Second pregnancy...will I have hyperemesis again?

I am 39...I have one daughter who is now two.  I have had 2 miscarriages (one which required a DNC) and one ectopic pregnancy that was 2 months along before it was discovered.  My successful pregnancy was HORRIBLE!  At week 7, I developed hyperemesis so badly that I was hospitalized for weeks.  My gallbladder began to malfunction due to inactivity.  My docs opted to wait to remove it until the pregnancy was over but once I was past week 14, everything got back on track.  In the first 3 weeks of my illness I lost 21 pounds.  I eventually gained nearly 60 pounds back by the delivery date.  I'm terrified that I may have HG again if I am currently pregnant.  Is there anything I can do to help prevent the severity of it this time?  Oh, and I resent that the topics "morning sickness" and HG are even in the same category.  They are way different situations.  HG was all day, every day and night time too.  Morning sickness can be relieved with some crackers or a doughnut before rising in the morning.


This discussion is related to Frustrated (hyperemesis)).

[bioclock1]

I'm sorry you went through all that! I watched a show on Dr. Phil a year or so ago and he had women on stage who had dealt with hyperemesis....he also had a doctor on there and if i remember correctly...the doc said that there is not a correlation b/w women who have it once and then again...meaning that the odds of getting it again are 50/50 just like the odds of you getting it the first time aren't predictiable...

i hope you have a much better pregnancy this time....

[karo2004]

I appreciate your information and support.  I think I watched something similar a while back but really didn't get much info from it.  I did find a book that might help so "IF" I'm pregnant, I'll see if I can find it.  It was titled "Beyond Morning Sickness: Battling Hyperemesis Gravidarum."  The reviews were positive in case any of you are interested as well.  I'm also scheduled to see an herbalist in July.  His plan is to help me balance my body.  If he can get the levels of B6, blah, blah, blah straightened out, maybe it won't be so bad this time...if there IS a this time.

[babydreams9]

Hi there - I had hyperemsis gravidarum from week 6-18, and it was a truly traumatic and life-changing experience. I have never been so miserable in my entire life. I lost 15 pounds and was hospitalized as well, and had to take 8 weeks off of work. I eventually had to have an IV placed in my arm 24 hours a day (PICC line) for 5 weeks to provide nutrition/vitamins/lipids to gain weight. Finally around 18 weeks I started feeling an improvement. I'm 24 weeks now and still taking medication (Anzemet, one of about 10 drugs I tried during the worst stages of my HG) for the nausea because I still have that constant queasy feeling. I am in 100% agreement w/you that HG and "morning sickness" should never be placed in the same category. It doesn't validate the severity of the condition and makes people less sensitive to it. I'm so sorry you had to go through the same thing, and while it is unfortunate I always find comfort in knowing I wasn't the only one.

From what I've heard, there's like a 50/50 chance of having HG again. I am TERRIFIED of being pregnant again because of the hell I went through this time. I completely understand your anxiety about it. I read somewhere that the best way to handle HG and maybe shorten the duration is by "treating it early"... perhaps going to the ER as SOON as dehydration signs begin (that was the biggest issue for me, since I couldn't even drink water or ice cubes without barfing) to get hydrated again, and starting on medication early. Have you visited the HG website?? hypermesis.org... it has some helpful info and stories. And of course discuss options for how to deal w/HG early on w/your doctor too, if he/she has any.

I wish you the very, very best for this pregnancy (if you are in fact pregnant; sounds like you havent tested yet??) Try to stay positive and I will keep you in my prayers. Best wishes!

[karo2004]

Your post was very encouraging.  I have tested but tomorrow will be day 28 so I'll test again then.  I'm pretty sure I had a miscarriage (my 3rd) back in October and my cycles haven't been the same since.  It was a very early pregnancy so docs think mother nature handled it for me.  I've had 21, 23, 25 day cycles but some of them have lasted for weeks.  So, for this one to suddenly get back on track seems strange.

I spoke with the nurse at a new OB/GYN today.  My last one said things to me like, "Well, you did this to yourself!"  As I was VERY hormonal and hadn't had anything to eat in weeks, that did NOT set too well with me.  I found out later that his wife was dying at the same time so I'm sure he was tired, depressed and sad.  That doesn't, however, mean that he couldn't be a little more supportive given my situation.  So, I'll move on this time and see if a bit younger doctor with a reputation for being attentive might be a better fit.

