Though it has a funny name, ptyalism (ti´ah-lizm) is simply an excess production of saliva. As a symptom of pregnancy it occurs frequently in women who are suffering from nausea or morning sickness and seems to occur most often during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.
“Most authorities believe ptyalism actually represents inability of the nauseated woman to swallow normal amounts of saliva rather than a true increase in the production of saliva,” says Dr. Jorge Pando, an OB/GYN with Palmetto General Hospital in Hialeah, Fla.
As with morning sickness, ptyalism seems to be most common early in pregnancy.
“When I was pregnant with my first daughter five years ago, especially at the beginning of the pregnancy, I found myself constantly ‘spitting’ at co-workers in conversations,” says Karen* of Youngstown, N.Y. “I didn’t realize at the time that it was connected with being pregnant! It was only after I read about it as a ‘symptom’ later on that I said, ‘ah ha – well that explains it!'”
Increased salivation can be related to heartburn, which is common during pregnancy. “The contents of your stomach are acidic, and when they back up on you, they irritate your esophagus and cause the burning sensation so familiar to heartburn sufferers,” Dr. Pando says. “The acid sensors in your esophagus then trigger your salivary glands to produce saliva that has an increased concentration of bicarbonate, which is alkaline.”
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