| A common malady of pregnancy is the nausea and | | | | and fluids will soon begin to affect the health of the |
| vomiting that frequently occur during the first few | | | | unborn baby. Pregnancy nausea when severe |
| months after conception. Fortunately, in the majority of | | | | necessitates contacting the woman's health care |
| cases this problem is not critical for either the mother | | | | provider immediately. Whenever vomiting is occurring |
| or her fetus. There are rare cases when the | | | | more than 2-3 times in a day, it is crucial to inform the |
| symptoms of morning sickness are a very serious | | | | woman's doctor. |
| threat to the well being of both the mother and child if | | | | Due to the fact that dehydration can result in serious |
| she does not seek treatment. It is vital when pregnant | | | | consequences for both mother and child, it is |
| to realize the signs of pregnancy nausea when it is | | | | imperative that the mother recognize what the |
| imperative to call the doctor. | | | | warning signs of dehydration are. Dehydration, which is |
| Normally, a woman will begin to experience the signs | | | | the result of the body eliminating more fluids than are |
| of morning sickness sometime between the fourth and | | | | being replaced, can cause lightheadedness and |
| sixth week of her pregnancy; generally, the nausea | | | | dizziness. The dizziness is the result of low blood |
| and vomiting will have abated by the end of her first | | | | pressure due to dehydration. Frequently, headaches will |
| trimester. Even during this time period it is important for | | | | be experienced when dehydration occurs. |
| the mother to notify her doctor if her symptoms | | | | Additionally, this severe lack of fluids will result in |
| become severe enough that she has difficulty in eating. | | | | infrequent urination, a darkening in the color of urine |
| During pregnancy, a woman should always contact | | | | being eliminated, dry skin, dry mouth and eyes, a feeling |
| her health care provider if she is not able to either eat | | | | of extreme tiredness and/or weakness. If the period |
| or drink for a 24-hour period of time. | | | | of dehydration is prolonged, the mother may become |
| Although it is very unusual, there are instances when | | | | confused and lose her mental acuity. |
| an expectant mother is not able to maintain a healthy | | | | More than likely, if the expectant mother is suffering |
| diet with proper fluid intake. This condition when a | | | | from any of these symptoms due to vomiting, then |
| woman suffers from extreme nausea and vomiting is | | | | she has already begun to become dehydrated. |
| known as hyperemesis gravidarum. Hyper means | | | | Drinking sufficient fluids throughout the day is vital for |
| "over" and emesis means vomiting; gravidarum is the | | | | the health of both the mother and her baby. It is |
| term that refers to the "pregnant state". Hyperemesis | | | | recommended that 10 glasses of water be drunk each |
| gravidarum affects approximately one out of 300 | | | | day. When dehydration goes untreated, it develops into |
| women who are expecting a child. | | | | a serious medical problem. One of the complications of |
| As a result of the excessive vomiting that a women | | | | untreated dehydration is preterm labor. Whenever a |
| experiences with HG, she is at risk of becoming both | | | | woman is unable to keep fluids down due to extreme |
| malnourished and dehydrated if she does not seek | | | | morning sickness, it is crucial to notify her health care |
| medical attention quickly. The mother's lack of nutrients | | | | provider immediately. |