Hyperemesis Gravidarum: Morning Sickness Requiring Medical Care

In December 2012, the world learned a great deal about acute morning sickness as the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, suffered from a horrible bout of hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) or acute morning sickness, which required her to be hospitalized.

As the world watched and worried, Middleton stayed in the hospital for a few days for treatment of her HG.

According AmericanPregnancy.org, HG "is a condition characterized by severe nausea, vomiting, weight loss, and electrolyte disturbance. Mild cases are treated with dietary changes, rest and antacids. More severe cases often require a stay in the hospital so that the mother can receive fluid and nutrition through an intravenous line (IV)."

As the world watched and worried, Middleton stayed in the hospital a few days to treat her HG.

Between 70-80 percent of pregnancy women will experience morning sickness and of those 60,000 will be treated at hospitals.

If you have HG it is important to be treated at a hospital rather than diagnosing yourself. Dehydration is one of the symptoms and could result in further complications.

Other symptoms of HG include the following:

• Five percent weight loss or more of pre-pregnancy weight

• Headaches

• Extreme fatigue

• Fainting

• Severe nausea

• Severe vomiting

• Decrease in urination

• Loss of skin elasticity

• Confusion

• Jaundice

• Low blood pressure

• Rapid heart rate

• Secondary anxiety/depression

• Food aversions

The exact cause of HG is unknown but medical experts speculate that it may be caused by the rise in hormone levels during pregnancy. What is known is that HG symptoms generally appear between 4-6 weeks and peak between 9-13 weeks of pregnancy.

Around the 14-20 week period, women with HG will usually experience some relief. However, more than 20 percent of women may require care for their HG until their baby comes to term.

Treatment for HG includes the following:

• For severe cases, you will require a hospital visit in order to receive fluid and nutrition through an IV.

• Your doctor may prescribe an anti-nausea medication.

• A health care provider may recommend Vitamin B6 (no more than 100 mg daily) to decrease nausea in early pregnancy.

• Increase of fluids during times of the day when you feel least nauseated. Seltzer, ginger ale or other sparkling waters may be helpful.

• Small, frequent meals and eating dry foods such as crackers may help relieve uncomplicated nausea.

There are some unique differences between regular morning sickness and HG. In the cases of HG, everything is extreme. For example with HG, nausea is accompanied by severe vomiting and the nausea does not subside.

Also in cases of HG versus regular morning sickness, vomiting will cause severe dehydration and the vomiting doesn’t allow you to keep any types of food or liquid down.

Please consult your medical professional if you are suffering from severe dehydration, vomiting, as well as nausea.

Sources:

"Hyperemesis Gravidarum | American Pregnancy Association." American Pregnancy Association. Web. 26 May 2014.
http://americanpregnancy.org/pregnancycomplications/hyperemesisgravidarum.html

"Hyperemesis Gravidarum: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia." U.S National Library of Medicine. U.S. National Library of Medicine, Web. 26 May 2014.
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001499.htm

Reviewed May 26, 2014
by Michele Blacksberg RN
Edited by Jody Smith

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