The exact cause of nausea and vomiting in pregnancy is not clear. Most evidence points to rapid changes in hormone levels. These fluctuations may cause changes in the muscle contraction and relaxation patterns of your stomach and
intestines, thus leading to nausea and vomiting. The hormones that seem to have the most to do with this process include the pregnancy hormone human chorionic
gonadotropin (hCG), estrogen, and progesterone. Abnormal levels of thyroid hormones have also been reported in women with severe vomiting, although a cause-and-effect relationship remains unclear. Some studies have shown that nausea is worse when your
blood sugar level is low. Some researchers have found that women who are more likely to have nausea from birth control pills, migraines, or
motion sickness are at higher risk for nausea and vomiting in pregnancy. If you have a family history of hyperemesis gravidarum, you are more likely to have the condition. What causes hyperemesis gravidarum remains unknown despite active research. The more popular theories fall into three areas: QUESTIONThe first sign of pregnancy is most often: See AnswerWhat Are the Symptoms of Morning Sickness?Morning sickness: Some women experience nausea and vomiting only in the morning. The majority of women have nausea on and off, all day long.
Hyperemesis gravidarum: This condition occurs when a pregnant woman has ongoing vomiting that results in weight loss greater than 5% of her body weight, and evidence of dehydration. Hyperemesis gravidarum is an extreme form of nausea and vomiting in pregnancy that sometimes requires hospitalization. It is different from and much worse than morning sickness. When Should You See a Doctor for Morning Sickness?Call a doctor if self-care at home does not help reduce the symptoms, or if you are unable to take (and keep down) any liquids for more than 24 hours. Also, call when you vomit on and off, but more than usual, or if the vomiting is associated with these symptoms, which may stem from other causes:
Go to a hospital's emergency department when you vomit continually and you have these symptoms of dehydration:
How Soon Can You Get Morning Sickness?Your doctor may ask for a urine sample to check for ketones, which is a chemical found in dehydration. In severe cases, your doctor may also take blood samples to check your blood sugar, electrolyte (sodium, potassium, chloride, and bicarbonate) levels, liver function, or levels of certain hormones. These tests may help your doctor determine your level of dehydration. They may also help decide if a different condition is causing your nausea and vomiting, such as a urinary tract infection, hepatitis, or gallstones. Depending on how far along you are in your pregnancy, the doctor may also check the baby's health by listening for a heartbeat with a Doppler instrument, or by ultrasonography. Your doctor may diagnose hyperemesis gravidarum only after excluding other serious illnesses. The following are other disorders that may show symptoms similar to hyperemesis gravidarum:
What Is the Treatment for Morning Sickness (Vomiting During Pregnancy)?If your symptoms are not severe and you have not already done so, your doctor may suggest you try home care treatments (please see Home Remedies). If you have tried these and are still vomiting, your doctor may suggest fluids be given to you with an IV. Often these fluids contain sugar as well as electrolytes. Many times fluid intake alone (IV or oral) can break the cycle of nausea and vomiting and temporarily make you feel much better. SLIDESHOW16 Early Signs & Symptoms of Pregnancy: Could You Be Pregnant? See SlideshowHome Remedies for Morning Sickness (Vomiting During Pregnancy)As miserable as it may seem, nausea and vomiting are usually part of a healthy pregnancy. The misery typically goes away by the middle of the second trimester. You can try home remedies to reduce your symptoms, and if these do not work, your doctor can help. No single treatment works best for every woman with nausea and vomiting during pregnancy. Different techniques work for different women. You will have to discover what seems to make your symptoms better. Many women have found the following suggestions helpful: Diet
Vitamin supplements
Acupressure
Glucose, fructose, and phosphoric acidGlucose, fructose, and phosphoric acid are available over-the-counter. These solutions may reduce muscle contractions in the wall of the stomach and intestines. The normal dose is 1-2 tablespoons every 15 minutes for no more than 5 doses. These solutions cause no known harmful effects on the fetus. Over-the-counter medicationsTwo over-the-counter antihistamines, diphenhydramine (Benadryl) and dimenhydrinate (Dramamine), have been shown to improve nausea and vomiting. Although both are generally believed to be safe in pregnancy, you should discuss the risks and benefits of these medications with your doctor. Herbal remedies
What Is the Treatment for Severe Morning Sickness (Vomiting During Pregnancy)?
How Do You Prevent Morning Sickness (Vomiting During Pregnancy)?You may not be able to prevent nausea during the early part of your pregnancy, but you can minimize your symptoms. It can become a vicious cycle, where nausea leads to vomiting, which leads to dehydration, which leads to more nausea. The earlier you can control the symptoms, the better. "Take home" suggestions to remember:
Does Morning Sickness Mean There's a Problem With My Pregnancy?Most women who experience nausea and vomiting during the early part of pregnancy go on to have healthy babies. In fact, some evidence indicates that women with mild-to-moderate nausea and vomiting are less likely to miscarry than are women who experience no symptoms at all. Some experts say that mild nausea and vomiting in pregnancy might have served some evolutionary advantage for early humans.
FromAm I Pregnant?Early Pregnancy SymptomsWomen in the early stages of pregnancy may experience a number of different symptoms that may signal a pregnancy. While a missed menstrual period is often the characteristic sign of pregnancy, women who do not have regular menstrual cycles may not recognize that a menstrual period has been missed. In some cases, breast tenderness or other symptoms are the first sign of pregnancy. Still other women may not experience any particular symptoms at all during early pregnancy and may not be aware of their condition. The experience of pregnancy symptoms is highly individualized and differs among women. In fact, a woman may experience different symptoms in a second or subsequent pregnancy than she did in her first pregnancy. References Brown, T. "New Guidelines on Nausea, Vomiting in Pregnancy." Medscape. Dec. 22, 2017. Ogunyemi, D.A. "Hyperemesis Gravidarum." Medscape. Jan. 4, 2017. "Patient information: Nausea and vomiting of pregnancy (Beyond the Basics)." Patient Comments & Reviews
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