HYPEREMESIS GRAVIDARUM(HM) It is an extreme form of morning sickness that causes severe nausea and vomiting during pregnancy with electrolyte disturbance and sometimes weight loss. It affects about 1.5 to 2% of pregnant women. It can sometimes remain throughout the pregnancy. SIGNS AND SYMPTONS OF HG: Severe nausea and vomiting Food aversions Weight loss of 5% or more of pre-pregnancy weight Decrease in urination Dehydration Headaches Confusion Fainting Jaundice Extreme fatigue Low blood pressure Rapid heart rate Loss of skin elasticity. WHO'S AT RISK FOR HG Some factors that could increase your risk of getting HG are: having a history of HG in your family being pregnant with more than one baby being overweight being a first-time mother Trophoblastic disease can also cause HG. Trophoblastic disease occurs when there’s an abnormal growth of cells inside the uterus. Treatment Treatment depends on your symptoms and how the condition is affecting your health. Up to 5% of women with the condition need admission in to a hospital. Lifestyle changes. If you can eat, have smaller, more frequent meals. Drink smaller drinks, but drink more often.Try cold foods if hot ones trigger nausea. Your doctor may want you to drink electrolyte-replacemen drinks. Get enough rest and sleepand try to manage your stress. Ginger. Taking 1 to 1.5 grams a day in several small doses may help some women. You can get it in tea or in ginger toffees. .Oral anti emetics and anti histaminic tablets can be given by mouth, though in HG they are difficult to retain. YOURE STILL THROWING UP AND DEHYDRATED: your doctor may recommend you check in to the hospital. Once there you may get: *IV fluids. Doctors will give you saline and possibly electrolytes and vitamins to help keep you hydrated. * IV antiemetic injections. Tube feeding. If you can’t keep anything down, the doctor may give you nutritionthrough a tube that goes through your nose and into your stomach.This happens rarely and only in extreme cases. Try to remember that it does eventually stop -- and the birth of your baby will follow. To be continued...... dr nandini shete OB/GYN