Can morning sickness be prevented? New study raises treatment hope

A study published in the Nature journal found that a hormone released by babies in the womb might be responsible for pregnancy sickness, including hyperemesis gravidarum.

The majority of women experience morning sickness during pregnancy, but what causes nausea and vomiting while expecting has largely remained unexplained – until now.

A study published in the Nature journal Wednesday found that a hormone released by babies in the womb, a protein called GDF15, might be responsible for pregnancy sickness, including in its most severe form, called hyperemesis gravidarum (HG).

Researchers from the University of Cambridge, University of Southern California, University of Edinburgh and others said in their paper that fetal production of GDF15 and the mother’s sensitivity to it “contribute substantially” to the risk of HV.

“I think we really do now pretty much fully understand or have a very good understanding of why women get sick in pregnancy and in particular why some women get very sick in pregnancy,” said Sir Stephen O’Rahilly, a University of Cambridge professor and one of the study authors, in an interview with Global News Thursday.

O’Rahilly said the severity of pregnancy sickness is determined not only how much of the GDF15 hormone the fetus makes and puts into the mother’s bloodstream, but also how sensitive the mom is to that hormone.

If women are exposed to this hormone before pregnancy that will likely make them even more sick when expecting, the study found. 

Morning sickness is a common condition that typically occurs in the first trimester or first three months of pregnancy. It can occur at any time of the day but tends to be worst in the morning. Hence the name.

Most women have mild symptoms including an upset stomach, nausea, loss of appetite and vomiting, but in its most severe form, HV could also require hospitalization.