What is hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) and how is it related to pregnancy? There might be a number of women who don’t even know about this condition. From symptoms, it looks like morning sickness which is common in the first trimester of a pregnancy but in reality, HG is a rare pregnancy disorder that requires medical care.
It is normal to worry about how a woman’s body changes during pregnancy. But not everyone knows about these changes and many times people assume some symptoms to be normal pregnancy stuff whereas it is an underlying medical condition. A majority of women experience nausea and vomiting in their first and second trimester and these two things are commonly associated with every pregnancy. However, it is not normal for a woman to wake up with nausea every morning and vomit all day. If she is vomiting more than four times a day, it is a sign that she might be suffering from hyperemesis gravidarum (HG).
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Normally the morning sickness vanishes within 20 weeks of the pregnancy but most women find it normal to vomit throughout their pregnancy. Whether a woman has just started her pregnancy or waiting for her due date, there are things about hyperemesis that she should know.
It is a lot more than just morning sickness
Morning sickness is no fun but it is common in 85% of women during pregnancy. But only 2% of women suffer from HG which suggests that extreme nausea and vomit are not normal and it is different from bad morning sickness. The clinical diagnosis suggests that nausea, vomiting, weight loss, electrolyte imbalance, and sometimes thyroid, as well as liver problems, are common signs of HG. The symptoms may vanish on their own but in case they don’t, it is time to contact a doctor.
It is not normal in pregnancy
morning sickness is common but not every woman who is pregnant experiences it. It means that the chances of women suffering from HG are extremely low but there is absolutely no way to predict who would have it. Only the woman herself can pay attention to her body and notice if her morning sickness is persistent and too frequent. In that case, talking to a doctor is the best thing and only by changing certain lifestyle measures and tips, it becomes manageable.
Medicine may help to feel better
Normally this sickness goes away with simple dietary and lifestyle changes but in extreme cases, hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) requires medication. There are many FDA-approved medicines that are helpful to control nausea and vomiting even for pregnant women. But it is better to get these medicines after talking to a doctor. Self-medication in any situation is not recommended.
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It has no danger for the baby
Any problem that a pregnant woman feels is directly linked with the baby’s growth i.e. high blood pressure, diet, etc. Doctors warn pregnant women not to use excessive medicines, use alcohol, smoke, or use unsupervised supplements because they can affect the fetus. But morning sickness has nothing to do with baby’s growth and in case a woman experiences HG, it doesn’t mean that her baby’s health is its risk.
Not eating is not the solution
Many women assume that not eating would help them feel better in the morning and they won’t be nauseated. However, this is a terribly bad idea and starving yourself when pregnant is the worst thing that you can do to your body and the baby growing inside you. Having more nausea will increase the urge to throw up and not eating would just make it worst. The best is to hydrate the body and feed it well with certain types of medicines that help in controlling nausea.
