What is Hyperemesis Gravidarum?

Woman with Hyperemesis GravidarumIt’s normal for a lot of pregnant women to experience morning sickness, particularly during the early months of pregnancy. Of course, there are some women who deal with such severe morning sickness that it affects not only their daily lives but also their health. This severe form of morning sickness is known as hyperemesis gravidarum.

While normal bouts of morning sickness can cause nausea and even occasional vomiting during the day (or even at night), if you have hyperemesis gravidarum you will experience severe nausea and vomiting that is so persistent and invasive that it can lead to weight loss, dehydration and even fainting episodes. Women who experience true hyperemesis gravidarum are usually unable to keep food down.

This condition often manifests itself between four and six weeks, but may continue to occur up until the 13-week mark; however, there are some women who still experience symptoms throughout the course of their pregnancy.

Unfortunately, there is no way to prevent this from happening to you. The best thing you can do is visit your obstetrician right away if you suspect that you might have hyperemesis gravidarum. In more severe cases, you may need to be hospitalized. This is often the case if you are severely dehydrated or have low electrolyte levels and are unable to keep food down. When this happens, an IV is administered so that you can get the nutrients and vitamins your body needs.

It’s also important to discuss any medications that you may want to take prior to taking them as they could have some negative effects on you or your baby. Fortunately, there are other non-medicinal ways to reduce hyperemesis gravidarum symptoms. We will provide you with a variety of different options for how to keep your nausea and vomiting under control.

If you are dealing with severe nausea and vomiting during your pregnancy it’s important that you turn to your obstetrician for the care you need. Pregnancy should be an exciting time but we know that you will have questions and concerns along the way. Turn to an OBGYN you can trust to help guide you through this exciting journey.

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