Many women enter pregnancy bracing themselves for “morning sickness,” which affects up to 80% of all pregnant women. But for some, this term hardly scratches the surface. Severe nausea and vomiting during pregnancy can leave women bedridden, dehydrated, and desperate. “Every second was torture,” Harmonia’s Chief Scientific Officer Marlena Fejzo tells TIME magazine.
What many are only now learning is that this extreme form of pregnancy sickness has a name: Hyperemesis gravidarum (HG). HG is not just a bad case of morning sickness. It’s a severe medical condition that, without proper care, can have devastating impacts on both mom and baby.
About Nausea and Vomiting in Pregnancy
Suffering from nausea and vomiting in pregnancy (NVP), albeit unpleasant, is generally nothing to worry about. Of the moms-to-be who experience NVP, most have mild symptoms that typically resolve after the first trimester. However, the remaining women, up to 10.8% of all pregnant women, aren’t so lucky and suffer from hyperemesis gravidarum.
HG is on the severe end of the NVP spectrum. Women with HG often become dangerously dehydrated, lose a lot of weight (sometimes over 15% of their body weight), and face serious health risks. This can include complications like high blood pressure, organ damage, and an imbalance of nutrients. This constant sickness affects mental health too, with women experiencing depression, anxiety, or even post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
The risks to their babies are just as concerning. Over one-third of HG pregnancies end in early delivery or pregnancy loss, and children are also at risk of complications after birth, such as neurodevelopmental disorders and respiratory disease. Tragically, many women feel so desperate they think about ending their pregnancy, and over 25% have thoughts of suicide.
Understanding Abnormal Symptoms
HG is often underdiagnosed, mainly because of the overlap it has with regular pregnancy sickness. Here are some signs that you’re suffering from a more severe form of NVP and could have HG:
- Persistent vomiting or prolonged nausea (unable to keep food or liquids down)
- Strong aversions to foods and beverages
- Significant weight loss
- Light-headedness or dizziness
- Dehydration (dry mouth, reduced urination, dark urine)
- Fatigue or weakness
- Constipation
“I couldn’t keep anything down, not even water. I was terrified and didn’t know what to do.”
If you’re experiencing any of these signs, Harmonia offers a validated scoring tool to help you label the severity of your symptoms as mild, moderate, or severe. Additionally, monitoring weight loss is critical. Losing more than 5% of your pre-pregnancy weight due to vomiting is a strong indicator of HG and may require immediate intervention. Harmonia has developed a weight loss calculator to help you track your weight loss, determine if you’re losing weight too quickly, and have easier conversations with your doctor about your concerns.
Advocating for Yourself
Advocating for yourself during pregnancy is critical to getting the necessary care. Many women with HG are dismissed by healthcare professionals, often being told their symptoms are just “normal morning sickness.” However, as symptoms worsen, women frequently end up hospitalized, with HG as the leading cause of hospital admission in early pregnancy.
Once in the ER, women face long wait times, averaging 2 hours 40 minutes, before receiving treatment for dehydration or severe vomiting. Even after discharge, the referral process between ER departments and OB-GYNs can delay access to proper care. This wait time is significant, with 60% of women with HG ending up back in the hospital due to treatment delays.
“I had to advocate for myself and insist on getting the help I needed. It was tough but worth it.”
Advocating for yourself, especially when dismissed by healthcare professionals, can be daunting. However, it’s vital to speak up about your symptoms as early as possible to avoid hospitalization and prolonged suffering.
Keeping a daily log of symptoms, food intake, and hydration can provide valuable insights to talk about with your doctor or midwife.
Remember, no matter how tough it feels, you deserve to be heard. Here are some tips for communicating with your healthcare provider more effectively:
- Be prepared. Bring a detailed symptom and weight loss log to appointments.
- Be persistent. If your concerns are dismissed, ask for a referral, or seek a second opinion.
- Bring support. Having a friend or partner with you can provide emotional support.
- Ask questions. Don’t hesitate to inquire about treatment options and next steps.
Accessing Help and Support for HG
If you are struggling to access help, you don’t have to suffer in silence. At Harmonia Healthcare, we provide personalized, compassionate care to women experiencing severe NVP. Our services include IV fluids for rehydration, electrolyte replacement to restore balance, essential vitamins like thiamine and B6, and pregnancy-safe medications to manage nausea.
To date, Harmonia has helped over 500 women achieve better health outcomes through tailored care plans for HG. Our proven model includes:
- Specialized treatment that reduces ER visits and hospitalizations by 95%.
- A focus on early intervention, shortening the duration of symptoms and improving recovery.
- Collaboration with your regular healthcare provider to ensure continuity of care.
Whether you visit our New Jersey clinic in person or use our telehealth services, our team is here to ensure you receive the care you need. Contact Harmonia Healthcare at (732) 538-5149 to learn more about our specialized care for NVP and HG or to book an appointment, or visit our New Patient page for more ways to get support.
Your health and well-being matter, and we all know it’s not “just” morning sickness.