For some women, it’s very common to have morning sickness during the first few months of pregnancy, and for most women, this improves or stops completely by around weeks 14-20. Some do have it last throughout the pregnancy.
However some women experience it so bad, that they are unable to keep food down This is known as hyperemesis gravidarum (HG). This is a condition that causes excessive vomiting and nausea. This can lead to severe dehydration and you may need hospitalisation.
It is not exactly known what causes it, but it is believed that some people have it because it runs in their families, as a result of high pregnancy hormones circulating in the body or if you’ve had it in previous pregnancies.
Symptoms of hyperemesis gravidarum
Along with excessive vomiting and nausea, there are some other signs and symptoms to look out for:
Signs and symptoms include:
- Excessive dehydration
- dark yellow and strong-smelling pee
- weight loss
- blood in vomit
- high temperature
- low blood pressure
Also it may not get better till late second trimester and can also last throughout the pregnancy.
See your doctor if you have severe nausea and vomiting. Getting help early can help you avoid dehydration and weight loss.
Treating hyperemesis gravidarum
You could be prescribed anti-sickness drugs, steroids or even injection if you’re too sick to keep anything down. Vitamin B6 has also been known to help as well.
If you are really struggling because your sickness is very severe, you may need to be admitted in hospital for treatment so you and baby can be assessed and monitored.Treatment can include intravenous fluids, which are given directly into a vein through a drip;If you have severe vomiting, the anti-sickness drugs may also need to be given via a vein or a muscle.
You don’t need to worry about HG hurting your baby even though it can make you feel very unwell, but it’s unlikely to harm your baby if managed properly. Though be aware that if you lose weight so much during pregnancy, your baby may be born smaller.
Severe sickness can be really tiring and depressing and this can stop you doing everyday tasks, such as going to work or even getting out of bed.
In addition to feeling very unwell and tired, you might also feel anxious about doing anything out f the hose, or confused about if you are able to go through with the pregnancy.
Do not feel bad or beat yourself up if you have this.It is not the result of anything you have or have not done. Just try get the right support and treatment if its affecting your everyday life.
