User:Erlemj/sandbox

Julie:

Sherman - Nausea and vomiting of pregnancy in an evolutionary perspective

"Morning sickness" does not present itself as a typical disease state. It could serve as a way to protect the mother and fetus from food-borne toxins. It has been seen that women who vomited during pregnancy miscarried less often than those who did not.

"maternal-and-embryo protection hypothesis" states that nausea and vomiting protects the fetus from exposure to secondary compounds found in plants. In large quantities, these can be damaging to a newly developing fetus and an immune compromised mother.

Miscarriages and birth defects can result if women become seriously ill, especially in the first trimester. Morning sickness is usually strongest in the first trimester. Food aversions usually disappear after birth.