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Complications & Cesareans

Hyperemesis Gravidarum

Surviving Extreme Morning Sickness

Hyperemesis Gravidarum-Surviving Extreme Morning SicknessSarah Krengle, a mother of three children, has suffered from hyperemesis gravidarum (HG), or severe morning sickness, during all of her pregnancies. She remembers the duration of her pregnancies as extremely debilitating. "I was completely dysfunctional," she says. "Sometimes I could muster up only enough energy to crawl to the bathroom."

Unpleasant as Krengle's experience sounds, it is only a fraction of what she and other women afflicted with HG endure. For most women, pregnancy is challenging both physically and emotionally; yet many women who experience hyperemesis gravidarum describe their pregnancies as the most difficult times of their lives.

The fact that it is uncommon does not make hyperemesis gravidarum less real.

What Is Hyperemesis Gravidarum?
Hyperemesis gravidarum, says Dr. Arianna Sholes-Douglas, perinatologist and coordinator of Mercy Medical Center's High Risk Pregnancy program, is a complication of pregnancy affecting fewer than 1 percent of pregnant women. In cases of hyperemesis gravidarum, the expectant mother is afflicted with extreme and persistent nausea and vomiting (20 to 30 times a day), will lose between 10 to 20 percent of her body weight and will suffer electrolyte imbalance. Sometimes, as a result of severe dehydration, liver damage will occur.

Hyperemesis gravidarum may last the duration of the pregnancy, but often becomes less extreme as the pregnancy progresses. Most women suffering from HG undergo serious agitation, worrying about harmful effects to the fetus. There is generally little danger to the fetus in these cases, though. Acting as a parasite, the fetus will receive the nourishment it requires.


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Hyperemesis Gravidarum

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Natalie_Phx says
1 week ago

I was this sick with both my pregnancies and neither one of my mid wives took it too serious. I started out at 115 lbs and lost about 10 lbs and never weighed more than 125 at the time of giving birth. I read an article on MSNBC of this medical term and am so glad there is a name for it. I thought i was the only one.

Anonymous says
June 5, 2009

i had this for the first 4 months of pregnacy and have never been so sick in my life..everything made me sick.. it was terrible.. even a slight whiff of food made me sick,. i couldnt eat, drink or anything!!!it was terrible!!!there was some days when even someone touching me made me throw up..i ended up being hospitilised with dehydration. i have been hospitilised before with salmonella food poisioning and it still wasnt half as bad as being sick while pregnant!!!

Kristi in St. Louis says
June 2, 2009

I had this my entire pregnancy and it was the most awful time of my life but thank GOD for Zofran so that I could move, eat and drink.It is like having the worse flu ever but 24/7 and add onto that the exhaustion of being pregnant,not getting proper nutrition & working full-time(somehow?. But,in the end,it is worth it b/c you become a mother (again perhaps) and it is temporary for a lifetime of such a wonderful gift.If only every pregnant woman could experience this for a while so that they could empathize how REAL this is & there is no dramatizing to it,then I too might not have felt so misunderstood by everyone except for my loving mother.(Thanks Mom.) And I also think the Daddy's should also have to experience this so that they can & understand how real & terrible it is also... In fact, Zofran is a med given only to cancer patient's on chemo b/c of their extreme illness chemo brings. The only reason a responsible pregnant woman would take such a drug while with child or a Dr ordering it... B/c this is so horrible of a condition that you have no other choice for the safety of you & baby.We deserve much more empathy & sympathy than we get. No one has a clue unless they have experienced it. Also- the Zofran did not affect my child in any way.He is as healthy & smart as he can be (cute too!)

Anonymous says
May 8, 2009

The funny thing is that having HG my first doctor never took my symptoms serious. I was in the hospital pretty much all 9 months. My second doctor was great he introduced me to a zofran pump that I had to put in my leg every morning, but reduced my vomiting. It was very expensive but insurance covered it all. The needle was scary at first but after a week I took it as routine. I did it for 6 months, and again for my third pregnancy.

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