Morning sickness sign of a healthy pregnancy?

It may be among the most unpleasant aspects of pregnancy but can morning sickness also indicate a lower risk of miscarriage?

It may be among the most unpleasant aspects of pregnancy but can morning sickness also indicate a lower risk of miscarriage?

A widespread belief holds that morning sickness can be a sort of blessing in disguise, but studies suggest that the truth is not so clear-cut.

Studies have shown a lower rate of miscarriage among women who experience regular nausea and vomiting. The most recent, published in The International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology in 2006, found that of 7,000 women studied, those who had nausea in the first three months were far less likely to miscarry. The reasons are unclear. Increased nausea and vomiting are associated with higher levels of a hormone produced by healthy placental tissue. On theory even suggests it may help women avoid foods that could harm a fetus.

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But many women have normal pregnancies with no morning sickness. And many studies have failed to find a relation between morning sickness and adverse outcomes like stillbirth and birth defects.

Bottomline: Morning sickness is associated with a lower rate of miscarriage, though it is not necessarily a sign of a healthy pregnancy.

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