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Preparing for Hyperemesis

Although no one can say if you will get hyperemesis on


every pregnancy, unfortunately it very often does happen
again. Some women find that using certain strategies
results in less nausea and vomiting in their pregnancy.
These strategies can’t be proven though as not all women get
hyperemesis 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. Receiving better 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
hyperemesis will have it with future pregnancies.

Although nothing has been proven to prevent hyperemesis,


preparing and getting effective care at the first sign of
nausea/vomiting will hopefully result in an easier pregnancy. At
worst it won’t do any harm!

It can be helpful to make your own hyperemesis plan.


www.helpher.org has a thread on their forum where you can view
other people’s plans and post your own plan online for comments.
Making a plan gives you a sense of control over your hyperemesis
and also lets other people i.e. husband or partner know what they
can do to help you.

Hyperemesis Support Group of Ireland April 2011


Below are some tips and strategies that you might like to
include but everyone’s plan will be different and unique to
them.

Tips and Strategies


Before getting pregnant:

• Educate your friends and family about hyperemesis and


talk to them about how they can help. (see the section on the
facebook page for more information on ‘how to help someone with
hyperemesis’)
• Try to plan your next pregnancy at a time that you will
have the most family and friends around for support, especially
during the early months.

• Plan your pregnancy if possible during a lower stress time.


Stress and tiredness aggravate hyperemesis. Avoid major
changes such as moving house, changing job while pregnant.
• If you do not feel your GP or consultant is effective in
treating hyperemesis, begin your search now and talk to potential
doctors before you get pregnant.
• Try to be in the best health possible. Eat a healthy diet
(see www.healthpromotion.ie for information on healthy eating)
and get into good physical shape by taking some exercise but not
too much.

• Try a detox before you get pregnant (see


www.helpher.org for more details). Some people use Milk Thistle
supplement for 6 months before getting pregnancy to strengthen
the liver.

• Take a preconception multivitamin e.g. Pregnacare or


Pregnaplan. Consider taking vitamin B6 50mg per day as well.

• 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.
Oestrogen is stored in fat tissue, and oestrogen is implicated as
one factor that increases nausea, so don't gain too much weight.
• Make sure your stomach is in the best shape possible,
especially if you have a history of ulcers, Helicobacter pylori or
other bowel disorders. If you have H.Pylori you will need to get

Hyperemesis Support Group of Ireland April 2011


this treated before pregnancy as H.Pylori infection has been linked
to hyperemesis in some studies. Talk to your GP about this.
• See the dentist for a check-up just before you get
pregnant.
• Work through your ‘to do’ list. Get through all those jobs
you want to get done with the house, garden, work etc.

Hyperemesis Support Group of Ireland April 2011


When you find out you’re pregnant:
• 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 hyperemesis starting. Start with the
one that helped you in your previous pregnancy. Of course,
you will need to discuss this with your doctor/consultant
and get a prescription if necessary. See this website for
more details on drug treatments
http://www.motherisk.org/women/morningSickness.jsp
and also the information on medications on the facebook
page.

One study found that taking anti nausea medication


(*Diclectin) before nausea started helped to reduce the
incidence and severity of hyperemesis. For more on this
study see
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15369934?
dopt=Abstract

You could also try powdered Ginger- up to 1000mg/day

• Consider seeing your consultant at the first sign of


nausea if you have a history of severe hyperemesis to avoid a
delay in treatment.
• You might also like to consider visiting an acupuncturist
or a homeopath if you feel this would help. Although there is
limited evidence for these therapies, they will not make you feel
any worse!
• Consider clearing your home of all garlic containing
foods, air fresheners, scented candles or other smells which
affected you last time you were pregnant.
• Stock up on high calorie/high fat snack foods and drinks
that you think you might be able to tolerate. Some ideas include,
different types of crackers, cereal bars, breakfast bars etc. Avoid
foods with strong odours.
• Stock up on laundry and body wash/shampoo that are
odour free. Or use products with lemony/mint smells.
• Make sure you are well-rested and not overly stressed
when you become pregnant. Try to get as much sleep as possible
in the early days even before you feel too tired or sick. Tiredness

Hyperemesis Support Group of Ireland April 2011


certainly increases nausea.

• Try to simplify your life as much as you can and try to


make sure you have adequate help for your pregnancy.

• If you can afford it consider getting a cleaner.

• Stock up on quick meals for your family and a large


variety of snacks. Consider cooking meals ahead and freezing
them. (Don’t include smells which affected you the last time you
were pregnant).

• Buy ahead on essentials such as, cosmetics, toiletries,


non perishable foods, cleaning products, toilet wipes, toilet roll,
presents, cards, school supplies so you don’t have to shop for
these when you’re pregnant.

• Have a cupboard stocked with "emergency" toys, DVDs,


games, books, activities, and necessities (make and do stuff,
colouring books, balloons, play-dough, etc.) for your worst days.

• If hyperemesis 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. Buy in advance to
minimize your stress.

• Buy a water filter to make water healthier and taste


better.

• Make phone lists with essential numbers such as family,


friends and doctors.
• You might like to get your hair cut/coloured or any other
personal grooming done as it might be a while before you can do
this.
• Consider having some nice treats, a night out, dinner
with friends etc before you start feeling sick.
• Pack going away toiletry bag/ Pack emergency bag for
hospital so you don’t have to worry about doing this when
you’re feeling at your worst.

Hyperemesis Support Group of Ireland April 2011


* Diclectin (a formulation of vitamin B6 and the anti-histamine
Doxylamine Succinate) is available in Canada on prescription. It is
also sold over the counter in Spain under the name Cariban. In the
US where Diclectin is not available people take a combination of Vit
B6 and Unisom Sleeping tablets (Doxylamine Succinate) which are
available over the counter.

Hyperemesis Support Group of Ireland April 2011

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