Morning sickness reduces dietary diversity, nutrient intakes, and infant outcome of pregnant women

Abstract

This study was undertaken to determine the effects of morning sickness in pregnant women on dietary diversity, nutrient intakes, maternal weight gain, and infant outcome. A total of 143 pregnant women in their first trimester participated in the study. Morning sickness tended to make the subjects eliminate food groups, especially the meat and dairy groups. Consequently, the subjects who experienced morning sickness consumed less diverse diets with less energy, protein, and all micronutrients examined. Maternal weight gain during the first trimester tended to decrease gradually with increasing severity of morning sickness. Birth weights of infants born to subjects with even mild symptoms of morning sickness were significantly lower than those from the women without morning sickness. Birth weight and chest circumference seemed to be influenced by morning sickness also. In conclusion, morning sickness in pregnant women result in poor dietary diversity and reduced intakes of energy, protein, and micronutrients and, consequently, adversely affect infant outcome as well as maternal weight gain during early pregnancy.