Can Morning Sickness Be Dangerous?
Morning sickness is all too common in fact as many as 80% of pregnant women will experience some degree of nausea and/or vomiting during the first three months of their pregnancy. For a minority of these ladies morning sickness occurs in a much more extreme form. For these women very little food or water is absorbed as everything is brought straight back out again. This excessive form of nausea and vomiting in pregnancy is referred to as hyperemesis gravidarum.
Research clearly dileantes between morning sickness and hyperemesis gravidarum. Morning sickness tends not to have any affect on the health of either mother or baby whereas hyperemesis can cause severe dehydration, bleeding of the esophagus- due to excessive vomiting, stomach ulcers and ketosis.
Extreme morning sickness can be difficult to treat. The earlier the intervention the better the outcome, that is why it is so essential that early advice is sought if morning sickness seems severe. Treatment will normally concentrate on re hydration, reducing triggers of vomiting and providing adequate nutrition.
Below is a list of signs and symptoms indicative of hyperemesis. Consultation with a doctor is essential to confirm a diagnosis of hyperemesis and to begin early treatment. Historically hyperemesis has been under diagnosed so if symptoms persist a second opinion ought to be sought.
# Vomiting, mucus, bile or blood
# Rapid weight loss (2+ lbs/wk)**
# Sensitive gag reflex
# Excessive salivation
# Constipation (If severe**)
# Difficulty sleeping
# Fainting** or dizziness
# Ketosis** (ketones are found in your urine using a dipstick test)
# Vomiting small amounts food/drink**
# Loss of skin elasticity
# Pale, waxy, dry skin
# Body odor (from rapid fat loss & ketosis)
# Rapid heart rate**
# Headache
# Food aversions
# Increased sense of smell
# Secondary anxiety/depression
# Intolerance to motion/noise/light
# Dry, furry tongue, thirst
# Confusion**
# Extreme fatigue
# Rapid weight loss (2+ lbs/wk)**
Even if you only have a few of these symptoms – please contact your doctor
