Preparation
Although no one can say for
sure if hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) will recur with every
pregnancy, it very often does. Some women have found that
certain strategies and circumstances
seem
to correlate
with less nausea and vomiting. No one knows for sure if there
is a link because not all women have HG with every pregnancy,
and the severity may vary each time. Sometimes it will only
occur with one sex of child, in multiple births, or just
in first time mothers. Improved care also affects how sick
a woman will become.
Unfortunately, it's estimated among
several sources
that at least 20%, but more likely 50% or more of women with
HG will have it with future pregnancies. No longitudinal
studies have been published to date. HER Foundation research
finds a very
high recurrence rate with similar patterns of duration and
severity. Nothing can prevent it, but preparing for HG and
getting effective care at the first sign of nausea/vomiting
will likely result in an easier pregnancy.
Tips & Strategies
The follow tips
and strategies will also help you be as prepared as possible
for your pregnancy.
- Start pregnancy with a clear system by
detoxifying your system.
See a health professional for
assistance: www.healthy.net
- Expand
your diet and try new foods so you have more options to
consider when ill.
- As soon as you begin trying to become
pregnant, make sure you are at or slightly above (10 lbs)
the normal (healthy) weight for your height.
Estrogen is stored in fat
tissue, and estrogen is implicated as one
factor that increases nausea, so don't gain too much weight.
- Have disability insurance to cover loss of time from
employment.
- Have the ability to make a mini kitchen at
your bedside (including a small fridge/cooler, microwave,
toaster and a basket to hold snack foods).
- Consider ridding
your home of all garlic containing foods (which include
most tomato sauces, frozen dinners, flavored snack foods,
etc.).
- Stock up on high calorie/high
fat foods as you will need to make the most of every bite.
Avoid foods with strong odors.
- Stock up on laundry,
dish detergent and body soap that are odor free.
- Try
to be in relatively good shape, but don't exercise excessively.
- Make
sure you are well-rested and not overly stressed when you
become pregnant.
- Try to be in the best health possible.
Eat lots of nutrient dense foods (fruits, vegetables,
legumes, whole grains)
and take prenatal vitamins for several months before you
become
pregnant. This will make sure you have storage of essential
vitamins and nutrients for your baby when you are unable
to eat. If you have a history of miscarriage, consider
adding antioxidants.
- Educate your friends and family about HG and how they
can help.
- Try to plan your next pregnancy at
a time that you will have the most family and friends around
for support, esp.
during
the early months.
This may be summer season
when you can hire a teen, or during the holidays when
family will be available. Being able to open the windows
can be helpful. However, if you live in an area that is
very hot, know that the heat can worsen your symptoms.
- Wait until your
current children are old enough to be somewhat self-sufficient,
etc.
- Plan your pregnancy if possible during a lower
stress time.
Stress and fatigue aggravate
HG. Avoid major changes
such
as moving, while pregnant.
- Proactively simplify your life
as much as you can and try to make sure you have adequate
help for your pregnancy.
- Find resources for house cleaning
and cooking.
- Stock your kitchen with quick meals for your
family and a large variety of snacks. Consider cooking
meals ahead
and freezing
them.
- Clean out your fridge/freezer and begin labeling all
foods with the date opened.
- Buy ahead on essentials such as film,
personal care products, gifts, school supplies, tissue
paper and cleaning products (unscented) to eliminate
errands.
- Have a cabinet stocked with "emergency" toys,
videos, computer games, books, activities, and necessities
(crafts,
coloring books, balloons, play-dough, etc.) for your worst
days. Also consider children's clubs such as:
- If HG lasts most or all of pregnancy for you, think
ahead to what you will need over the next year such
as children's
clothes and maternity clothes, etc. Buy in advance
to minimize your stress.
- Make sure your stomach is in
the best shape possible, esp. if you have a history of
ulcers, Helicobacter
pylori or other
GI/bowel disorders.
That means avoiding things
that irritate your stomach like alcohol, smoking, etc.
Eat lots of fruits,
esp. bananas, berries and apples, and consider taking
nutritional supplements that soothe and heal the stomach
such as slippery
elm, marshmallow, glutamine, etc.
- Keep an effective
antiemetic (anti-nausea medication) on hand if you are
trying to get pregnant and take
it as soon
as you vomit or feel HG hitting.
Start with the one
that helped you in your previous pregnancy. Of course,
you will
need to
discuss this with your practitioner and get a prescription
from him/her. (If he/she is uncomfortable with that
idea, you might mention that doctors recommend taking
pain medicine
as
soon as the pain starts for maximum relief, and you
want to do the same with the nausea.) Be careful with
leftover
medications,
they may be expired.
- If you do not feel your doctor
is effective in treating HG, begin your search now and
interview
potential doctors before you get
pregnant.
- Confirm the types of treatment your insurance will cover,
including TPN,
medications such as Zofran, and home health care.
- Consider seeing a perinatologist
or high-risk OB at the first sign of nausea if you have
a history of
severe HG
to avoid
a delay in treatment.
- See the dentist for x-rays
and a check-up just before you get pregnant.
- Install
a water filter to make water healthier
and taste better: www.multipure.com
- Make phone lists for each
room with essential numbers such as family, friends and
doctors.
- Breastfeed.
One mom said that she had severe
morning sickness (not HG) and weight loss with
3 of her 4
pregnancies. The
only one she didn't have NVP was when she accidentally
became pregnant
while breastfeeding. Other women report this
had no beneficial effect for them.
Feel free to send
your tips to us at webmaster@hyperemesis.org
Updated on:
Nov. 20, 2006 |
