Hyperemesis Gravidarum: Signs, Symptoms, and Treatment

Severe vomiting, nausea and losing weight during pregnancy – Hyperemesis Gravidarum

Many pregnant women sometimes have nausea, but excessive vomiting and weight loss can be very unhealthy for both mother and baby. In this article you will learn what hyperemesis gravidarum is and what are the signs, symptoms, and treatments are for it.

Vomiting and Morning Sickness are very common in pregnancy, mostly occurring in the first 3-12 weeks. Although commonly known as ‘Morning’ Sickness it is possible to experience nausea and/or vomiting at any point during the day, and some women can find themselves being sick or vomiting all day long. It is known to be caused by hormonal changes in the first part of pregnancy and in some cases due to a vitamin B6 deficiency. Symptoms usually begin around 9 weeks into the pregnancy (6 weeks after the last menstrual period) and ease up as the pregnancy progresses, with 9 out of 10 women having no symptoms after the third month of pregnancy. Although this is very common, some women experience a severe form of nausea and vomiting called Hyperemesis Gravidarum, which must be treated in hospital.

What is Hyperemesis Gravidarum?

Hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) is the term for severe nausea and vomiting during pregnancy (NVP). This is not very common and affects about 0.5 to 2% of expectant mothers, but it is thought that there may be a hereditary element. The symptoms are so severe that it is difficult for women with hypoglycemia to keep even liquids, which can lead to dehydration and nutritional deficiencies. In some cases hospitalization for rehydration is necessary.

Hyperemesis gravidarum during pregnancy is most apparent during the first trimester when hormone levels increase. When hormone levels slow down, nausea also stops for most women. For some women, nausea and vomiting seem to continue their entire pregnancy.

Signs and symptoms of Hyperemesis gravidarum

Understanding the various signs and symptoms of hyperemesis gravidarum and what they might signify signifies becoming capable of treating these signs and symptoms and keeping yourself healthier throughout pregnancy. This might result in being able to avoid making the situation worse via the points you do. Let’s go into the symptoms of mornings sickness, so you can understand this much better.

The most common signs and symptoms of hyperemesis gravidarum would include nausea and vomiting. There are reasons why women experience varying degrees of this. One theory is that the entire body is trying to rid itself of toxins and harmful elements that may be dangerous towards the developing fetus. A woman’s body can handle many various elements that a fetus cannot, so signs and symptoms of hyperemesis gravidarum are a good thing in this case. This only means that the entire body is responding normally to the pregnancy. Hyperemesis gravidarum, on the other hand, is much more severe and exhibits the following symptoms:

Nausea with severe vomiting that does not disappear
Dehydration causes electrolyte balance
Weight loss equal to or greater than 5% of the weight before pregnancy
Less urination
Low blood pressure
Rapid heart rate
Headaches
Confusion
Fainting
Jaundice (yellow tint of skin and eyes)
Extreme fatigue
Loss of skin elasticity
Secondary depression/anxiety

A tiny percentage of unfortunate women suffer from a severe form of morning sickness known as hyperemesis gravidum.

These women struggle to keep any food down so they lose a lot of weight and fluids and sometimes have to be cared for in a hospital where they can be fed and hydrated by drip.

Hyperemesis Gravidarum Treatment

Eat small portions, but eat often.

When your stomach is empty, you must feel sick. Although this can sometimes be difficult, try to eat (or graze) with small portions throughout the day (snacks such as nuts, pretzels, and fruit are great options).

Keep track of your illness.

Although the disease can be random and unexpected during pregnancy, there is usually a trigger. Keep a diary or when you are ill and look for similarities such as time, day or the specific food. You would never expect this if the middenthee of your colleague becomes nauseous.

Take ginger in your day.

Ginger is known to be a lollipop in the stomach. The active ingredient, gingerol, is a natural anti-inflammatory and soothes the digestive tract. Try adding ginger to your water, drinking ginger ale or ginger tea, or nibbling a gingerbread or crystallized ginger to relieve your nausea.

Drink a lot of liquids.

Staying hydrated, not only during pregnancy, is important. If you have specific problems with limiting your food intake, you drink a lot of water. You can add lemon and lime to your water if necessary. Sports drinks can be used in moderation to replace electrolytes that have been lost during vomiting.

Food to avoid.

The fetus – others can cause nausea and vomiting in the mother.

Some foods are known to cause the disease include:

Vegetables with a strong taste
Fatty food
Meat, poultry and dairy products of poor quality.

If you have severe illness and have trouble keeping the water in, contact a doctor as soon as possible. Morning sickness in the most severe form, also known as hyperemesis gravidarum (HG), can lead to dehydration and malnutrition, which may need to be treated in the hospital.