Hyperemesis gravidarum is a health condition many women suffer from during pregnancy. It rears its ugly head in the first trimester and makes the woman feel at unease all through the day. Listed below are signs and symptoms that you may possibly have Hyperemesis gravidarum. Read on for more.
Read More: Hyperemesis Gravidarum: Sign, Symptoms and Treatment
If you’re pregnant and are going through severe vomiting and nausea, weight loss and electrolyte loss, you could be suffering from a condition called Hyperemesis gravidarum. In its mild form, it is treated by making changes in diet, and suggesting taking rest and antacids. However, severe Hyperemesis gravidarum would necessitate a hospital stay so that the pregnant woman can receive saline intravenously.
Though a harmless condition, Hyperemesis gravidarum is typified by morning sickness. Pregnant women experiencing this condition are extremely uncomfortable, but the good news is that within 12 weeks, they find relief from this. During the 12-week period, the severe vomiting experienced can cause dehydration and women also feel tired and lose their appetite. They also find it difficult to do their daily chores.
Symptoms of Hyperemesis Gravidarum
Hyperemesis gravidarum makes its first appearance in the first trimester of pregnancy when women experience the following 15 symptoms:
- Extreme nausea
- Vomiting several times a day
- Feeling dehydrated and constipation
- Loss of appetite leading to weight loss
- Ketosis: A grave condition in which acidic chemicals in the urine and blood build up. When the body breaks down fat instead of glucose for energy, ketones are produced
- Feeling dizzy
- Deficiency in Vitamins B1, B6 and B12 causing nutritional disorders
- Metabolic imbalances such as metabolic ketoacidosis[11] or thyrotoxicosis[13]
- Physical and emotional stress of pregnancy on the body
- Difficulty with activities of daily living
- Sleep disturbance
- Depression and anxiety
- Irritability
- Mood changes
- Decreased concentration
Risk factors
This complication of pregnancy shows up for first-time moms, young mums. Women bearing many children, obese women and those who have suffered from this condition in earlier pregnancies. If a pregnant woman’s mother has experienced this, the daughter is also likely to experience it. It also rears its head when the pregnant woman is under deep emotional stress or when she has endocrine imbalances such as polycystic ovarian syndrome, H. pylori infection or Vitamin B deficiencies.
How to know it’s not morning sickness?
Hyperemesis gravidarum’s symptoms are more acute and persistent than those of morning sickness. They include:
- Acute nausea that stays for long
- Many bouts of vomiting in a day
- The inability to digest food or liquids
- Barely any appetite or none at all
- Dizziness or fainting
- Frequent urination or dark yellow urine
- Over 5% of weight loss
- Blood accompanying vomit
If you aren’t sure what you’re going through and whether it is hyperemesis gravidarum or not, discuss it with your doctor. She will take your blood pressure and pulse and run you through some other tests to ensure you have no liver or stomach problems.
Treatments
As a first line of treatment, your doctor will prescribe medication like Zofran and Kytril that will take charge of the vomiting. The doctor could prescribe more than one drug to help the patient vomit less. These drugs can be taken orally, or as a suppository, IV or in an injection. Antacids and steroids can also help.
Complementary and alternative forms of treatment include chiropractic, massage, herbs, homeopathy, vitamins, supplements, acupressure and acupuncture, traditional Chinese treatment, light therapy and hypnosis.
The treatment depends on the severity of the symptoms and the condition of the pregnant woman. Much also depends on the extent to which this condition affects the patient’s health. About five percent of women generally check into a hospital for immediate treatment.
Read More: Home Remedies for Hyperemesis Gravidarum
The doctor may also recommend these changes:
Lifestyle changes
Eat smaller and more frequent meals. Drink smaller drinks, but oftener and using a straw. If hot foods make her sick, she must eat cold food. Electrolyte-based drinks and nutritional supplements should be had in plenty. She should avoid spicy food, aerated drinks, sodas, junk food and alcohol.
Rest
The patient should rest a lot to cope with her stress.
Ginger
Including Eating ginger in her diet every day in the form of tea, supplements or lollipops could also help.
Lemonade
Drinking lemonade through the day can also make the patient feel better and less nauseous.
Thiamine or Vitamin B1
This vitamin, taken in doses of 1.5 mg per day can help ease the vomiting.
A disciplined lifestyle, eating at regular food timings and in a limited capacity also help overcome nausea during pregnancy.
Resources:
https://www.webmd.com/baby/what-is-hyperemesis-gravidarum#1
https://www.healthline.com/health/hyperemesis-gravidarum#diagnosis5
