Hyperemesis Gravidarum – What it is, Causes, Symptoms and Treatments

Hyperemesis Gravidarum – What it is, Causes, Symptoms and Treatments of this condition. Furthermore, Hyperemesis Gravidarum is the condition of dehydration  resulting from continuous vomiting during the pregnancy stage . Not all pregnant women will experience nausea  every day and it would settle by the end of the first trimester for most women. But for some women, the feeling of vomiting will continue until late in pregnancy , which can result in dehydration  or loss of body fluids.

The symptoms of Hyperemesis Gravidarum begin in the first six weeks of pregnancy , and the nausea usually doesn’t go away. Hyperemesis Gravidarum can be extremely debilitating and cause fatigue that lasts for weeks or months.

According to the HER Foundation, women with Hyperemesis Gravidarum may experience a complete loss of appetite and may not be able to work or perform daily activities. So, check out now  Hyperemesis Gravidarum – What is it, Causes, Symptoms and Treatments:

Causes of Hyperemesis Gravidarum: The exact cause of Hyperemesis Gravidarum  is not known, but it is known to be linked to hormone levels of HCG- Human Chorionic Gonadotropin. Levels are known to be higher in women who experience hyperemesis. Also, morning sickness symptoms peak around week 12, which is the time when hCG hormone levels are highest in the body.

Some of the identified risk factors for Hyperemesis Gravidarum are first pregnancy, multiple  or twin pregnancy, similar complaint in previous pregnancy  , family history (genetics) or history of eating disorder.

Symptoms of Hyperemesis Gravidarum: Hyperemesis Gravidarum usually starts during the first trimester of your pregnancy . Less than half of women with Hyperemesis Gravidarum experience symptoms throughout their pregnancy . Some of the most common symptoms of Hyperemesis Gravidarum are:

• Feeling almost  constant nausea ;
• loss of appetite;
• Vomiting more than three or four times a day;
• Becoming dehydrated;
• Feeling shocked or dizzy;
• Losing more than 10 pounds or 5 percent of your body weight due to nausea or vomiting.

Diagnoses of Hyperemesis Gravidarum: Your doctor will ask you about your medical history and your symptoms. A standard physical exam is sufficient to diagnose most cases. Your doctor will look for common signs of Hyperemesis Gravidarum , such as abnormally low blood pressure or a rapid pulse.

Blood and urine samples may also be needed to check for signs of dehydration . Your doctor may also order additional tests to rule out gastrointestinal problems as a cause of your nausea or vomiting .

An ultrasound, which uses sound waves to create an image of the inside of your body, may be needed to find out if you are pregnant with twins or if there is a mass in your uterus from trophoblastic disease.

Treatments For Hyperemesis Gravidarum: If you have severe symptoms of Hyperemesis Gravidarum , you will need to be hospitalized. Otherwise, you can seek treatment at home or at the doctor’s office. Although the course of treatment for Hyperemesis Gravidarum varies from person to person, your doctor may recommend one or more of the following factors:

• Preventive measures such as vitamin B6, ginger, peppermint or a pressure cuff to help with nausea
• Small, frequent meals that include dry, bland foods such as crackers;
• Intravenous fluids to help with dehydration ;
• For severe cases, total parenteral nutrition, where an intravenous (IV) nutrient solution is given as a food substitute;
• Medicine to prevent nausea, such as Phenergan (promethazine), Antivert (meclizine), or Inapsine (droperidol), doxylamine-pyridoxine (Diclegis) or metoclopramide; (Reglan), which can be taken orally, IV or as a suppository;
• Complementary and alternative therapies such as massage, acupuncture, acupressure and hypnosis.