Nausea and Vomiting in Pregnancy
If you are pregnant, vomiting unfortunately can be quite common. You may have greater difficulty taking care of your normal responsibilities and/or going to work. You may even have difficulty caring for yourself such as showering and preparing food. If you are dehydrated, with abnormal electrolyte bloods and have lost more than 5% of your pre-pregnancy body weight, then you may have a condition called hyperemesis gravidarum.
Why do I feel like this?
The exact cause is unknown, however the pregnancy hormones are new, and your body has to learn to adjust and cope with the big changes that are happening inside you.
When will it stop?
For most women the nausea/vomiting will ease by 12 weeks, and usually stops before you reach 20 weeks. A small number of women will find the sickness lasts until delivery although it is usually less severe.
Is this nausea/vomiting/weight loss harming my baby?
There is no evidence that severe vomiting has any harmful effect on your baby. Adequate nutrition is important for the baby but your body should have enough reserves, and the baby will take its nutrition from there. Studies show vitamins seem to be most important during the few months prior to pregnancy and up to about 6 weeks gestation, so if you have been taking folic acid this will help to prevent problems like spina bifida.
If I am being so sick, and I feel unwell, what can I do?
Make an appointment to see your GP, or visit the walk in centre, to get a prescription for anti-sickness tablets. Normally we would suggest cyclizine, which you take three times a day, spread out every six hours or so. Ask your doctor if they could give you a cyclizine injection to start, in case the tablets don't stay in your stomach straight away.
Try and sip water, or a sugary drink (some women say that ice lollies soothe them better), and give yourself 24 hours to see if the tablets help.
If you are no better after this time, please call EGAU on 01733 673758 for further discussion.
Why would I need to come to hospital?
If the anti-sickness tablets are not improving your symptoms, we may need to look at different medicines, check your blood or urine levels or even put a drip in your arm (an IV) to replace some of the fluids that you will have lost through vomiting/not being able to drink. This should make you feel better, and allow the anti-sickness tablets to work better when you go home.
How long would I be in hospital?
We would expect you to stay with us normally for a day, coming early in the morning, and going home around 1700hrs
Some women need to return the following day for a second day of fluids/medicines. Some women are not ready to go home the same day, and need to be admitted to the Women’s Health Ward.
Once we have given you some fluids/medicines, we will have a better idea of how your body is responding
Sometimes the vomiting comes back again after you have gone home, so don’t be disappointed if you find that you need to continue the medication or even come back into hospital again. Your sickness will get better.
I have been told I need to come to hospital for the day, what do I need to bring?
Please bring whatever you think you need for the day, and come dressed in loose, comfortable clothing. You must bring
· Two forms of ID – a passport or birth certificate, and another form of ID that has your home address showing
· Any medicines that you are taking
Why do I need to come early in the morning?
We need you to arrive by 0900 so that we can get the assessment, fluids and medicines into your body that you need. If you arrive later, we won’t have enough time to do all the things that we need to make you feel better, as the unit closes at 1800hrs.
If I need to come in, can I bring someone with me?
We understand this is a difficult time for you, so of course you can bring someone with you when you come for treatment, but there may be occasions when we have to ask them to leave the Unit for a time, as space is limited. Because the unit is so small, unfortunately we cannot accept children in the Unit
Patients will remain dressed where possible to protect patients’ privacy and dignity (so please wear loose comfortable tops/clothing)
EGAU is a bay of 3 recliner chairs, each one separated by a curtain.
Why do I feel like this?
The exact cause is unknown, however the pregnancy hormones are new, and your body has to learn to adjust and cope with the big changes that are happening inside you.
When will it stop?
For most women the nausea/vomiting will ease by 12 weeks, and usually stops before you reach 20 weeks. A small number of women will find the sickness lasts until delivery although it is usually less severe.
Is this nausea/vomiting/weight loss harming my baby?
There is no evidence that severe vomiting has any harmful effect on your baby. Adequate nutrition is important for the baby but your body should have enough reserves, and the baby will take its nutrition from there. Studies show vitamins seem to be most important during the few months prior to pregnancy and up to about 6 weeks gestation, so if you have been taking folic acid this will help to prevent problems like spina bifida.
If I am being so sick, and I feel unwell, what can I do?
Make an appointment to see your GP, or visit the walk in centre, to get a prescription for anti-sickness tablets. Normally we would suggest cyclizine, which you take three times a day, spread out every six hours or so. Ask your doctor if they could give you a cyclizine injection to start, in case the tablets don't stay in your stomach straight away.
Try and sip water, or a sugary drink (some women say that ice lollies soothe them better), and give yourself 24 hours to see if the tablets help.
If you are no better after this time, please call EGAU on 01733 673758 for further discussion.
Why would I need to come to hospital?
If the anti-sickness tablets are not improving your symptoms, we may need to look at different medicines, check your blood or urine levels or even put a drip in your arm (an IV) to replace some of the fluids that you will have lost through vomiting/not being able to drink. This should make you feel better, and allow the anti-sickness tablets to work better when you go home.
How long would I be in hospital?
We would expect you to stay with us normally for a day, coming early in the morning, and going home around 1700hrs
Some women need to return the following day for a second day of fluids/medicines. Some women are not ready to go home the same day, and need to be admitted to the Women’s Health Ward.
Once we have given you some fluids/medicines, we will have a better idea of how your body is responding
Sometimes the vomiting comes back again after you have gone home, so don’t be disappointed if you find that you need to continue the medication or even come back into hospital again. Your sickness will get better.
I have been told I need to come to hospital for the day, what do I need to bring?
Please bring whatever you think you need for the day, and come dressed in loose, comfortable clothing. You must bring
· Two forms of ID – a passport or birth certificate, and another form of ID that has your home address showing
· Any medicines that you are taking
Why do I need to come early in the morning?
We need you to arrive by 0900 so that we can get the assessment, fluids and medicines into your body that you need. If you arrive later, we won’t have enough time to do all the things that we need to make you feel better, as the unit closes at 1800hrs.
If I need to come in, can I bring someone with me?
We understand this is a difficult time for you, so of course you can bring someone with you when you come for treatment, but there may be occasions when we have to ask them to leave the Unit for a time, as space is limited. Because the unit is so small, unfortunately we cannot accept children in the Unit
Patients will remain dressed where possible to protect patients’ privacy and dignity (so please wear loose comfortable tops/clothing)
EGAU is a bay of 3 recliner chairs, each one separated by a curtain.
