Severe Morning Sickness and Pregnancy

Severe morning sickness may affect your pregnancy and the health of both you and your baby. Let’s take a close look at sever morning sickness, what may be causing it and most importantly how you can cope with it and keep the two of you safe.

Severe Morning sickness affects around one in 1,000 pregnant women. While it is not known exactly what causes sever morning sickness in those pregnancies, there are several theories about the cause of it. Those include that the pregnant woman has high levels of estrogen, or high levels of hCG (the pregnancy hormone). Other theories suggest that a thyroid imbalance, vitamin B deficiency or acid reflux is the culprits of severe morning sickness.

Women who are carrying twins, are very young during their pregnancy or are very overweight seem to suffer from severe morning sickness more. The symptoms of severe morning sickness include constant nausea, vomiting, dehydration, weight loss that amounts to more than 5% of pre-pregnancy weight) and extreme fatigue.

This condition whose medical name is hyperemesis gravidarum can cause electrolyte imbalances, depression and anxiety, extreme dehydration and malnourishment of the fetus. Treatment usually takes place in the hospital where mom is put on intravenous liquids and nutrition. Expecting moms can avoid hospitalization by developing a strategy with their doctor that insures they and their unborn baby get the nutrients and liquids needed for a healthy pregnancy.

If you are suffering from severe morning sickness during your pregnancy, your doctor can prescribe medication that will help with the nausea and allow you to keep at least some food and liquid down. Your doctor may also ask you to drink plenty of Gatorade and supplement your diet with a nutritional shake developed specifically for the needs of an expectant mom.

P.S. I am currently writing my own book on morning sickness. You can be the first to get a copy if you join my newsletter.