Pregnancy is often described as a time of joy, but for many women, nausea and vomiting can overshadow this exciting journey. While mild morning sickness is considered normal and affects up to 80% of pregnancies, persistent or severe symptoms can signal something more serious. Understanding the difference is critical for your health and your baby’s well-being.
If your symptoms go beyond mild nausea, knowing what’s normal and when to seek help is key. Below, Dr Robyn Glessner, Lead Physician of Harmonia’s Redbank Center, debunks common myths about morning sickness and provides guidance for women experiencing severe symptoms.
- Morning Sickness Only Happens in the Morning
The Truth: Despite often being referred to as “morning sickness,” nausea and vomiting during pregnancy (NVP) can strike day or night. However, constant or unrelenting sickness is not typical. If you’re experiencing symptoms that interfere with eating, sleeping, or staying hydrated, it’s time to seek help.
- Morning Sickness Indicates a Healthy Pregnancy
The Truth: While nausea is linked to the rise of pregnancy hormone GDF15, not experiencing it doesn’t mean anything is wrong. In fact, how much morning sickness a woman feels depends on her pre-pregnancy exposure to GDF15 rather than the health of the baby. Women with higher exposure to this hormone before becoming pregnant have built a higher tolerance and tend to experience less morning sickness.
Conversely, severe nausea and vomiting, known as hyperemesis gravidarum (HG), can endanger the health of both mom and baby. Women with HG may experience:
- Persistent nausea and vomiting throughout pregnancy
- Dehydration and inability to keep down food or liquids
- Severe weight loss (up to 15% of pre-pregnancy weight)
- Life-threatening complications like electrolyte imbalances and organ damage
- Mental health challenges, including anxiety, depression, and PTSD
- Thoughts of terminating the pregnancy due to the unrelenting symptoms
Additionally, babies born to women with HG may face higher risks of premature delivery and developmental challenges, including neurodevelopmental delays and respiratory issues. If you’re suffering from severe NVP, early intervention is essential to protect your health and your baby’s.
- Morning Sickness Only Happens in the First Trimester
The Truth: While most women experience relief midway through the second trimester, up to 10% find nausea and vomiting persist as their pregnancy progresses. This usually indicates HG, which often lasts well beyond the first trimester and requires medical care.
- It’s All in Your Head
The Truth: For years, the medical community has downplayed pregnancy sickness, leaving many women to feel dismissed or unsupported. But your experience is valid.
Nausea and vomiting in pregnancy have clear biological causes. Increased levels of GDF15 during pregnancy are a major catalyst of nausea, and research has shown a genetic predisposition to HG. Women with naturally lower levels of GDF15 are hypersensitive to its sharp increase during pregnancy, causing more severe symptoms.
If you’re struggling, trust your instincts and seek a provider who will listen and take your symptoms seriously.
- Eating Crackers and Drinking Ginger Ale Will Cure It
The Truth: While crackers and ginger ale might help with mild discomfort and are often recommended by providers, they’re not enough to treat severe symptoms. Relying solely on home remedies can delay necessary treatment and worsen your condition; HG ranks as the leading cause of hospitalization in early pregnancy.
Fortunately, there are proven interventions to manage severe NVP and HG:
- IV fluids to combat dehydration
- Electrolyte replacement therapy
- Safe and effective medications to control nausea
- Vitamin infusions for nutritional support
- You Have to Wait Until You Cannot Cope to Get Help
The Truth: ER rooms and hospitalizations are not the answer, and you shouldn’t have to wait until symptoms are unbearable to seek care. Timely, early intervention is critical for preventing complications and reducing hospitalizations.
Here’s how you can take control of your care:
- Plan ahead: If you’ve experienced NVP or HG in a prior pregnancy, discuss a care plan with your provider early. Even if you haven’t, discuss the topic at your first appointment.
- Act quickly: Don’t wait for symptoms to worsen, even if dismissed by your provider. Advocate for yourself and speak up as soon as nausea or vomiting becomes unmanageable.
- Find the right provider: Clinics like Harmonia Healthcare specialize in early intervention and personalized care, helping you manage symptoms effectively.
If you are planning for pregnancy and concerned about NVP or HG, or are experiencing symptoms
you can contact Harmonia Healthcare today to learn more about how we can help you enjoy a healthier, more comfortable pregnancy.