Is No Morning Sickness in Early Pregnancy a Cause of Concern?

Morning sickness is indeed a widespread pregnancy symptom, with a significant majority of expectant mothers experiencing it. In fact, it’s such a common occurrence that it’s almost expected as a rite of passage during pregnancy. It’s worth noting, though, that not all women will have this experience. Some individuals are genetically inclined to have less sensitive stomachs, which can result in minimal or even no feelings of nausea or morning sickness during early pregnancy. This variation in experiences further highlights the uniqueness of each woman’s pregnancy journey, as they navigate the ups and downs of this transformative time in their lives.

How Common Is Morning Sickness in Pregnancy?

Morning sickness is a common symptom of pregnancy, but its prevalence and severity can vary from woman to woman. Statistics regarding the prevalence of morning sickness can vary based on different factors such as demographics, geographic location, and the population being studied. However, it’s estimated that about 70-80% of pregnant women experience some degree of morning sickness during their pregnancy. For most women, morning sickness is mild to moderate and resolves on its own by the end of the first trimester. In some cases, it can persist throughout pregnancy, and in a small percentage of women, it can be severe and require medical intervention.

Should You Worry If You Don’t Have Morning Sickness?

No. There is absolutely no need to worry if you do not have morning sickness during early pregnancy. 30 per cent of pregnant women sail through pregnancy without any nausea or morning sickness. The rising levels of hCG, hormones and estrogen in the first trimester are responsible for that churning feeling in your stomach leading to morning sickness. However, some women are better equipped to deal with it. If you have no morning sickness at around 6 weeks or so, be happy that you can tolerate pregnancy much better. You sure don’t want to be on the other side.

On the flip side, it is possible that you may experience morning sickness later. Most pregnant women tend to get morning sickness between 8 to 14 weeks. Also, the nature of morning sickness is that it can fade for a while before coming back for more.

Why do you have morning sickness during pregnancy in the first place? The answer lies in evolution. Since the foetus is at its most fragile state during these first few months, it is believed that morning sickness helps restrict the intake of any food that may be harmful to the foetus. Most women tend to be aversive of fish, poultry, meat and eggs, food items that are most likely to be exposed and carrying bacteria. Also, strong-tasting foods that have phytochemicals in high levels are likely to be avoided by pregnant women due to morning sickness. These foods are teratogenic or birth-defect-causing foods. Hence, from an evolutionary point of view, women are equipped to fight off harm to their baby by a rather strange means – that of morning sickness.

Is Lack of Morning Sickness a Sign of Miscarriage?

A study published in JAMA Internal Medicine states that women who have morning sickness during pregnancy have a 75 per cent lower risk of miscarrying. Now, does no vomiting during pregnancy mean miscarriage in the others who do experience it? Definitely not!

There is no concrete evidence that no morning sickness and miscarriage correlate. In fact, the study was skewed as only women who had prior miscarriages were considered, which is not the whole sample size.

However, the lack of morning sickness may indicate that the hormone levels are lower than normal, which puts them at an increased risk of miscarriage. If your hormone levels are top-notch and your doctor has nothing to say about your lack of morning sickness, all you really should do is sit back and enjoy the pregnancy ride.

When to Call a Doctor?

Experiencing no morning sickness during pregnancy can be a relief for some expectant mothers, as it can be an uncomfortable and challenging symptom. However, it’s important to remember that the absence of morning sickness doesn’t necessarily indicate a problem with your pregnancy. Nonetheless, there are situations when it’s advisable to contact your healthcare provider for guidance and reassurance.

1. Excessive Vomiting or Nausea

If you suddenly develop severe vomiting or nausea that interferes with your ability to eat, drink, and keep food down, it’s essential to consult your doctor. This could be a sign of a condition called hyperemesis gravidarum, which may require medical treatment to prevent dehydration and malnutrition.

2. Other Concerning Symptoms

While the absence of morning sickness on its own is not typically a cause for concern, if you experience other concerning symptoms such as vaginal bleeding, severe abdominal pain, or a sudden decrease in breast tenderness (if previously experienced), it’s crucial to seek immediate medical attention. These symptoms could indicate a potential issue with your pregnancy, such as a miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, or other complications.

FAQs

1. When Does Your Morning Sickness Stop Completely?

Morning sickness usually starts during the first trimester of pregnancy and tends to improve or disappear by the end of the first trimester, typically around weeks 12-14. However, some women may continue to experience it into the second trimester, and a small number may have it throughout their pregnancy. The timing can vary widely from person to person.

2. Why Don’t You Have Morning Sickness at 5 Weeks?

Morning sickness typically begins around the 6th week of pregnancy when hormonal changes, such as an increase in hCG and estrogen levels, are at their peak. So, no morning sickness at 5 weeks is entirely normal and not a cause for concern. Some women may never experience morning sickness during their pregnancy, and this variation in symptoms is entirely normal and does not necessarily indicate any issues with the pregnancy. In this way, no morning sickness at 6, 7, and 8 weeks is also completely normal.

Instead of worrying yourself that your lack of morning sickness may indicate a miscarriage, try and find out what actually causes a miscarriage and work towards preventing those risk factors. A pregnancy without morning sickness in first trimester could be normal. Note that some of these may not be in your control. However, the wise thing to do is keep going to your routine checkup so that your doctor can immediately point out if something is wrong and can get you on treatment on time.

References/Resources:

1. Vomiting and morning sickness; NHS UK; https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/related-conditions/common-symptoms/vomiting-and-morning-sickness

2. Hinkle. S, Mumford. S, Grantz. K, et al.; Association of Nausea and Vomiting During Pregnancy With Pregnancy Loss; JAMA International Medicine; https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2553283; November 2016

3. Bustos. M, Venkataramanan. R, Caritis. S; Nausea and Vomiting of Pregnancy-What’s New?; National Library of Medicine; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5107351/; May 2016

4. Fejzo. M, Sazonova. O, Slamon. D, MacGibbon. K, et al.; Placenta and appetite genes GDF15 and IGFBP7 are associated with hyperemesis gravidarum; Nature Communications; https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-018-03258-0; Marc 2018

5. Mitsuda. N, Eitoku. M, Maeda. N, Fujieda. M, Suganuma. N; Severity of Nausea and Vomiting in Singleton and Twin Pregnancies in Relation to Fetal Sex: The Japan Environment and Children’s Study (JECS); National Library of Medicine; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6680056/; September 2019

6. Koren. G, Madjunkova. S, Maltepe. C; Reproductive Toxicology: The protective effects of nausea and vomiting of pregnancy against adverse fetal outcome—A systematic review; https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0890623814000975; August 2014

7. Lee. N, Saha. S; Gastroenterology Clinics of North America: Nausea and Vomiting of Pregnancy; https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0889855311000276; June 2011

8. Morning Sickness: Nausea and Vomiting of Pregnancy FAQs; American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists; https://www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/Morning-Sickness-Nausea-and-Vomiting-of-Pregnancy

Also Read:

Tips to Deal With Morning Sickness at Night
Is Morning Sickness During Pregnancy a Good Sign?
Home Remedies for Morning Sickness during Pregnancy
When Does Morning Sickness Start, Peak and Subside?