Life
11 Things You Need To Know About Hyperemesis
Remember those analogy questions from standardized tests? Well, they are still a useful way to make some distinctions. For instance, morning sickness is to hyperemesis gravidarum as a thunderstorm is to a violent typhoon. It's the same thing but only on a much larger scale. If you are even considering the possibility of becoming pregnant, there are some things you need to know about hyperemesis beforehand. Because this is one condition you do not want to take you by surprise.
First, some positive perspective: the severe morning sickness known as hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) is relatively rare, manageable, and temporary (even the worst cases end once you give birth). Chances are, none of your pregnancies will be affected by it, and you can get through your bouts of regular morning sickness with the reassuring (?) knowledge that it could be much, much worse. If none of the other women in your family have dealt with it, then you just might be in the clear.
But for the few women who do have to cope with hyperemesis — even Kate Middleton found herself among those numbers — the constant nausea and vomiting can be debilitating. Read on to know how to differentiate hyperemesis from morning sickness, what methods of treatment are available, and why the blandest foods on the planet may be your new favorite eats.
1Kate Middleton Struggled With Hyperemesis
Even royals have had a brush with the condition, as Kate Middleton famously suffered from hyperemesis. Although no one wants the beloved Duchess of Cambridge to struggle with such a nasty disease, her public battle with HG has perhaps helped to raise greater awareness about hyperemesis. Hopefully, by making knowledge of HG more mainstream, more women will not have to suffer through the condition with inadequate help.
2It Is Not "Just Morning Sickness"
Sure, there are plenty of jokes about pregnant women and morning sickness, but by all accounts hyperemesis is no laughing matter. (Not that regular morning sickness is a cake walk; it too can get pretty gnarly.) But hyperemesis takes this condition to the next level. As noted by Healthline, morning sickness generally lets up by the fourth month of pregnancy, whereas hyperemesis leads to symptoms of severe nausea and vomiting that will not subside. It is persistent.
3Its Visibility Has Increased
Plenty of women's health issues have historically been kept rather secret, but it looks like more and more information about these conditions has hit the mainstream. As an example, real-life accounts of hyperemesis have been featured in The Huffington Post and other prominent publications. And it has shown up in other areas of pop culture. For instance, the popular TV show Jane The Virgin featured a character who suffered from hyperemesis in its second season.
4Hyperemesis Has No Cure
Perhaps one day there will be a cure for all pains. But at this time, there does not appear to be any way to prevent hyperemesis from developing, as explained in the Cleveland Clinic. Unfortunately, it can only be managed.
5Its Exact Cause Is Unknown
Women who want to know the cause for HG will be sadly disappointed. According to the American Pregnancy Association, the exact cause of hyperemesis is unknown, although it is possibly hormonal in origin. More research into this area is still needed (although the idea of your body becoming violently ill from its own hormones may not be the most reassuring thought, either).
6It May Be Hereditary
Perhaps you've inherited your mother's hazel eyes or her megawatt smile. Well, it's possible you got some less than favorable genetics from her, too. According to Kids Health, hyperemesis may be hereditary because it appears more common among women whose close family members also suffer from the disease. But if there were ever something you didn't want to keep in the family, hyperemesis would be it.
7Hyperemesis Affects Less Than 2 Percent Of Pregnant Women
HG is fairly rare. Although different reports vary, the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) estimates the occurrence of hyperemesis gravidarum at around .5 to 2 percent of pregnant women. In contrast, according to the NORD, around 50 to 90 percent of pregnant women experience some form of nausea and vomiting during pregnancy. So the odds are high that you will experience some feelings of nausea, but not of the debilitating variety associated with hyperemesis.
8Hospitalization May Be Required
According to the American Pregnancy Association, severe cases of hyperemesis may require hospitalization to provide the mother-to-be with intravenous fluid and nutrition. Unfortunately, it's possible to get to the point where you can't keep anything down.
9What You Eat May Affect Symptoms
When it comes to things you should eat while suffering from hyperemesis, the operative word is bland. This is probably good news; chances are you don't want to dig into a bowl of spicy chili right now. Some typical safe foods for hyperemesis include dry toast, mashed potatoes, or bananas.
10Medication May Help
Some medical help may be available. According to the Mayo Clinic, you may receive anti-nausea medications if the condition get too bad.
11It Is Temporary
Although women in the throes of hyperemesis may feel as though they've been sick forever, it may help you to remember that the condition will not linger for the rest of your life. As noted in WebMD, all the symptoms of hyperemesis will one day stop, soon followed by the arrival of your new baby.
