I am Sun Yi and everyone calls me Jojo. I am a master of medicine, an attending doctor of obstetrics and gynecology in Shanghai 3A Hospital, a member of the Popular Science Group of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Shanghai Women’s Rehabilitation Medical Association, and a multi-platform We Media native. I am committed to sharing popular science knowledge on women’s health.
Today, I want to talk to you about nausea and vomiting in early pregnancy.
Nausea and vomiting is a common early pregnancy reaction. My patient Xiaomei is a typical example. Pregnant just 6 weeks or so appeared nausea and vomiting, the first morning retching mainly, but later the disease gradually worsened. In addition to sleep, the rest of the time is either vomiting or on the way to vomit.
Frequent vomiting caused Xiaomei to be unable to eat normally. Even drinking saliva would cause her stomach to turn over rivers and seas, causing her to vomit sparsely.
This lasted for a week, she lost 5 kg, and people also became sunken eye sockets, chapped lips, limbs weak, gaunt and weak. But the mother said early pregnancy nausea and vomiting is normal, endure a endure in the past. She herself also worried that the medication for the baby is not good, so she has not seen a doctor, finally fainted at home, was sent to the hospital by 120.
Jojo is thankful for her because what many people don’t know is that severe vomiting can kill a pregnant mother.
Why is early pregnancy nausea and vomiting?
After pregnancy, estrogen and progesterone obviously increase, and progesterone will relax the gastric cardia sphincter, and the acidic substances in the stomach will easily reflux, causing burning sensation in the lower esophagus and nausea and acid regurgitation, especially in the morning after sleep, acid regurgitation and nausea will be more obvious.
At the same time of pregnancy, pregnant mothers’ taste buds are more sensitive, and they will have the opportunity to experience tastes that they did not feel before, such as strange taste in their mouths, aggravating nausea.
However, most pregnant mothers do not vomit seriously. If Xiaomei suffers from persistent severe vomiting, causing dehydration, weight loss, ketosis and even acidosis, we will call it hyperemesis gravidarum and need hospitalization at this time.
Less than 1% of pregnant mothers with nausea and vomiting will develop hyperemesis gravidarum. This may be related to elevated HCG, hyperthyroidism or mental stress, anxiety, environmental stress, etc. after pregnancy.
But don’t underestimate the problem of hyperemesis gravidarum!
It will not only cause dehydration of pregnant mothers and electrolyte disturbance in body blood, but also lead to ketoacidosis. Extremely serious pregnant mothers will suffer from lethargy, blurred consciousness, acute encephalopathy delirium and even coma.
Long-term inability to eat and vomiting will cause a large loss of vitamin B1. Some pregnant mothers will suffer from nystagmus, visual impairment, stiffness, coma and even death. It is extremely frightening to think carefully!
So…
How should early pregnancy nausea and vomiting be good?
If it is only slight acid regurgitation and vomiting, general treatment and psychological support treatment shall be adopted.
First of all, we should keep a happy and relaxed mood. We should adopt the principle of eating less and eating more. We should not eat too much at each meal. We should rinse our mouth with warm salt water in the morning. We should not bend down or lie flat immediately after meals. We should walk and walk properly to avoid contact with the smell and food that induce vomiting.
At the same time, oral vitamin B6 can be used to help stop vomiting. Generally, it is taken three times a day with 10 ~ 20 mg each time.
If the pregnancy is severe, don’t be afraid of medical treatment. You need to actively seek medical treatment.
In addition to the general treatment support suggested by Jojo, intravenous fluid infusion therapy is also required.
The daily intravenous fluid infusion volume is about 3000 ml, and the fluid delivered to the pregnant mother is mainly vitamin, sugar, electrolyte, etc. There is no need to worry about the adverse effects of the delivered fluid on the baby.
In addition, doctors will also use some anti-emetic drugs according to your specific condition, mostly vitamin B6 or vitamin B6-dosilamin compound preparations, and adjust the diet plan.
Most pregnant mothers, even hyperemesis gravidarum, will improve quickly after active and standardized treatment. With the increase of gestational weeks, the symptoms of vomiting will naturally subside, and the pregnancy outcome is generally good.