Understanding Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG): Causes, Symptoms, and Management

What is it?

Hyperemesis gravidarum is a condition that causes frequent vomiting during pregnancy. It is like morning sickness, except the symptoms are much more severe. Morning sickness is the nausea and vomiting that many people have during pregnancy. Even though it is called "morning" sickness, it can happen any time of day.

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Signs & symptoms

Women with hyperemesis gravidarum vomit every day, often many times a day. They can lose weight and get dehydrated because of the vomiting.
Symptoms of dehydration include:
- Urinating less often than usual
- Having dark yellow urine
- Feeling dizzy when standing up
- Weight loss
Symptoms of hyperemesis gravidarum usually start during the first 2 to 3 months of pregnancy. Most women feel better by the middle of their pregnancy. But some feel sick until late in the pregnancy.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis will be made by your doctor based on your symptoms and physical exam.

Treatment

Treatment depends on how severe the symptoms are. If you are dehydrated or have lost a lot of weight, you will probably need to be treated in the hospital with:
- Fluids that go into the vein through a tube called an "IV"
- Medicines to help stop the nausea and vomiting
If this treatment doesn't work, the doctor can offer feeding through a tube that goes in the nose and down into the stomach or through a vein.

☝️ This is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult with your physician before making any medical decision.

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Source of Information - We analyze big data of more than 23 million patients de-identified medical records from the following sources:

National Institution of Health ∙ World Health Organization ∙ University of Illinois hospital