Hyperemesis Gravidarum: Sickness, Fluids and Care
Understand severe pregnancy sickness, when to seek help and how to keep brief food, fluid and treatment notes without delaying assessment.
When even a sip of water feels difficult, advice to 'try a biscuit' can feel very far from your reality. Severe pregnancy sickness deserves treatment and understanding.
Start your food and symptom diary
Understanding Hyperemesis Gravidarum
Hyperemesis gravidarum is severe nausea and vomiting in pregnancy that can cause dehydration and weight loss. It is more than ordinary morning sickness and is not caused by a lack of effort. Medical assessment checks how unwell you are and what support you need. [1]
Care and everyday food decisions
Treatment can include pregnancy-appropriate anti-sickness medicines and, when needed, hospital care and intravenous fluids. Contact your maternity team early if symptoms are severe. Food strategies alone are not an adequate response when you cannot keep fluids or treatment down. [1]
Keeping a useful personal record
If you have the energy, note what fluid or food stayed down, vomiting episodes and prescribed medicines. A short account can help explain the problem, but there is no need to measure every sip before seeking help. One Food Forward does not assess dehydration or monitor the pregnancy.
Related reading: Pregnancy-Related GI Issues.
Must I wait for weight loss before asking for help?
No. Speak to your maternity team when severe sickness is affecting eating or drinking. They can assess you and discuss treatment before the problem becomes harder to manage. [1]
Keep the details somewhere you can find them
There is no need to tell the whole story at once. Start with today’s meal, a symptom or a few words about how you felt. Those small entries give you something to return to when it is time to talk about your care.
Sources and further reading
Your healthcare team should guide diagnosis, treatment and changes to your diet or medicines.
Spotted something that needs correcting? Contact One Food Forward support and include this page’s address.