Pregnancy can bring its share of challenges. For many women, pregnancy-related nausea and vomiting, or “morning sickness,” is simply a part of the ride. Around 9 in 10 women experience it to varying degrees; it’s unpleasant but usually manageable. For some, however, it can be a relentless, nonstop struggle to hold anything down, and it’s absolutely not ‘just’ morning sickness.
Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG) is a brutal, extreme form of morning sickness. It impacts between 3.6% –10.8% of pregnancies and is defined as persistent and excessive nausea and vomiting, often leading to/accompanied by dehydration and/or weight loss. The leading cause of hospitalization in the first half of pregnancy and the second leading cause of hospitalization overall after preterm birth, isn’t just uncomfortable, it’s debilitating.
The Reality of HG: Severe and Debilitating
Women with HG are caught in a vicious cycle of nonstop vomiting, leaving them dehydrated, malnourished, and physically wrecked. Many can’t keep down even a sip of water, and the constant strain can leave them hospitalized, sometimes for weeks.
HG doesn’t just steal physical health, but drains emotional well-being, too, interfering with regular life and leaving some bedridden. Women are left feeling isolated, depressed, and guilty for not being able to function the way they imagined. Work and socializing become impossible and even basic self-care feels out of reach. For many, pregnancy becomes something to survive rather than celebrate. More than half of women with HG have considered terminating their pregnancies because they, understandably, struggle to cope, and many consider suicide.
Younger women, those with twins, and those with conditions like hyperthyroidism or diabetes face even higher risks. While doctors try to manage HG with hydration and anti-nausea meds, hospital readmissions are still common. The harsh reality for women with HG is that pregnancy can feel like a daily battle to keep their heads above water.
The Lasting Psychological and Physical Toll of HG
While the symptoms of HG generally end after birth, they leave lasting scars, both physically and emotionally. The constant, violent vomiting wreaks havoc on the body. Dehydration and malnutrition can lead to severe vitamin deficiencies like Wernicke’s encephalopathy, a rare but deadly brain disorder caused by a lack of vitamin B1. In more extreme cases, women can suffer torn esophagi or even collapsed lungs from the force of vomiting. Electrolyte imbalances, like dangerously low potassium levels, can also become life-threatening if not treated.
HG is also associated with negative mental health and higher rates of postpartum depression, as well as a greater risk of PTSD.
Dismissal of Women’s Concerns in Healthcare
Women with HG not only battle against their symptoms, but they also face a healthcare system that routinely dismisses their suffering. Many women are told that their symptoms are part of a “normal” pregnancy and to “just push through,” while some are made to feel ‘stupid’ and told that they should be able to cope.
Due to a lack of understanding of the condition, HG is severely underdiagnosed, and a lack of belief in women’s’ pain, lack of access to care and poor patient experiences doesn’t just leave mothers feeling unsupported, but contributes to their consideration of termination and suicidal ideation.
At Harmonia, we are determined to change this. We believe every woman deserves to be taken seriously. Women’s voices must be heard, and we are championing the improvement of education and understanding of HG among healthcare providers.
How Harmonia is Changing HG Care
Research has identified a need to provide mothers with early recognition of HG, a private space for IV treatment, discussion of treatment options, psychological support and a uniform approach to treatment, including consistent medication management. Yet mothers are routinely sent to the emergency room to receive intravenous fluids, nutrients, and anti-nausea drugs, often after a delayed diagnosis, and are discharged without a prescription to assist them with persistent nausea.
Harmonia Healthcare is revolutionizing the approach to HG, starting with listening to and believing in women’s experiences. Based on over two decades of groundbreaking research, and in collaboration with the Hyperemesis Education and Research (HER) Foundation, Harmonia follows an evidence-based model of care for sufferers of HG, and launched their first of many clinics specializing in the effective treatment of the condition.
By coordinating with the patients’ OBGYNs, doulas, and midwives, Harmonia’s HG treatment centers intervene as early as possible to manage HG effectively throughout the pregnancy and potentially eliminate the need for hospital visits.
Within their dedicated treatment space, Harmonia’s expert and compassionate team provides patients with proactive treatment support in a calm, comfortable environment. Delivering clear and informative guidance for patients, evidence-based treatment, including IV fluids, vitamin infusions, electrolyte replacement and antiemetics, and monitoring medication management throughout pregnancy, Harmonia provides effective relief for sufferers of HG to improve outcomes for both mother and baby.
Women Deserve to be Heard and Supported
Hyperemesis Gravidarum is not “just” morning sickness and should never be treated as such. Women with this condition need to be heard, believed, and supported by the healthcare system.
Harmonia is changing the conversation around HG, offering the compassionate care and understanding that all women deserve. We can’t prevent it from happening – yet – but we can manage it effectively so women can reclaim quality of life during pregnancy and beyond.