Pregnancy is an exciting time. You're busy growing a human being inside of you. You're probably also busy fighting the ravages of morning sickness. Unfortunately, the term "morning sickness" isn't very accurate, especially since it can come on at any time of the day or night. If you're suffering from morning sickness, try eating smaller meals and keeping crackers on hand. Smaller meals and crackers can help tame the sickness when it pops up. If you're not able to keep food down at all or you're vomiting uncontrollably, you need to talk to your doctor. You may be experiencing something called hyperemesis gravidarum. Here are four signs that you might have more than morning sickness.
Non-Stop Nausea
During pregnancy, it's normal to experience bouts of nausea. You may feel nauseous when you wake up in the morning, or when you're hungry. It's also common to feel nauseous when you smell unpleasant odors – even if they're odors that didn't bother you before the pregnancy. However, if you're feeling nauseous non-stop, you may have more than just morning sickness. You may have hyperemesis gravidarum. This is particularly true if your nausea is interfering with your daily activities.
Uncontrollable Vomiting
When you have morning sickness, you may vomit a couple of times each day. In most cases, you'll feel better in between the bouts of sickness. With hyperemesis gravidarum, you may vomit throughout the day. You may also have bouts of vomiting that feel like they're going to go on forever. If your vomiting is continual, or you've vomited so forcefully that you're vomiting blood, you need to seek medical care as soon as possible.
Dehydration
If you're unable to hold food or liquids down, you run the risk of dehydration. This is particularly dangerous when you're pregnant. If you're not holding liquids down, you need to look for signs of dehydration. If you exhibit any of the following signs, you should seek medical attention as soon as possible.
- Decrease in urination
- Dark-colored urine
- Dry mouth
Loss of Appetite
When you're suffering from morning sickness, you'll still have times when you're hungry and want to eat. With hyperemesis gravidarum, you may lose your appetite altogether. If it's been a while since you last ate, and you're still not hungry, you should talk to your doctor about hyperemesis gravidarum.
Now that you're pregnant, you're probably expecting the morning sickness. If you experience any of the symptoms described above, consult with your doctor as soon as possible. Hyperemesis gravidarum can be dangerous for you and the baby. Contact a clinic like Central Iowa OB/Gyn Specialists, PLC to learn more.
