A few weeks after I first saw that second pink line on the pregnancy test, I woke up one morning to find myself reeling with nausea. As the day went on, it only got worse. It felt as though I had just ridden the “teacups” at an amusement park for way too long. I made the mistake of not eating enough, and then drinking soda on an empty stomach. Saltine crackers seemed to make it worse. Fortunately for me, morning sickness only lasted until I was about 8 or 9 weeks along. I only lost about 6 pounds before I started gaining it back. I am one of the lucky ones!
When morning sickness becomes debilitating and leads to excessive weight loss and severe dehydration, it’s called Hyperemesis Gravidarum. It is so severe that it actually prevents the pregnant woman from getting enough to eat and drink, and can lead to hospitalization. Symptoms of Hyperemesis Gravidarum include weight loss of more than 5% of pre-pregnancy weight, dehydration and production of ketones, nutritional deficiencies, and metabolic imbalances. Common complications include debilitating fatigue, gastric irritation, ketosis, and malnutrition.
Hyperemesis Gravidarum patients are often treated with IV hydration and drugs such as Zofran. When these treatments are ineffective, patients may need to be fed through a tube or turn to alternative medicine.
According to the book Beyond Morning Sickness – Battling Hyperemesis Gravidarum, by Ashli Foshee McCall, “over 50,000 American women are hospitalized annually due to hyperemesis gravidarum. Some terminate wanted pregnancies because of the debilitation of the disease, lack of information and the lack of social and medical support.”
Fortunately there is a growing number of resources for women suffering from this potentially life threatening disease. The HER foundation offers research, information, resources and support for HG sufferers, their families and their health care providers. There are a number of websites available:
http://beyondmorningsickness.com/forum/
http://www.hyperemesis.org/
http://www.americanpregnancy.org/pregnancycomplications/hyperemesisgravidarum.html
If you believe you have Hyperemesis Gravidarum, contact your doctor about diagnosis and possible treatment to help manage your symptoms.
Related Articles:
Tips for Alleviating Morning Sickness
Eating to Ease Morning Sickness
Natural Remedies for Morning Sickness