Is Nausea During Pregnancy Harmful to the Child?

QUESTION: This second pregnancy is a great deal different from my first one.
I'm not breezing through this one as before, but experience a lot of nausea
and vomiting. I fear for the baby. Does the morning sickness mean my baby is
in trouble? I would appreciate any information you can provide.
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ANSWER: It is most probable that your morning problems will have no effect on
the health of the baby. Few women go through a pregnancy without some nausea
and vomiting. In fact, only about ten percent of women sail through a
pregnancy without feeling at least a twinge of nausea, so your last pregnancy
was a bit exceptional.
Studies show that nausea and vomiting are a part of a healthy pregnancy.
Birth weights of babies born to women who have had nausea and vomiting are
higher than birth weights of babies whose mothers had no nausea. Nauseated
mothers also give birth to term babies instead of premature ones, for the most
part. The reason for this is not understood yet, but for now the information
should provide you with some reassurance.
If you are experiencing enough nausea and vomiting to interfere with your
nutrition and weight gain, however, the situation is very different. A
condition called "hyperemesis gravidarum" affects a small percentage of
pregnant women, and these women vomit so much that they often have to be
hospitalized for intravenous feedings. If they are not cared for, they become
dehydrated and their babies suffer.
Be certain to mention your concerns to your physician, who can then take
the extra moment or two to check out any potentials for trouble and help you
correct them.