What causes morning sickness?
If you’ve been following me for a while, you already know that there can be many nutritional and hormonal aspects to morning sickness. Another one that’s not often talked about? Progesterone deficiency.
Progesterone is the hormone released by the corpus luteum in the ovaries. It supports the uterine lining aka the endometrium and is required to sustain a pregnancy (and so much more). It’s the “pro-gestation” hormone.
“During pregnancy, very large amounts of progesterone are made. It protects and stabilizes practically all functions of both the mother and the fetus.” (Peat)
But sometimes, we fall short in the first trimester. This can lead to undesirable outcomes, one of which can be morning sickness.
“Morning sickness in early pregnancy...many will tell you that the name is wrong - they are sick all day, not just in the morning. This seems to mean that in former times doctors (who were always male, of course) considered mild vomiting in early pregnancy to be quite natural, something to be expected and which the women should learn to accept. It’s a pity they never had to go through it!” (Dalton)
“This is because the placenta is not yet fully formed and is not producing sufficient progesterone. The symptoms usually pass by the sixteenth to twentieth week of pregnancy.” (Dalton)
Some have even said that PMS sufferers, who may usually be suffering from a progesterone deficiency, are more likely to experience morning sickness.
This is also why preconception prep and getting progesterone production into a good place can be so beneficial.
Of course, as I’ve mentioned before, there can be other drivers of morning sickness. But sometimes, supplemental progesterone can be a huge help!
A few of my favorite brands include:
💮 Ona’s (use code Innate20 for 20% off)
💮 Forever Healthy Hair
Always talk to your doctor before starting any new supplements, especially if you’re pregnant. Please do not ask me for dosing information.
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Not medical advice.
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This is not medical advice. Always consult your healthcare professional before pursuing any changes to your personal healthcare regime.
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References
Dalton, K. Holton, D. (1994). PMS: The Essential Guide to Treatment Options. San Francisco, CA: HarperCollinsPublishers.
Dalton, K. (1999). Once a Month. Hunter House Inc., Publishers: Alameda, CA.
Peat, R. Eclampsia in the Real Organism: A Paradigm of General Distress Applicable in Infants, Adults, Etc.. Retrieved from: http://raypeat.com/articles/aging/eclampsia.shtml.
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