Nausea and vomiting are common symptoms of pregnancy and affects 8 in 10 women. It usually starts early in pregnancy and resolves by the end of the first trimester, although in some cases it can last for longer. Some women have more severe symptoms, particularly if:
they had it before: or
are having multiple pregnancy like twins or triplets; or
an uncommon condition known as a molar pregnancy.
Sometimes the symptoms of nausea and vomiting are due to causes such as infection of your bowel, kidney or appendix, or inflammation of your stomach. It is important that these other causes are excluded particularly if you have unusual symptoms such as fever, blood in your vomit, abdominal pain, or loose stools. It is important to consider these other causes if your symptoms only start after your 11th week of pregnancy.
What is Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG)?
This a severe form of nausea and vomiting in pregnancy, where you become dehydrated, lose a significant amount of weight, and have abnormal blood tests. It may affect 1 to 3 in 100 pregnant women. Women with this condition may need to be attend hospital for rehydration. For many women, HG settles by 20 weeks (5 months) but occasionally it can last until the end of pregnancy.Nausea and vomiting of pregnancy can sometimes affect your mood and all aspects of your normal day and home life. In some women, the symptoms can be so severe that they become depressed and need extra support such as counselling. If you find that you persistently feel down then you should seek help and speak to your GP, midwife or local Early Pregnancy Unit (EPU).
What treatment do I need?
Most women with mild symptoms will be able to manage their symptoms themselves. You should eat small amounts often and avoid any foods or smells that trigger symptoms. Some women find eating or drinking ginger products helps. Complementary therapies such as acupressure or acupuncture may also be helpful.If this does not help, you should see your GP, who will prescribe anti-sickness medication. These are safe to take in pregnancy.If your symptoms do not settle despite oral anti sickness medication, and you have any of the following symptoms, you should attend your local Accident and Emergency (A&E) department or speak to the EPU at your local hospital:
You are not able to tolerate any food or water.
You feel dehydrated (thirsty, dry mouth, dark urine).
You have lost weight (losing 5% or more of your pre-pregnancy weight is a concern).
You have fever, blood in your vomit, abdominal pain, or loose stools.
You have a medical condition which requires you to take tablets you can no longer take due to vomiting e.g anti-epileptic drugs.
You have a medical condition such as a heart or kidney problem or diabetes.
In the hospital, you will be offered fluids through a drip as well as anti-sickness medication through a drip or as an injection. If these have not helped after regular use, corticosteroids may be added to your treatment, also through a drip. You may also be given some vitamin replacement drips and a blood thinning injection to reduce your risk of blood clots. You will also have some blood tests done and your urine tested to look for infection and to see how dehydrated you are.If you feel better with these, you can go home and return the following day for some more fluids and medication. This can be continued on a daily basis and avoid the need for admission. But if you are very unwell with your symptoms, you may be offered admission for closer monitoring and treatment.You will also be offered a non-urgent early pregnancy scan to check if you have a multiple pregnancy, or a molar pregnancy.
What will this mean for future pregnancies?
You are at a higher risk of developing this in future pregnancies, so do seek help early if you find that you are struggling with your symptoms.
Where can I find out more information about this condition?
