Hyperemesis gravidarum is nausea and vomiting that occurs excessively during pregnancy. Nausea and vomiting (morning sickness) in the first trimester of pregnancy is actually normal. But on hyperemesis gravidarum, mual and vomit This can occur throughout the day and is at risk of causing dehydration.
Not only dehydration, hyperemesis gravidarum can cause pregnant women to experience electrolyte disturbances and lose weight. Hyperemesis gravidarum needs to be treated immediately to prevent health problems in pregnant women and the fetus they contain.
Causes of Hyperemesis Gravidarum
The exact cause of hyperemesis gravidarum is not known, but this condition is often associated with high hormone levels human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) in blood. This hormone is produced by the placenta (placenta) since the first trimester of pregnancy and levels continue to increase throughout pregnancy.
There are several conditions that make pregnant women more at risk of experiencing hyperemesis gravidarum, namely:
- First time pregnant
- Pregnant with twins
- Have a family member who has experienced hyperemesis gravidarum
- Experiencing hyperemesis gravidarum in a previous pregnancy
- Experiencing obesity
- Experiencing wine pregnant
Symptoms of Hyperemesis Gravidarum
The main symptoms of hyperemesis gravidarum are nausea and vomiting during pregnancy, which can occur up to 3-4 times a day. This condition can lead to loss of appetite and weight loss. Excessive vomiting can also cause pregnant women to feel dizzy, weak, and dehydrated.
In addition to excessive nausea and vomiting, people with hyperemesis gravidarum may also experience additional symptoms such as:
- Headache
- Constipation
- Very sensitive to smell
- Excessive saliva production
- Urinary incontinence
- Heart beat
Symptoms of hyperemesis gravidarum usually appear at 4-6 weeks of gestation and begin to subside at 14-20 weeks of gestation.
When to go to the doctor
Pregnant women need to have regular prenatal visits to the obstetrician, since the beginning of pregnancy. This action is carried out to monitor the health of pregnant women and the fetus they contain. The recommended prenatal check-up schedule is:
- 4-28 weeks gestation: 1 time every 1 month.
- 28-36 weeks gestation: 1 time every 2 weeks.
- 36-40 weeks gestation: 1 time every 1 week.
In addition to regular checkups, pregnant women need to immediately see a doctor if nausea and vomiting get worse or are accompanied by:
- Dizzy.
- Not eating or drinking for 12 hours.
- Stomach ache.
- Symptoms of dehydration include weakness, infrequent urination, dry skin, and palpitations.
- Vomiting blood.
- Drastic weight loss.
Diagnosis of Hyperemesis Gravidarum
In diagnosing hyperemesis gravidarum, the doctor will ask about the symptoms and examine the health history of the pregnant woman and family. Physical examination is also done to see the impact of hyperemesis gravidarum, such as low blood pressure and fast heart rate.
From the physical examination, the doctor can determine whether the vomiting experienced by a pregnant woman is normal or excessive (hyperemesis gravidarum). To see in more detail the consequences of hyperemesis gravidarum, the doctor will perform a follow-up examination.
Further examination can be done with blood and urine tests. This test is done to check for signs of dehydration and electrolyte disturbances that can occur as a result of hyperemesis gravidarum. Pregnancy ultrasound is also done to monitor the condition of the fetus and detect abnormalities in the womb.
In addition, to ensure that the symptoms of nausea and vomiting experienced by pregnant women are not caused by a disease, such as liver disease, the doctor will carry out further examinations, such as liver function tests.
Treatment of Hyperemesis Gravidarum
Different from morning sickness whose treatment can be done at home, patients with hyperemesis gravidarum need to be treated in a hospital. The treatment given is determined based on the severity of the symptoms and the overall health condition of the pregnant woman.
Treatment is carried out with the aim of stopping nausea and vomiting, replacing lost fluids and electrolytes due to excessive vomiting, meeting nutritional needs, and restoring appetite.
Some of the drugs that doctors can give are:
- Anti-nausea drugs, such as promethazine.
- Vitamin B1 or thiamine.
- Pyridoxine or vitamin B6.
- Vitamin and nutritional supplements.
If hyperemesis gravidarum causes pregnant women to be unable to swallow liquids or food at all, drugs and nutrients will be given through an IV. In addition to infusion, pregnant women can also receive food intake through a feeding tube.
Complications of Hyperemesis Gravidarum
Hyperemesis gravidarum can endanger the condition of pregnant women and the fetus they contain. Excessive nausea and vomiting will cause pregnant women to lose a lot of fluids, so they are at risk for dehydration and electrolyte disturbances.
If left untreated, these two conditions can cause deep vein thrombosis (deep vein thrombosis) in pregnant women. Some of the other complications that can occur are:
- Malnutrition.
- Impaired liver and kidney function.
- Mallory-Weiss syndrome, which is a tear in the inner wall of the esophagus (esophagus)
- Vomiting blood, which is caused by bleeding from a tear in the esophagus.
- Anxiety and depression.
If treatment is not immediately carried out, hyperemesis gravidarum can cause the organs of the pregnant woman's body to fail and the baby to be born prematurely.
Prevention of Hyperemesis Gravidarum
There are no known preventive measures for hyperemesis gravidarum. Even so, there are several ways that can be done to relieve morning sickness so that it does not develop into hyperemesis gravidarum, namely:
- Get plenty of rest to relieve stress and relieve fatigue.
- Eat foods that are high in protein, low in fat, and finely textured for easy swallowing and digestion.
- Eat food in small portions, but often. Avoid oily, spicy, or strong-smelling foods that can trigger nausea.
- Drink more water to prevent dehydration, and consume drinks containing ginger to relieve nausea and warm the body.
- Taking pregnancy supplements to meet the needs of vitamins and iron during pregnancy.
- Use aromatherapy to reduce morning sickness.
Maintaining a healthy pregnancy during the first trimester is also important to prevent hyperemesis gravidarum. One of them is to do regular pregnancy check-ups.
Pregnancy examinations are generally carried out from 4 weeks of gestation, to monitor fetal development and detect early abnormalities that may be experienced by the fetus.