Is your pregnancy Nausea Extreme? 7 Signs of Hyperemesis

Pregnancy nausea is common, affecting about 8 out of 10 pregnant women to some extent. However, for about 1 in 100, it turns into hyperemesis gravidarum, an extreme form that can impact your entire day-to-day life.

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7 Signs of Hyperemesis Gravidarum

If you recognize several of these symptoms, you may have hyperemesis:

• Severe vomiting and difficulty keeping food and drink down.
• Nausea all day and night.
• Struggling to manage daily life.
• Weight loss during pregnancy.
• Reduced urination and darker urine.
• Dizziness or fainting.
• Feeling down, anxious, or extremely fatigued.

Hyperemesis gravidarum is often described as an "endless winter stomach flu" and can be both physically and mentally draining. Symptoms usually start between weeks 4 and 7 of pregnancy, peak around week 9, and improve for most between weeks 16 and 20. However, about 1 in 10 women continue to experience extreme nausea beyond that.

Seek Help Early

Suspect you might have hyperemesis? Contact your doctor or midwife for an accurate diagnosis and proper treatment. In severe cases, you may need to take sick leave and have regular doctor appointments, and in some cases, hospital care with an IV may be necessary to prevent dehydration and electrolyte imbalances.

What Helps with Hyperemesis Gravidarum?

Traditional pregnancy nausea remedies, like motion sickness tablets, dry crackers, or lemon, are often not enough for hyperemesis. If nothing seems to help, and others don't understand how bad you feel, it might be good to talk to someone.

You can find support in online forums and groups where others with hyperemesis share their experiences. You can also get professional counseling from your midwife or doctor.