Haryana CHO -2023
Obstetrics & Gynaecology
Easy

Morning sickness is seen in:

Appeared in: Haryana CHO -2023

Explanation

  • Morning sickness, also known as nausea and vomiting of pregnancy (NVP), is a hallmark symptom of early pregnancy.
  • It typically begins between the 5th and 6th week of gestation and resolves for most women by the 14th to 16th week.
  • The condition is primarily attributed to physiological and hormonal changes, particularly the rapid rise in human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) levels.
  • While often called 'morning' sickness, the nausea and vomiting can persist throughout the day for many women.

Why Other Options Were Wrong

  • Option A: Amavata is an Ayurvedic term for a condition resembling rheumatoid arthritis, which is a chronic inflammatory disorder affecting joints. It is unrelated to pregnancy-related nausea.
  • Option B: Vatarakta is an Ayurvedic term for gout, a type of inflammatory arthritis caused by hyperuricemia. It has no connection to the symptoms of morning sickness.
  • Option D: Puerperium is the postpartum period, which starts after the delivery of the placenta and lasts for about six weeks. Morning sickness is a symptom of pregnancy and resolves after delivery.

Related Visual

Visual explanation — Related Visual
Clinical Relevance
  • Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Signs and symptoms of early pregnancy as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
  • A key nursing responsibility is to differentiate between normal morning sickness and hyperemesis gravidarum, a severe form that can lead to dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, and significant weight loss, requiring medical intervention.
  • Patient education is vital. Nurses should advise on dietary and lifestyle modifications, such as eating small, frequent meals, consuming dry crackers before rising, and avoiding trigger foods and smells.
  • Nurses should provide reassurance that for most women, morning sickness is a temporary condition that typically resolves by the second trimester and is not harmful to the fetus.
How to Approach the Question
  • First, identify the key term in the question: 'Morning sickness'.
  • Recall the common signs and symptoms associated with different stages of pregnancy and the postpartum period.
  • Associate 'morning sickness' with its well-known context, which is early pregnancy, due to hormonal changes.
  • Evaluate the given options. 'Early pregnancy' directly aligns with the typical timing of morning sickness.
  • Eliminate the other options. 'Amavata' and 'Vatarakta' are terms from Ayurvedic medicine for unrelated conditions (arthritis and gout). 'Puerperium' refers to the period after childbirth, by which time morning sickness has resolved.
  • Confirm that 'Early pregnancy' is the only plausible answer.
Concept Tested & Keywords
  • Concept Tested: Signs and symptoms of early pregnancy
  • Stem keywords: Morning sickness
  • Lead-in keywords: seen in

Question ID

QnsbNkCrYIqy-C1VOg7iYf

Reference Book

E6 Nutrition Kumud Khanna 2e p. 94-96

E6 Midwifery Obstetrics and Gynecology Nursing Sandeep Kaur p. 21-29

E6 Obstetrics Williams p. 84-91

Practise the full Haryana CHO -2023

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.