Hyperemesis gravidarum, is excessive vomiting in pregnant women. It is a condition characterized by excessive nausea, vomiting, and weight loss and electrolyte imbalance.
Hyperemesis gravidarum is an uncommon complication of pregnancy, with just about 3% of pregnant women affected by it.
The absolute cause of hyperemesis gravidarum is still unknown, although experts believe it may be caused by a rise in hormone levels. The Cleveland Clinic identified these hormones as most likely to be estrogen and HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin). The condition usually appears in early pregnancy, from about the eighth to the tenth week, as the body reacts to the hormone as its level rises. Symptoms usually disappear by the 28th week, although it may last for the whole pregnancy for 10 to 20% of women suffering from hyperemesis gravidarum.
Unlike simple nausea and vomiting that accompanies many pregnancies, hyperemesis gravidarum is a medical emergency that usually requires hospitalization.
The condition is marked by nausea and vomiting so severe that women can become dehydrated and lose weight because of inadequate nutrition, If not treated properly with intravenous fluids and sometimes also intravenous nutrition, it can be life-threatening to pregnant women and their foetuses.
What are the symptoms of hyperemesis gravidarum?
According to the Cleveland Clinic, a pregnant woman may possibly havehyperemesis gravidarum if she has the following symptoms:
- vomiting for more than three times a day
- weight loss of more than 10 pounds
- dehydration
- dizziness
- lightheadedness.
Other symptoms include food aversions, decreased urination, loss of skin elasticity, jaundice, headaches, extreme fatigue, confusion, fainting, low blood pressure, rapid heart rate and depression.
Will hyperemesis gravidarum harm the baby?
Research shows that foetal complications resulting from hyperemesis gravidarum are subtle or uncommon. Most complications are associated with mothers who have lost more than 10% of their body weight and have failed to gain more weight before they gave birth.
Complications may also result if treatment is inadequate or delayed. Thus, if you're given early medical care to manage your symptoms and ensure that you're not deficient in nutrients, then it's less likely that the baby will be harmed.
What are the risk factors for developing hyperemesis gravidarum?
A pregnant woman may have an increased probability of developing hyperemesis gravidarum if she's had hyperemesis gravidarum during her previous pregnancy; her mother or sister had hyperemesis gravidarum during their pregnancy; she's having twins or triplets; it's her first pregnancy; she's prone to migraines or travel sickness; she's overweight; or she has a pre-existing liver disease.
How is hyperemesis gravidarum treated?
Some mild cases can reportedly be treated with a dietary change and rest, while more severe cases require hospitalization so nutrition and fluids can be administered intravenously. Treatment will depend on the severity of hyperemesis gravidarum symptoms. In some cases, hyperemesis gravidarum may be mild enough that preventive measures are enough to curb the symptoms.
The Cleveland Clinic suggests the following steps to prevent morning sickness from becoming severe:
- use pressure point wrist bands
- taking vitamin B6 or eating ginger
- eat small, frequent meals
- eat bland foods
- wait for nausea to improve before taking iron supplements
However, in most cases hyperemesis gravidarum becomes so severe that it requires hospitalization. Hospital treatment for HG usually includes intravenous fluids in order to replace the fluids lost from vomiting and tube feeding to curb maternal malnutrition.
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