UCLA Study Links Morning Sickness to Healthy Immune Response During pregnancy
A new UCLA study released Thursday reveals a connection between morning sickness - including nausea, vomiting, and food/smell aversions – and the bodyS complex immune response during pregnancy. Researchers believe these ofen-uncomfortable symptoms are actually adaptive mechanisms that protect both mother and developing fetus.
During early pregnancy,the mother’s immune system faces a unique challenge: defending against infection while concurrently preventing rejection of the fetus,which shares genetic material from both parents. according to UCLA anthropology professor Molly Fox, “Normally, the immune system attacks anything that seems foreign, so in pregnancy, it has to carefully adjust to keep the fetus safe while still defending against infection.”
The study suggests a delicate balance is achieved through a mix of inflammatory responses. These responses help the mother tolerate the fetus, while symptoms like nausea likely encourage avoidance of perhaps harmful foods, notably during the vulnerable first and second trimesters.
Researchers, comprised of anthropologists and epidemiologists, analyzed blood samples from 58 Latina women in Southern California, measuring levels of cytokines – proteins that regulate inflammation and immune response. Participants also completed questionnaires detailing their experiences with morning sickness symptoms and food/smell aversions throughout their pregnancies.
The National Institutes of Health reports that up to 80% of pregnant women experience some form of morning sickness. While uncomfortable, these symptoms are generally not indicative of a problem and may, actually, be a sign of a healthy pregnancy.
UCLA highlights that understanding morning sickness as a normal physiological response could have positive implications for pregnant women in the workplace, reducing stigma and encouraging reasonable accommodations.
