What's Good About Morning Sickness?
(continued)
Severe, persistent vomiting during pregnancy is generally not morning sickness:
this is a condition called hyperemesis gravidarum, which occurs in about one
in 200 pregnancies. Hyperemesis refers to continual or profuse vomiting that
begins before 20 weeks of pregnancy, is not associated with other medical problems,
and causes weight loss, dehydration, disturbed nutrition, or electrolyte imbalance.
It requires hospitalization and intravenous fluids along with psychological
counseling and other support. Risk factors for hyperemesis include having a
first pregnancy, having had previous hyperemesis, or having twins or other multiple
gestations. This was once thought to be a psychological condition in women
who did not want to be pregnant; this has been disproven. A very rare risk
factor for hyperemesis is a condition called "molar pregnancy" (or hyatidiform
mole). This is a tumor of fetal tissue origin that is not developing into a
baby. Patients with hyperemesis will have an ultrasound as soon as possible
to rule out these possibilities.
Call Your Doctor if:
- If you have any severe abdominal pain or lower abdominal cramping.
- You can't keep any food down
at all for 2 consecutive mealtimes.
- You can't keep fluids down for
4 hours.
- If you vomit up any blood or
anything resembling coffee grounds.
- If you lose more than 2 pounds.
- If you have not been able to
urinate for 6 hrs.
- If you have signs of appendicitis:
nausea and/or vomiting along with pain in the belly-button area or the lower
right side of the abdomen, with or without a slightly elevated fever.
- If you have a fever greater
than 101.5 degrees.
- It you have signs of gallbladder
problems: nausea and/or vomiting along with right upper abdominal pain,
especially after eating.
- If morning sickness persists
past 16 weeks of pregnancy.
- If you do not gain any weight
in the first 14 weeks of pregnancy.
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While unpleasant and generally untreatable, there is good news- morning sickness is usually a positive indication that an early pregnancy is progressing just fine.
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