My last bout with HG started at week 7 and lasted through week 14.  I too was given a PICC line in my arm to be fed, medicated and to have blood taken.  Not before they stuck me nearly 30 times in 2 weeks though.  Blood work, IVs, shots, etc...  I was so sore.

It is comforting to know that others know what you are going through even though I wouldn't wish HG on my worst enemy!  My husband took photos of me in the hospital.  I looked like a stick after losing so much weight so quickly.  You can literally see the misery in my face.  I still cry when I see that photo because I remember how it felt.  I just knew all of the drugs I was being given and the lack of food was destroying my baby.  They gave me Reglan & Protonix.  3 nights at the hospital they allowed me an Ambien for sleep.  All waking hours were throwing up or trying to think about not throwing up.  I couldn't even brush my teeth without gagging.  Peoples' lotions, hair care products, perfumes, etc. sent me into a vomiting frenzy.

I'm glad you are getting back on track with your illness.  Maybe you have turned the corner.  Don't rip anybody's head off and try not to eat everything in sight.  When I found out I was pregnant last time I weighed 132.  I lost 21 lbs. of that in 3 weeks and then weighed a honking 186 when my daughter was born (severe water retention - my ankles looked like tree trunks).  I'm very happy to say that my sweet little girl seems healthy, happy, smart and beautiful.  I hope that will be a source of encouragement to anyone with HG who feels that they are starving their child or that the meds may stunt the child's growth etc.  That was some of the worst of it for me.  I felt like I was letting my baby down because I couldn't feed it.

I'll post a result from the test in another day or so and thanks again for being so kind.

[nikki_lopez]

i was 20 when i first got pregnant. and let me tell you HYPEREMESIS WAS MY WORST NIGHTMARE!..i lost no joke around 50 lbs.. i weighed 175 and dropped to 114...i think thats more than 50 but yeah. i had to get IV treatment like three times... now.. three years later im pregnant again just found out yesterday.... which makes me around 3-4 weeks... hopefully that doesnt come with this pregnancy.... good luck!

[Tamika7874]

I had the same experience with my daughter.  I was wondering if the women that have posted had the same problem again at all.  Or is it really fifty/fifty and was this first pregnancy for any one?

[maliasmommy]

Hi-I absolutely agree with the fact that Hyperemesis Gravidium and morning sickness should NOT be even considered to be in the same category!
I had a miscarraige (miscarriage) 6 yrs ago. I got pregnant again a yr later and suffered a horrifying 9 months of HG. I was put in the hospital at 6 weeks then sent home with a nurse and placed on a PIcc line for nutrition and Phenergen(nausea medication) which helped!
I caught HG in time so I didn't lose any weight due to Picc line. My family and friends were in disbelief at how MISERABLE  a person can feel-HELLO,it's not morning sickness. You can't drink a sip of gingerale and "nibble" on crackers to get through it. This is a serious medical condition and I am so sick of some other mommy's giving their "2 cents" about how sensitive I was or I didn't have a high tolerance for this and that. WHATEVER! NOBODY WILL UNDERSTAND UNTIL YOU HAVE BEEN THROUGH IT. IT IS BEYOND YOUR CONTROL.
I am 39 years old with a beautiful 4 yr old daughter. I would love to have more children but I am terrified of HG again. I had HG when I miscarried and then the second pregnancy so I'm thinking I will be sick again. I am so scared. I was unable to move and constantly threatened by having to learn how to walk again, how to swallow again because of my gag reflux. My mother and husband had to carry me to the bathroom.  Family and friends took turns taking care of me as if I were a baby again.
Our refrigerator HAD to be cleared out and my caregivers had to eat outside in the backyard because I absolutely couldn't take any smell whatsoever or it would trigger vomiting. My liver threatened at about 20 weeks so I thought I was going to die. Not until my last month I was able to eat a teeny bit because I was forced since my Picc line came out. I went to the ER and the on call doctor told me that I was so close to just deal with it the rest of the time.
Please tell me there is hope for me. Has anyone had a second pregnancy without HG or at least as severe as the first.

[sarje56601]

i had really severe hyperemesis gravidarium when i was pregnant with my son.  i didnt find out til i was 4 months along and lost 50 lbs in two months.  i was on a picc line for the rest of my pregnancy and still want another baby.  it is helpful to have someone who cares about you to help u with this struggle.  i hope this is helpful.

