Possible Complications
Numerous complications can result from HG if it is severe,
not adequately treated or there is a delay in medical interventions.
However, most women have only minor complications such as
muscle atrophy, fatigue, constipation, sleep disturbance,
and gastric (stomach) irritation. Long-term health problems
are not yet defined and have not been studied by researchers
thus far. Most seem to be related to the severity of vomiting,
thus women with excessive, uncontrolled vomiting for months
will have a greater chance of complications. If women with
HG are given early medical care sufficient to manage their
symptoms and minimize nutritional deficiencies, both mother
and child will likely be healthy now and in the future.
However, some research is suggesting that prolonged stress,
malnutrition and dehydration in the mother can potentially
put the unborn child at risk for chronic disease (e.g. diabetes,
heart disease) in later life. This has been termed "fetal
programming" by researchers and is a relatively
new field of study. Early, moderate weight loss (less than
5-10% of her pre-pregnancy weight) by a mother does not mean
a child will necessarily have diseases in adult life, rather,
severe or prolonged malnutrition as a pregnancy progresses
may increase the risk of disease for the child later. Other
factors such as the child's later health habits (e.g. smoking,
obesity, diet) also determine if they will develop chronic
health conditions. This underscores the importance of providing
a mother with the care she needs, for her health and that
of her baby.
Severe HG
Weight gain in the mother and adequate birth weight of the
child are used to determine if nutrition is sufficient for
the baby. Adverse effects of mild HG on the baby do not seem
to be common, however, if moderate or severe, there is cause
for concern. Severe HG usually causes the mother to rapidly
lose an excessive amount of weight, continue to lose weight
or gain slowly during the second half of pregnancy, and/or
results in a low fetal birth weight or delayed development.
Women with prolonged or severe HG are also at greater risk
for preterm labor and high blood pressure (pre-eclampsia),
which may be related to malnutrition. Medical professionals
experienced in caring for high-risk pregnancies or women
with HG are critical in ensuring adequate care of these mothers.
If a woman shows signs of severe HG and her care seems inadequate
or she is not improving, a second opinion is often necessary.
In most cases, medications and nutritional therapies can ease symptoms and allow both mother and
child to avoid serious complications.
Signs of Severe HG:
- Debilitating, chronic nausea
- Frequent vomiting of bile or blood
- Chronic ketosis and dehydration
- Muscle weakness and extreme fatigue
- Medication does not stop vomiting/nausea
- Inability to care for self (shower, prepare food)
- Loss of over 5-10% of your pre-pregnancy weight
- Weight loss (or little gain) after the first trimester
- Inability to eat/drink sufficiently by about 14 weeks
| Constipation |
Cramps, infrequent or hard stools, or difficulty passing
stools |
MEDLINEplus
Medical Encyclopedia: Constipation |
| Fatigue |
Inability to work or perform usual activities |
|
| Atrophy - wasting or loss of muscle tissue resulting
from disease or lack of use |
Weakness, fatigue, pain |
Pregnancy
Bed Rest Information |
| Stomach ulcers or irritation |
Pain, nausea, food aversions |
NIDDK:
Stomach and Duodenal Ulcers |
| Psychosocial Stress |
Depression, anxiety |
www.dartmouth.edu:
Depression In Pregnancy
PubMed:
Obstetrical complications and the development of postpartum depressive
symptoms: a prospective survey of the MATQUID cohort.
PubMed:
Obstetric, somatic, and demographic risk factors for postpartum depressive
symptoms. |
| Sleep Disturbance or Insomnia |
Difficulty sleeping |
MEDLINEplus
Medical Encyclopedia: Sleeping difficulty |
| Acid Reflux & Heartburn |
Throat pain, indigestion, nausea |
MEDLINEplus
Medical Encyclopedia: Gastroesophageal reflux disease |
| Kidney Failure - loss of the
kidneys' ability to excrete wastes, concentrate urine,
and conserve electrolytes |
Decreased urine output, fluid retention,
changes in mental status or mood, increased blood pressure,
ear noise/buzzing, breath odor, fatigue, nausea, vomiting |
PubMed:
Acute renal failure in association with severe hyperemesis
gravidarum.
MEDLINEplus
Medical Encyclopedia: Acute renal failure |
| Deconditioning - a decrease in
the responsiveness of heart muscle |
Fatigue, weakness, breathlessness, pain |
PubMed:
An overview of the issues: physiological effects of
bed rest and restricted physical activity. |
| Esophageal bleeding – Bleeding
in the throat |
Blood in vomit and/or stool, throat
pain, light-headedness |
NIDDK:
Bleeding in the Digestive Tract |
| TMJ Trauma - pain or injury to
the jaw joint (TMJ or TMD) |
Pain or stiffness when opening mouth,
headaches, vision changes, clicking noises from jaw |
|
| Hemorrhagic Retinitis - bleeding
into the retina of the eye |
|
|
| Jaundice - Discoloring of the
skin, mucous membranes, and eyes, caused by too much
bilirubin in the blood |
Yellow skin, mucous membranes, and eyes;
itching |
|
| Posttraumatic Stress Disorder |
Flashback episodes, memories, nightmares,
or frightening thoughts, when they are exposed to events
or objects reminiscent of the trauma. May also experience
emotional numbness and sleep disturbances, depression,
anxiety, and irritability or outbursts of anger. |
PubMed:
Posttraumatic stress disorder and pregnancy complications.
NIMH: Reliving Trauma: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder |
| Neurological (brain) changes |
Vision changes (double vision, involuntary
movements), confusion, disorientation, lack of muscle
coordination |
Notify physician immediately
if you experience any of these symptoms. |
| Exhaustion and/or extreme fatigue |
Lack of energy, weariness, or tiredness.
May be unable to care for self and family. |
|
Updated on:
Aug. 09, 2006 |
