Experts in maternal health have cautioned pregnant women against treating severe vomiting as a normal part of pregnancy because it can be harmful to both the mother and the unborn child.
In addition, they cautioned that if it is not treated appropriately and promptly by trained medical professionals, it may result in a miscarriage.
The experts emphasized that severe vomiting during pregnancy can have an impact on the outcome of the pregnancy if it is not managed properly, and that this is a serious health problem that many people are unaware of.
Experts say that if the woman suffers from persistent vomiting, she is more likely to become dehydrated, and if she does not get medical attention right away, the baby's health could be seriously compromised.
According to experts, severe vomiting, also known as hyperemesis gravidarum, occurs when a pregnant woman is unable to keep anything in her stomach after taking a medication.
Experts define hyperemesis gravidarum as any combination of nausea, vomiting, dehydration, weight loss, and hospitalization for nausea or vomiting during pregnancy if there is no other obvious cause.
During their conversation with our correspondent, the experts noted that the severity of nausea and vomiting during pregnancy varies, with nausea being the least concerning, followed by some spitting, morning sickness, and intractable vomiting, in which a pregnant woman vomits whatever she puts in her stomach.
Experts Prof. Mairiga Abdulkarim and Prof. Oliver Ezechi, both consultant gynecologists, told PUNCH HealthWise that although hyperemesis gravidarum is common in our region, many people are unaware of its severity.
According to Abdulkarim, a Professor of Reproductive Health at the University of Maiduguri and a member of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medical Sciences, such excessive vomiting has no known cause, but a pregnant woman can be diagnosed with it if other causes of constant vomiting are ruled out.
He advised doctors who treat pregnant women to patiently explain the condition to their patients because some of them believe it to be normal.
He said that urinary tract infections, malaria, and kidney problems can make a pregnant woman vomit, but that hyperemesis gravidarum could cause the woman to vomit all the time if she doesn't have any of these conditions.
The expert in reproductive health stated that this condition typically occurs within the first 16 weeks of pregnancy. He also emphasized that severe vomiting is typically accompanied by dehydration, weight loss, and other issues.
“Under normal circumstances of morning sickness, a woman can vomit once or twice in a day,” he explained to our correspondent, "but in a situation where she vomits whatever she eats and she is vomiting more than eight, nine, or 10 times in a day, we have to consider that hyperemesis gravidarum."
“The first, second, and third months of pregnancy can also experience morning sickness and hyperemesis gravidarum. Without vomiting excessively, it may be difficult to differentiate between the two.
It can have an effect on both the mother and the baby. When it affects the baby, it can happen as a miscarriage or as a missed abortion or as a baby dying in the womb and not coming out. Sometimes it may also have an effect on the baby's development. As a result, the baby might not develop properly. It can result in dehydration and inadequate nutrition, which can cause miscarriage and the death of the baby.
"The mother's nervous system could be affected because her nervous system isn't working well, which could cause a brain injury,"
Ezechi, the director of research at the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, also spoke with PUNCH HealthWise. He noted, however, that although the condition should not be taken for granted, there are theories suggesting that such pregnancies can still result in positive outcomes.
He shared the results of a 2017 study titled "Hyperemesis Gravidarum: “positive association between adverse neonate outcomes and hyperemesis gravidarum” was found in a review of recent literature.
According to him, infants born to women with hyperemesis and low pregnancy weight gain had 8% higher rates of low birth weight and preterm delivery than infants born to women without hyperemesis gravidarum.
He stated that severe vomiting during pregnancy tends to improve pregnancy outcomes because it indicates that the placenta and hormones of the baby are well developed.
He did, however, emphasize that a woman experiencing such a difficult pregnancy should go to the hospital rather than relying solely on the advice of older women because no two pregnancies and women are the same.
Ezechi went on to say that it's crucial for husbands of women going through this difficult time to show their wives they care and support them.
The condition, according to the experts, can be managed through the woman's rehydration, counseling, and dietary guidance.
