What is HG?

Hyper= excessive Emesis=vomiting Gravidarum=pregnant state. Excessive vomitting in pregnancy.

The analogy of it being like food poisoning that lasts for months is very accurate. Only, with food poisoning that severe, nearly every woman would get immediate medical care and no one would tell them it was in their head. That is not the case with HG.

Hyperemesis Gravidarum is extreme vomiting in pregnancy that goes beyond the normal morning sickness often requiring medical intervention to keep the mother and baby healthy. It is uncontrollable without intervention and can adversely affect the mother's organs and health. The mother often loses weight and becomes severely dehydrated. The more severe side effects of HG are: acute renal failure, muscle atrophy, digestive disorders, esophageal bleeding and damage, Mallory-Weiss Tears (esophageal rupture), hypoglycemia, skeletal muscle degeneration, depression, complications to the baby, depression, nutritional deficiencies (malnutrition), etc.

Although it varies, in many women, it continues until approximately 20 weeks. In others, like myself, it continues until the baby is born.

Women have and do die from Hyperemesis Gravidarum. At the time of this writing, I just heard of a 23 year old, first time mother who died in the hospital from HG. Her mother is heavily mourning her daughter and first grandchild. She is horrified by how little help was given in her daughter's situation until it was too late.

The medical community can not agree on how common HG is in pregnant women. Some studies site 1 in 300 while others 1 in 1000. At the rate I am hearing from and coming across women with it, I believe it is more prevalent than thought.

The medical community can not agree on the cause of HG. Theories range from gall bladder disease to liver function to hormones. The theories are too long and varied to get into here. What it is not is IMAGINED!

NOTE: I am not a medical Dr. I am a mother just sharing what has helped me. I hope that someone can use something I have shared to help themselves or to find encouragement. Before trying any of the suggestions on my site, I have to recommend you consult a licensed physician. I will not diagnose diseases nor give out medical advice. Information provided is for educational and experimental purposes only and is based on my own findings.