Treating Hyperemesis Gravidarum
Posted on May 3, 2012 | Blog Posts, Morning Sickness News Category | | Print This Article
Of all of the various implications and variations of morning sickness, the most severe – and the one that poses the most danger to the expectant mother – is Hyperemesis Gravidarum. Hyperemesis Gravidarum can keep you from keeping any food or liquids down. This, of course, will cause a number of problems for both you and your baby. Somewhere around 2% of all pregnant women will experience Hyperemesis Gravidarum, and for those that do treatment is a necessity.
The dangers of Hyperemesis Gravidarum
The first thing you need to know about Hyperemesis Gravidarum is just how serious and dangerous it can be. It can cause you to become dehydrated, an obvious danger for both you and for your developing baby.
Hyperemesis Gravidarum can also lead to nutritional deficiencies. If you can’t keep down any food, chances are you aren’t keeping down your prenatal vitamins either. This means that your baby is at risk for developing certain birth defects. The folic acid and iron in your food and your prenatal vitamins are extremely important to your developing baby, and not having them has been shown to lead to birth defects.
What to do
If you’ve been having nausea and vomiting in excess for more than a couple of days, and been unable to keep anything down, you need to talk to your doctor. Depending on the severity of your Hyperemesis Gravidarum, you may need to go to the hospital. While you are there, you will probably be given IV fluids in order to combat dehydration.
While anti-nausea medications can sometimes pose a risk to pregnant women, you’re at a greater risk if you’re not keeping anything down. Your doctor might recommend a variety of medications to try to combat your Hyperemesis Gravidarum.
You may also have luck with some alternative treatments for Hyperemesis Gravidarum, including acupuncture, acupressure, chiropractic care, homeopathic remedies, aromatherapy, and more. Work with your health care provider to help identify the best ways to treat your Hyperemesis Gravidarum, and make sure that no matter what you’re able to give your developing baby the nutritional building blocks that she needs to grow and have a healthy pregnancy.
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