Services
Hyperemesis Gravidarum
What is nausea and vomiting in pregnancy?
Many pregnant women feel sick (nauseated) and, or may vomit during early pregnancy. This can vary from mild to moderate and still be considered part of the normal experience of pregnancy. People used to call this “morning sickness” but we now refer to it as nausea and vomiting in pregnancy. In mild and moderate cases women are still able to eat and drink. Around 7 in 10 pregnant women will experience nausea and vomiting in pregnancy, but they usually feel better after the first trimester.
What is hyperemesis gravidarum?
When nausea and vomiting become severe, lasting for more than a few days, women will find it hard to eat or drink enough. This severe nausea and vomiting in pregnancy is called hyperemesis gravidarum. Around 1 in 100 pregnant women will experience hyperemesis gravidarum, although this number may be higher. It may lead to dehydration (lack of fluid in the body) and cause weight loss and vitamin deficiencies. Hyperemesis gravidarum usually starts early in pregnancy, before women are 10 weeks pregnant. For most women, it stops between 13 to 20 weeks, while a few women continue to suffer through their entire pregnancy. Hyperemesis gravidarum can have a big impact on women’s emotional, mental and physical health. Women are often so sick they cannot go to work, care for themselves or anyone else, and have great difficulty participating in normal daily activities. Hyperemesis gravidarum can make women feel very unwell and needs to be taken seriously by their health care provider, families and support people and employers. At Women’s Health Road in Sydney’s Northern Beaches we will ensure you are provided with empathetic and supportive medical care during this difficult time.
Symptoms include:
Persistent nausea and vomiting
Dehydration
Fatigue
Weight loss
Anxiety, depression or increasing isolation
Treatment options
Non-Medication options
Changing your activities to get more rest
Eating small amounts of food more often
Sipping small amounts of fluid more often
Ginger supplements or tea
Avoiding vitamins which contain iron
Medications
Pyridoxine (Vitamin B6)
Doxylamine (Restavit)
Anti-emetic medications including metoclopramide (Maxolon), ondansetron or cyclizine
Intravenous fluid replacement
Fluids via a drip to treat dehydration
This can be done at our clinic or in an emergency department
Are the medications safe?
With all pregnant women we avoid medications if they are unnecessary, although in hyperemesis gravidarum the concerns related to recurrent vomiting and episodes of dehydration can lead to complications in pregnancy. We hope to avoid any complications by providing a comprehensive service to maintain your health throughout your pregnancy including provide education, medications and intravenous fluids. Most of the medications we to treat hyperemesis gravidarum have been studied for a very long time and have a very good safety profile in pregnancy. If there are any concerns please speak to our team at Women’s Health Road to discuss your concerns.
How often are Intravenous fluids required?
Not all women will require intravenous fluids although some women require regular infusions to avoid dehydration and hospitalisation which can range from once in a pregnancy to two to three times a week for the first few months.
What are the benefits of having treatment of your hyperemesis gravidarum at Women’s Health Road?
We are a uniquely placed boutique service on the Northern Beaches of Sydney who are able to provide comprehensive private obstetric and shared antenatal care in conjunction with Northern Beaches Hospital. We are able to provide comprehensive hyperemesis assessments and management plans as well as provide intravenous fluid infusions required throughout the pregnancy. These intravenous fluids can be given at the same visit as an iron infusion if required, which is very common in pregnancy.
How much will this service cost?
A list of our General Practice services can be found here. Consultations are charged on a time based sliding scale and infusions are charged as separate procedural fee to cover practice costs to provide this service.
How to will I organise an appointment?
Please call our friendly reception staff at Women’s Health Road on (02) 8328 0670 Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm.
Resources:
NSW Health Hyperemesis Gravidarum Fact Sheet.
https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/kidsfamilies/MCFhealth/Factsheets/hyperemesis-gravidarum.pdf
Mother Safe Hyperemesis Fact Sheet