What are the symptoms of severe morning sickness (hyperemesis gravidarum)?
Symptoms of hyperemesis gravidarum include:
Vomiting more than three times a day.
Becoming severely dehydrated (signs of which include little-to-no urine production, dark-colored urine, dizziness with standing).
Losing 5 or more pounds.
In order to receive IV fluids to replenish lost fluids and antiemetic medications to treat nausea, people with severe morning sickness may need to be admitted to the hospital.
What can I do to feel better if I have morning sickness?
You can do a few things to feel better. These include:
Eat a few crackers or toast in the morning to help settle your stomach. Keep a few crackers at bedside and eat a couple before getting up.
Eat five or six small meals a day instead of three large meals.
Avoid spicy and fatty foods. Eat bland foods such as bananas, rice, dry toast, plain baked potato, gelatin, broth, eggs, tofu or applesauce.
Eat healthy snacks between meals, such as yogurt, peanut butter on apple slices or celery, cheese, milk or nuts.
Drink plenty of fluids, especially water, throughout the day.
Take your prenatal vitamins with a snack. If your prenatal vitamin contains iron, try taking it at bedtime. Talk with your doctor about other vitamin options.
Avoid odors, flickering lights, other situations that bother you and trigger your nausea.
Make tea with real grated ginger or try ginger candies.
Get plenty of rest.
Keep rooms well-ventilated, turn on a fan, or go outside from time to time to get some fresh air.
Smell fresh-smelling, pleasant scents such as lemon, orange or mint.
Other methods may help reduce nausea. Talk with your healthcare provider before trying these:
Acupressure wristband. These bands apply pressure to certain points on your wrist.
Acupuncture. In this treatment method, thin needles are put into your skin.
It has not been demonstrated that marijuana is safe for the fetus during pregnancy, so do not use it to treat morning sickness.
You should make an appointment to see a doctor if you’re seeing unusual shades or if vomiting has lasted longer than 1 or 2 days.
Vomiting isn’t a medical condition in itself. It’s a sign that comes along with a number of conditions, from an infection to a chronic illness.
To find out what each color of vomit might mean and when you should see a doctor, consult this chart of vomit colors.
Orange vomit typically isn’t a problem unless it lasts for more than a day or two.
In these circumstances, you might continue to vomit bile. Bile is usually yellow or green.