[Clysta]

I gotta agree with everyone else that HG and Morning Sickness aren't even simi close. I've seen morning sickness. And I hate people trying to say that eating makes it better. Cause it really doesn't. I've read somewhere that your chances are higher of getting HG in later pregnancies, so this has put me off ever having children after this. (Selfish maybe, but I honestly don't want another bout of this.) I think that the early it's found it is easier to treat. Mine was found at 13 weeks so I was only stuck in the hospital long enough to rehydrate me and get some stuff back into my body. I just hate having to live on anti nausea medicine. I keep wondering if it's going to do something to my baby, but if I don't take them, I don't eat. So I don't have too much of a choice. Does anyone know if the medicine affects the fetus if it's taken for long periods of time? I've been on it for 3 months (almost everyday) and will probably be on it for 3 more months till I give birth.  

[rebekah385]

There is some hope! I am currently pregnant with baby #4, with my 1st baby I had hyperemesis gravidarium and was very sick I lost 35 pounds in 2 months and had to go into the hospital for fluids a few times, I was 18 and did'nt really know anythign about it or that they could do anything, so I just suffered until  I had my baby at 28 weeks (not related to the HG) he was fine and not even under weight for his gestation! I had my second baby 2 years later I had morning sickness and lost 25 lbs with her, but it was no where near as bad as with him and was never actually HG although I did have to have fluid twice wiht her too one for monring sickness, and once when I got the stomach flu. my third pregnancy I had morning sickness, but not never bad at all i only lost a few pounds and I was not for very long all in all an easy pregnancy! the bad news is my current pregnancy  I developed HG again from around 6 weeks until close to 20 weeks I was very sick again, lost over 25 lbs have had to go into the hospital for fluids, ect. I am currently 28 weeks and have been doing pretty good for the most part since 20 weeks, I still throw up once in a while, and i am unable to eat very much at a time I have gained 6lbs now (not much for 28 weeks, but atleast it's goign up now) although I am still about 19 pounds under my pre0pregnancy weight. I think the point of my rambling is that you can have a "normal" pregnancy after having a pregnancy with HG, but I agree with the fifty-fifty thing and in my case it had nothing to do with the sex of the baby my 1st was a little boy (HG very sick) my 2nd was a girl (bad mornign sickness, but no HG) my third was a little boy and my easiest pregnancy (very little morning sickness and no HG) and my 4th and current pregnancy is a little girl (HG and very sick), so it seems pretty random to me, basically you need to know theres a chance, but it won't always be there for every pregnancy! I went on antinausea meds this time and have to say Zofran is awesome! it is for cancer patients and most insurances won't cover ti, but it really work, the rest help, but not so good and made me really drowsy! Good luck and I hope it goes better for you this time around!  

[smurff99]

Im so glad that i was not the only one. I agree with everyone..MORNING SICKNESS AND HG ARE NOT THE SAME THING. I went from 135 to 107 in less than who knows what when i preg with my daughter in 03. They hospitalized me and put me on bed rest but thankfully they didnt put in a PICC line. I had it from week 7 til the day i had my baby. Downside was i ended up delivering my lil one at 32weeks but she is now a healthy 6yr old. I too am contemplating having another one and im not so sure I can handle HG another time around. I hope everyone finds the answers and comfort theyre looking for. I know im happy that i found ppl that understand.

[JoyRenee]

This post is from 2008.

[Jennyp22]

Sorry to be a downer but I've had THREE HG pregnancies (one m/c) That 50/50 is nonsense. The likelihood of a repeat is high. You MUST call MotherRisk  in Toronto, Canada the day you see the line pop up on your test. They also will talk to US residents as far as I know. They are the premier HG clinic in the world. I had more children as a direct result of thier amazing and compassionate care. My third pregnancy was well  managed and although I still felt terrible all the time I was functional. A big step up from loosing 25 lbs. and having a punky young ER doctor tell me to suck it up cause I was just pregnant. security had to almost escort my husband out of the building....

Good luck ladies!!!
Xxoo from a fellow survivor.

