Posted on 05/14/2007 4:53:30 PM PDT by blam
Blame that Morning Sickness on Your Ancient Ancestors
Author:
Karen Barrow
Medically Reviewed On: September 01, 2006
Despite its name, morning sickness—nausea and vomiting that is often one of the first symptoms of pregnancy—can happen at any time of the day. Up to 90 percent of pregnant women experience this less-than-pleasant side effect, yet scientists are only beginning to understand why running to the bathroom and saltines are a rite-of-passage for moms-to-be.
Now, new research has shed some light onto morning sickness, and its roots lie in evolution.
Researchers from the University of Liverpool suggest that morning sickness may have developed over time to protect pregnant women from potentially dangerous food or from eating too much unhealthy food.
To test the theory, Dr. Craig Roberts and colleagues looked at the rates of morning sickness in different regions of the world and the typical diet of the population in that region. Ultimately, not only was "high overall food intake correlated with pregnancy sickness, but also the amount of certain types of food predicted the incidence of pregnancy sickness," he said.
In other words, it's not just the amount of food you eat, but the type of food that seems to influence the degree of your morning sickness.
To further look at this phenomenon, Roberts then compared only those women from Europe and North America and pinpointed the types of foods that seem to trigger the symptoms of morning sickness: sugars, alcohol and meat. Additionally, women who ate high amounts of cereal-based products tended to have lower-than-average rates of nausea and vomiting during pregnancy.
The researchers theorize that women's bodies have slowly developed an aversion to sugar, alcohol and meat because all of these foods contain high levels of toxins that could be potentially dangerous to a mother and her child. Cereals, on the other hand, tend to contain a very low level of toxins, so they could possibly be safer for a woman to eat. Remember, however, that these toxins may not pose the same hazard now that they did in the days of ancient man.
"While there may be no particular harm in eating, say, meat, now that we have refrigeration and 'best before' dates," said Roberts,"our bodies may be pre-programmed by evolution to avoid these particular foodstuffs in the first trimester."
If there is a particular food that seems to make your morning sickness that much worse, it may be acceptable to avoid it, but be sure to consult with your doctor before changing your diet. That way, you can be sure that you and your baby are still getting all of the vitamins and nutrients you need.
What the heck is morning sickness? I had three kids 1981, 1983 & 1984 and never had morning sickness at all. Had a boy, then a girl, then a boy. Had them fast too. Fastest was the girl, had her in 49 MINUTES. I also got no stretch marks. My doctor told me I could easily have a 10 or 12 pound baby, that I was built for having babies. I shoulda SLAPPED him LOL. He said some women are just not “meant to have babies”. Not that they shouldn’t try to, but that some women have so much trouble getting pregnant, and making it to full term, and then had C sections. I had it so easy in labor and delivery. Pregnancies were easy too. I guess I woulda made a good pioneer woman. Stop plowing long enough to give birth, then back to work. LOL Not THAT easy, but pretty easy. I hear horror stories of morning sickness, long labor, difficulties of all kinds. I guess in my family we have it pretty easy. My sister worked all day Feb 5 1970 then had her first son about two hours after she got off work. She never even looked pregnant. My mom had an easy time of it all, other than she did get stretch marks on her belly.
I had it every day at 2PM in the afternoon, on the dot. Started building at 1 and was over by 3. Didn’t matter what I ate or didn’t eat.
I had two daughters; one at 31 weeks and the other one three weeks early. Not one day of morning sickness with either pregnancy.
My nickname around the office was "Pioneer Woman". No kidding.
I had morning sickness bad enough to have broken capillaries all around my eyes, and black eyes. It lasted between 5 and 7 months. Too much of a good thing.
Mrs VS
BTW, I didn’t have “cravings” either. I ate healthy food, avoided junk, balanced diet with exercise and everything and my child was perfectly normal when I had her at age 43 - ah without chemical intervention for conception. Also got pregnancy again at 45, but lost it due to Graves’ disease that wasn’t diagnosed in time.
BTW, I’m a RED meat eater too and HATE cereal.
And when it happens to Daddy?
I had a son and daughter, without a bit of morning sickness. Neither did my ex-wife when carrying them.
“Roberts then compared only those women from Europe and North America and pinpointed the types of foods that seem to trigger the symptoms of morning sickness: sugars, alcohol and meat. Additionally, women who ate high amounts of cereal-based products tended to have lower-than-average rates of nausea and vomiting during pregnancy.”
Odd that that would then support an ancient evolutionary root since cereals and grains weren’t nearly as available to hunter-gatherers as sugars, alcohols and meat; must depend on the researcher, I guess.
Migraines, but no nausea with #2.
Threw-up after every meal during the last 4 months w/ my 3rd - no matter what I ate. Doctors took that one early cause I was so sick & losing weight. He was a 7 lb 4 oz preemie. My being sick didn’t hurt him. Today he’s a big healthy 22 year old.
Bad back, but no sickness w/ #4. Could hardly walk by the time he was born.
"Celiac Syndrome or Celiac disease is a digestive disorder that damages the small intestine and interferes with absorption of nutrients from food. The intestinal damage can be seen on biopsy of the small intestine. Celiacs cannot tolerate a protein called gluten found in many grains such as wheat, barley and rye. Related proteins are found in spelt, triticale, kamut and other grains. Gluten is found mainly in foods, but is also found in products we use every day and even some medicines. "
The Sa'ami (Laplanders) have a high intolerance for grains.
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