Severe vomiting in pregnancy
Sickness in pregnancy is common. Around 8 out of every 10 pregnant women experience nausea and/or vomiting, and this doesn't just occur in the morning.
For most women, this improves or disappears completely by around week 16-20, although for some women it can last longer.
Some pregnant women experience excessive nausea and vomiting. They might be sick many times a day and be unable to keep food or drink down, which can have a negative effect on their daily life.
This excessive nausea and vomiting is known as hyperemesis gravidarum (HG), and often needs hospital treatment.
Exactly how many pregnant women get HG is not known, as some cases may go unreported, but it's thought to be around 1 to 3 in every 100.
If you are being sick frequently and can't keep food down, tell your midwife or doctor, or contact the hospital as soon as possible. There is a risk you may become dehydrated, and your midwife or doctor can make sure you get the right treatment.
Symptoms of hyperemesis gravidarum
HG is much worse than the normal nausea and vomiting of pregnancy ("morning sickness"). Signs and symptoms of HG include:
- prolonged and severe nausea and vomiting
- dehydration - symptoms of dehydration include, feeling thirsty, tired, dizzy or lightheaded, not peeing very much, and having dark yellow and strong-smelling pee
- weight loss
- low blood pressure (hypotension) when standing
Unlike regular pregnancy sickness, HG may not get better by 16 to 20 weeks. It may not clear up completely until the baby is born, although some symptoms may improve at around 20 weeks.
See your GP or midwife if you have severe nausea and vomiting, ideally before you start suffering from dehydration and weight loss.
There are other conditions that can cause nausea and vomiting, such as appendicitis, and your doctor will need to rule these out first.
HealthTalkOnline has videos and written interviews of women talking about their experience of hyperemesis gravidarum, and how they coped.
What causes hyperemesis gravidarum?
It's not known what causes HG, or why some women get it and others don't. Some experts believe that it is linked to the changing hormones in your body that occur during pregnancy.
There is some evidence that it runs in families, so if you have a mother or sister who has had HG in a pregnancy, you may be more likely to get it yourself.
If you have had HG in a previous pregnancy, you are more likely to get it in your next pregnancy than women who have never had it before, so it's worth planning in advance.
Treating hyperemesis gravidarum
There are medications that can be used in pregnancy, including the first 12 weeks, to help improve the symptoms of HG. These include anti-sickness (anti-emetic) drugs, vitamins (B6 and B12) and steroids, or combinations of these.
Evidence suggests that the earlier you start treatment, the more effective it will be. You may need to try different types of medication until you find what works best for you.
If your nausea and vomiting cannot be controlled, you may need to be admitted to hospital. This is so that doctors can assess your condition and give you right treatment, to protect the health of you and your baby.
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.
The charity Pregnancy Sickness Support has information and tips on coping with nausea and vomiting, including HG.
Will hyperemesis gravidarum harm my baby?
HG is unpleasant with dramatic symptoms, but the good news is that it's unlikely to harm your baby, if treated effectively.
However, if it causes you to lose weight during pregnancy, there is an increased risk that your baby may be born smaller than expected (have a low birthweight).
How you might feel
The nausea and vomiting of HG can have a huge impact on your life, at a time when you were expecting to be enjoying pregnancy and looking forward to the birth of your baby.
It can affect you both emotionally and physically. The symptoms not only make your life a misery, but may lead to further health complications, such as depression or tears in your oesophagus.
Severe sickness can be exhausting and stop you from 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 going out or being too far from home, in case you need to vomit
- isolated, because you don't know anyone who understands what it's like to have HG
- confused as to why this is happening to you
- unsure whether you can cope with the rest of the pregnancy if you continue to feel very ill
If you feel any of these, don't keep it to yourself. Talk to your midwife or doctor, explain the impact HG is having on your life and how it is making you feel. You could also talk to your partner, family and friends, if you want to.
If you want to talk to someone who has been through HG, you can contact Pregnancy Sickness Support. They have a support network across the UK, and can put you in touch with someone who has had HG.
Bear in mind that HG is much worse than regular pregnancy sickness - it is not the result of anything you have or haven't done, and you do need treatment and support.
Another pregnancy
If you have had HG before, it's likely that you will get it again in another pregnancy.
If you decide on another pregnancy, it can help to plan ahead, such as arranging child care so that you can get plenty of rest. Think back to what helped you last time - for example, specific drinks - and make sure you implement these measures this time around.
Talk to your doctor about starting medication early.
Blood clots and hyperemesis gravidarum
Because HG can cause dehydration, there's also an increased risk of having a blood clot (deep vein thrombosis), although this is rare.
If you are dehydrated and immobile, there is treatment that you can be given to prevent blood clots.
Last Updated: 05/07/2023 09:25:52
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