Hyperemesis gravidarum: symptoms, causes, drugs, etc. • hello healthy

What is hyperemesis gravidarum?

Hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) is a complication in the first trimester of pregnancy that causes more severe nausea and vomiting thanmorning sicknessthe usual.

Nausea occurs more frequently so that it makes you have no appetite, the volume of vomiting is very large, the frequency of vomiting is frequent, and until it is debilitating.

Morning sickness usually starts around the 6th week of pregnancy and stops at the 14-16th week.

However, severe nausea and vomiting may be signs of hyperemesis gravidarum if it continues into the 20th week of pregnancy. Some mothers may continue to experience it throughout pregnancy.

This condition can occur in all pregnancies, but the chances are greater if you are pregnant with twins or if you are pregnant with wine.

HG can cause dehydration, drastic weight loss, malnutrition, electrolyte imbalance, and metabolic disorders.

Pregnant women who experience this condition must be hospitalized. The complications of hyperemesis gravidarum are serious and are related to kidney, nervous system, and liver damage.

How common is hyperemesis gravidarum?

Hyperemesis gravidarum is a rare condition. From about 70-85 percent of pregnant women who experience it morning sickness, only about 1-2 percent will experience hyperemesis gravidarum.

Approximately 75-85 percent of women who have had morning sickness in the first pregnancy will experience it again in the second pregnancy.

Symptoms of hyperemesis gravidarum

Symptoms of this condition begin between the 4th to 8th week and continue for 16 weeks or more.

Symptoms of hyperemesis gravidarum generally peak in the 20th week of pregnancy.

Quoted from American Pregnancy, the symptoms of hyperemesis gravidarum are:

Severe nausea
Weight loss
Pee a little
Headache
Confusion
Fainting
Jaundice (jaundice)

Most women who experience this condition vomit frequently throughout the day.

When the body starts to become dehydrated, urine usually contains ketones. Ketones are acids that are created when your body starts using fat for energy.

Another sign is that the body has an increased pulse rate and low blood pressure.

When should I see a doctor?

You should contact your gynecologist immediately when experiencing any of the symptoms that have been mentioned.

Everyone's body is different. For that, always have your womb checked to monitor your health condition and that of your fetus on a regular basis.

Causes of hyperemesis gravidarum

The cause of this severe nausea is unknown. Some experts believe this is related to the hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy.

An increase in hCG levels, especially at 8 weeks of gestation, is said to be a factor that can increase the risk of severe nausea and vomiting during pregnancy (hyperemesis gravidarum).

This rapidly increasing blood level of the hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is released by the placenta.

In addition, an increase in estrogen and progesterone (especially during the first trimester of pregnancy) can cause a decrease in the work of the stomach muscles and make it easier for you to regurgitate.

Some other causes that are thought to cause severe nausea and vomiting during pregnancy include:

Stress during pregnancy
Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection
The corpus luteum (mass of mature follicles) is located in the right ovary because of the higher concentration of steroid hormones.
Genetics. If your mother had hyperegemesis gravidarum in the past, you are also at risk for the same thing
Pregnant after 30 years of age
Experiencing wine pregnancy
Have hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism
Experiencing conditions such as high blood pressure, active migraines, and gestational diabetes
Obese pregnant women

Apart from the various factors above, being pregnant with twins or more is one of the common causes.

If you contain multiple fetuses, the placenta grows bigger.

This causes the body to experience increased levels of the hormones estrogen, progesterone, and hCG which cause excessive vomiting or nausea in the morning.

Risk factors for hyperemesis gravidarum

There are several conditions that increase the risk of experiencing severe vomiting during pregnancy, namely:

Pregnant at a very young age
Being overweight (obesity)
First pregnancy
Have a history of hyperemesis gravidarum in a previous pregnancy
Biological, psychological and social factors

The above risk factors are for reference only. You should consult your gynecologist for more details.

What are the dangers of hyperemesis gravidarum?

This severe vomiting and nausea condition can cause health problems in the mother, such as electrolyte imbalance, dehydration, vitamin B6 and B12 deficiency which can cause peripheral nerve disorders (pinched nerves).

The good news is that even hyperemesis gravidarum is unlikely to harm your baby if treated quickly.

However, if it causes you to become dehydrated and / or lose weight, there is an increased risk of a low birth weight baby and even death in the womb.

Stunted growth and development of infants is one of the consequences of hypermesis gravidarum that is not handled properly.

That is why this condition really needs a doctor's supervision because it can cause dehydration in pregnant women which inhibits fetal growth and development.

What is the impact of hyperemesis gravidarum on mother and fetus?

