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Hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) is a debilitating form of vomiting that affects around 1%…
Hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) is a debilitating form of vomiting that affects around 1% of pregnancies. Morning sickness, suffering from typical pregnancy nausea and the odd bout of vomiting in pregnancy, is bad enough. For some people however, having it persistently and severely day and night can really take it's toll, emotionally and physically.
The most common symptoms of HG include: Constant nausea Vomiting AT LEAST 3-4 times per day. Most with HG however, will vomit upwards of 20 times daily. Can you imagine?? Inability to keep down any food or fluid - which leads to dehydration Loss of more than 5% of your bodyweight due to the constant nausea and vomiting Feeling lightheaded and dizzy
If you are suffering from continuous vomiting, It's really important that you seek help from your care provider if you are unable to keep fluids down as dehydration can set in quickly. For some with severe, cases they will have to be admitted to hospital to be hydrated via a drip. Some cases of HG can be managed with anti- emetics (anti sickness medications), but for many women & birthing people with HG, even prescribed medications seldom make a difference.
In these cases the vomiting often only eases easing off at the end of or after pregnancy. How it's managed very much depends on the severity of symptoms and how it's affecting your pregnancy.
There is a strong link between the pregnancy hormone HCG and nausea/vomiting. It is thought that the higher the level of this hormone, the higher chance you will have of developing HG. Risk factors include: multiple pregnancies (twins/triplets etc), family history of HG and trophoblastic disease which causes an abnormally high level of cell growth within the uterus.
HG very often lasts throughout pregnancy but some people are able to recover after a couple of months. I have been fortunate enough not to have ever suffered with this but I have cared for those who have and it truly is an awful thing for someone to go through.
I have a podcast episode with @starrylouise, a woman who suffered from HG. Search Midwife Marley on Apple/Spotify etc.
Have you ever suffered with HG? If so, did anything help you to get through?