[pansona]

I have been pregnant NINE times, (sadly I miscarried 4) EVERY SINGLE pregnancy I had severe hg! I lost as much as 26 pounds in a single month + it lasted from 4-6 weeks until about 7 months. I've been hospitalized as long as 21 days, ivs to rehydrate 2-3 times a week, I've even had to be tube fed for 2 of them. Complications from dehydration + inablity to get off the floor caused my to have 7 (total) bloodclots as well! The worst thing is when people tell you that its all in your head or that you can do something about it and like someone ele said above that I knew what was coming so I brought it on myself. I did expect it would happen again but my love for my children + desire to have a big family wasn't going to end because of hg. It is the worst thing you can imagine + literally starving to death is incredibly painful, but you do make it through it, eventually + the pain you've endoured is more than worth the reward (your children) so hang in there! I definitatly know what you are going thru!!

[JessG29]

I had HG with my first pregnancy back in 09. I was sick from 7 weeks until I was 34 weeks. I was in and out of the hospital (was in collectively about 16 weeks). I had a PICC line placed in my arm and had a regalin pump attached to it 22 hours a day, the other two hours were spent having IV fluids. I was also taking Zofran daily. I also had hydronephrosis of the right kidney from being so dehydrated. I was unable to get out of bed for weeks at a time. I lost about 40 to 50 pounds when I was pregnant. I have never even imagined that I could be so miserable. I had no idea that someone could be so sick from just being pregnant. Anyone who puts morning sickness and HG in the same catagory has never had HG or known anyone who suffered through a pregnancy with it.
I am thinking of having another baby but I am scared to death of going through all of that again. I also worry that if i did get that sick again there is no way i could care for my little girl.
I am just not sure that I could go through it all again.

[Tessarose]

I wanted to let you know that i was so sick my doctors just fed me drugs like candy... they had never seen a case so bad and i was too sick to protest.  But in the end my baby girl was healthy as can be. I know that everyone is different but I hope this helps to ease some of the worry.  

[stormcrow03]

I had HG with my first pregnancy and second. Sadly I lost my first baby shortly before the end of the first trimester and I believe it was due to losing so much weight.. (went from a size 8 to a size 3) and dehydration. It is a debilitating sickness. Calls to the doctor (by my husband) were met with this is normal try some emitrol. I should have been hospitalized and on fluids. The second pregnancy I was put on a drug called Zofran. My miracle drug. I suffered no ill side affects and was able to eat light foods and cereal for 2 months until the sickness finally faded. I still felt nausea but at least I could eat, drink, take my vitamins, and leave the house! My son was born March 2010.

I just found out I was pregnant for a third time. Due in June 2012. No sickness yet but I still have a week or two to go before the fat lady sings. I am just hoping that nothing is wrong with this pregnancy since I was so sick with the first two and lost my first because of it I have no doubt in my mind.

[excitedfor2]

I had Hyper Emesis from week 6 all the way through until I delivered my son at 40 weeks and 6 days.  It was 24/7.  I lost a lot of weight in the first 3 months, but then I met my OB/GYN who was familiar with Hyper emesis and thankfully she helped me through it.  I was put on a 24/7 IV of continuous gravol.  I had this attached to mke non stop and had to endure being poked by needles to resite the IV daily.  What this did though was allow me around 4 hours a day where I wasn't throwing up and I could actually eat.  Of course I was still sick every single morning, every afternoon, and every evening, but at least I had a few hours break.  I got sick of people going on about morning sickness, and was feeling alone because almost my entire family and friends thought I was faking it.  Right. Because I wanted to throw up 40 times a day.  No one understood how hard it was for me.  I even considered ending the pregnancy or ending my own life becasue it was so bad.  If one more person told me to "eat a cracker", I swear I would have lost it.  However, now my son is here and I'm so happy.  Having said that, my OB/GYN said it is GENETIC (my mom, grandma, and aunt had it with all their pregnancies), and that I will most likely get it with my next pregnancy (which I just found out is right now).  So I'm thrilled Im pregnant again, but terrified of the hyper emesis.  I am happy I at least know what it is this time so I can get on the IV early though.  I was unable to work due to how sick I was, and I am terrified of going through this again, especially with a little one at home......  

All I can say is, you ladies aren't alone, and even though most people are inconsiderate and ignorant when it comes to the condition, you can get through it.  I hope I can do it here again this time..

[Fay89]

I am expecting baby 3 had hyperemesis with baby 1 and 2 :( I'm currently only being sick in the morning but I no that won't be for long! I'm goin to make an appointment with my dr and ask about these PICC lines as I don't want history repeating itself! I was over the moon when I found out I was expecting but when I think how I'll I was with my 2 children It does make me think what have I done!! Sounds awful I know but hg makes you feel so crap I hated my 2 pregnancy I just hope I can enjoy this one x