This condition of severe nausea and vomiting can cause problems for both mother and baby, such as:

Pregnant women lose weight drastically.
The mother's kidneys are not functioning properly, which causes the mother to urinate less than she should.
Mineral levels in the body are imbalanced, which can cause dizziness, weakness, and changes in blood pressure.
The muscles become weak due to lack of nutrients.
The body will salivate more during pregnancy, if swallowed it can make nausea worse.

Women with hyperemesis gravidarum in early pregnancy are not at increased risk of miscarriage.

However, pregnant women can be at high risk for complications, namely:

Dehydration
Tachycardia (abnormally fast heart rate)
Amniotic fluid is low
Babies are born prematurely

In case the mother does not receive medical care, dehydration is potentially deadly.

Pregnant women who cannot eat or receive nutrition for long periods of time are at risk of losing bone muscle strength when experiencing hyperemesis gravidarum.

What impact does this condition have on the fetus?

Hyperemesis gravidarum is a severe vomiting condition that has an impact on the fetus, such as:

1. Born prematurely

According to research presented at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine in Dallas in 2012, hyperemesis gravidarum can cause premature babies.

This study found the facts, namely, of the 81 thousand pregnant women who experienced severe nausea and vomiting, about 23 percent gave birth before the gestational age reached 34 weeks.

No exact cause was found. However, poor nutrition for pregnant women and weight that does not increase due to this condition can cause premature babies.

2. Psychological problems

Children born to mothers with hyperemesis gravidarum are thought to be 3.5 times more likely to have emotional or behavioral disorders.

These problems include anxiety, depression, or bipolar disorder when they grow up.

This applies when compared to children whose mothers during pregnancy did not have any health problems, including hyperemesis gravidarum.

The mothers in the study reported losing about 5 percent of their body weight when experiencing severe nausea.

Mental problems during pregnancy as well as malnutrition can affect the fetus's brain as it develops.

As a result, some children with maternal condition with hyperemesis gravidarum who have severe nausea and vomiting may experience anxiety disorders later.

Diagnosis of hyperemesis gravidarum

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor for more information.

To determine whether a pregnant woman has hyperemesis gravidarum or not, her doctor will generally examine your symptoms and physical condition.

The doctor will make a diagnosis when nausea and vomiting are causing weight loss, dehydration, or disturbances in the body.

To ensure that nothing else is causing the symptoms of hyperemesis gravidarum, the doctor may order blood tests and urine tests. Ultrasound examination (USG) can also be done.

How to treat hyperemesis gravidarum?

The type of drug for the condition of pregnant women who experience hyperemesis gravidarum generally depends on how severe the condition is.

Here are some treatments:

Incorporate nutritional needs and intravenously
Take medication with a doctor's prescription (Promethazine, Meclizine, and Droperidol)
Uses total parenteral nutrition (food is given intravenously)
Take an antihistamine medication
Medicines to control vomiting, such as metoclopramide (Reglan)

Provision of food for pregnant women who experience hyperemesis gravidarum serves to fulfill the nutrition of pregnant women.

This simultaneously replaces fluids and corrects imbalanced electrolyte levels in the body.

Home remedies for hyperemesis gravidarum

To deal with nausea and vomiting due to hyperemesis gravidarum, there are several treatments that can be done, such as:

Avoid leaving the stomach empty for too long

To deal with severe nausea and vomiting, there are a number of ideas you can try, such as:

Eat small meals or snacks every 2 hours instead of 3 large meals each day.
Have a small snack before bedtime at night.
Try chewing and swallowing your food very slowly.
Drink water between meals. Try to drink 8 glasses every day.
Fruit juices such as lemon or pure orange can help prevent nausea in pregnant women

By snacking every two hours, you can prevent nausea because you will never go hungry.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture can help improve the balance that is in the body due to hyperemesis gravidarum.

Acupuncture needles inserted into several nerve points can trigger the release of several brain chemicals, such as endorphins.

This can then help relieve symptoms that make pregnant women uncomfortable.

Acupuncture performed for 30 minutes three times a day is reported to reduce the frequency of nausea and vomiting during pregnancy due to hyperemesis gravidarum.

Acupuncture during pregnancy is safe to do. But remember, only with acupuncturists who are certified and used to handle pregnant women.

Pay attention to the food consumed

There are several foods to avoid when nausea and vomiting, such as:

Any food that is fried
Cream cheese
Butter and margarine
Mayonnaise
Potato chips and corn chips
Sausage or other processed meat
Nuts
Chocolate milk
Ice cream

The above foods can trigger nausea and can cause severe vomiting.

Eat foods that are high in carbohydrates

According to the Journal of Obstetric & Gynecology, pregnant women who experience hyperemesis gravidarum should eat foods that are high in carbohydrates and rich in protein compared to consuming fats or fatty acids.

Foods high in carbohydrates can be choices such as: