantness of nausea and vomiting can
persist into the second trimester of pregnancy.  And it doesn't mean your baby
is in any trouble.  The exact cause of morning sickness hasn't been determined
yet, but it is believed to be related to the levels of human chorionic
gonadotropin (HCG) in the mother's circulation.  The appearance of symptoms
generally coincides with a rise in the level of HCG, and the symptoms
disappear with the fall of HCG levels.  Curiously, however, women with extreme
cases of morning sickness called "emesis gravidarum" often have lower than
normal HCG levels.
     Some of the theories that have been suggested to explain the continuation
of morning sickness beyond the first trimester include allergic,
endocrinologic, and psychological factors.  Too often in the past most of the
blame was placed on psychological factors, but studies have failed to prove
this to be consistently true.

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The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace 
the counsel and advice of your personal physician.  Promptly consulting your 
doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical 
problem.