Ezechi stated, "It is not such a terrible condition; it is only when it is not managed properly that problems could arise."
Abdulkarim advised pregnant women who are more likely to experience excessive vomiting and nausea to avoid fatty foods and oils at least for the first four months of their pregnancy.
He also advised them to drink a lot of water and sugary beverages and to use straws rather than gulping them down.
He advised them to take ginger tea and zobo drinks to control their vomiting.
One of the many signs of early pregnancy is always vomiting. Despite the fact that not all pregnant women experience it. Maternal health professionals have recently reminded pregnant women that severe vomiting is a common symptom and that it can be harmful to both the mother and the unborn child.
In addition, they cautioned that it could lead to a miscarriage if it was not dealt with promptly and appropriately by trained medical professionals.
Experts say that acute vomiting during pregnancy is a serious health problem that, if not treated properly, can affect the outcome of the pregnancy as well as the health of the mother and her unborn child. Additionally, prolonged vomiting can result in maternal dehydration and severe harm to the baby's health if not treated promptly and professionally.
Hyperemesis gravidarum, also known as severe vomiting, occurs when a pregnant woman is unable to eat or swallow anything.
Any combination of nausea, vomiting, dehydration, weight loss, or hospitalization for nausea and/or vomiting during pregnancy for no other reason is considered hyperemesis gravidarum, according to experts.
According to medical professionals, nausea is the least concerning pregnancy symptom, followed by some spitting, morning sickness, and intractable vomiting, in which a pregnant woman vomits whatever she puts in her stomach.
Consultant gynecologists Prof. Mairiga Abdulkarim and Dr. Oliver Ezechi assert that while hyperemesis gravidarum is common in our climate, many individuals are unaware of its severity.
Abdulkarim, a Professor of Reproductive Health at the University of Maiduguri and a member of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medical Sciences, says that such continuous vomiting has no known cause and can be detected in pregnant women if other causes of continuous vomiting are investigated.
He requested that doctors who treat pregnant women gently explain the issue to their patients because some people believe it is normal.
He explained that a pregnant woman might vomit due to malaria, urinary tract infections, or problems with her kidneys. However, hyperemesis gravidarum could be the cause of the woman's persistent vomiting even if she does not have any of these conditions.
The reproductive health specialist emphasizes that the main challenges associated with acute vomiting include dehydration, weight loss, and other complications. This illness typically occurs during the first 16 weeks of pregnancy.
He went on to say, "Under typical morning sickness, a woman can vomit once or twice a day. However, if she vomits whatever she eats more than eight, nine, or ten times a day, we have to consider that hyperemesis gravidarum."
"The first, second, and third months of pregnancy can also be affected by morning sickness and hyperemesis gravidarum. Without significant vomiting, it can be difficult to tell the difference between the two."
It could have an effect on both the mother and the child. When it affects an infant, it results in a miscarriage; however, it can also result in a missed abortion or a miscarriage that does not occur. Additionally, it may affect the baby's development. This suggests that the child may not develop normally. It can lead to dehydration and inadequate nutrition, which can cause a miscarriage and the death of the baby.
"Because the mother's nervous system is not functioning properly, it could harm the mother's nerve system, which could result in a brain injury."
The Nigerian Institute of Medical Research's director of research, Ezechi, emphasized that, although the condition should not be taken for granted, there are hypotheses suggesting that such pregnancies can still result in a positive outcome.
According to him, a 2017 study titled "Hyperemesis Gravidarum: A "positive connection between unfavorable neonatal outcomes and hyperemesis gravidarum" was found in a review of recent literature.
He expressed that contrasted with newborn children brought into the world to moms who didn't have hyperemesis gravidarum, low birth weight and preterm conveyance rates were 8% higher in babies brought into the world to ladies with hyperemesis and low pregnancy weight gain.
He asserts that severe vomiting during pregnancy indicates that the baby's placenta and hormones are well-developed, indicating a better outcome.
He did, however, emphasize that a woman who is having such a difficult pregnancy should go to the hospital rather than seeking unqualified advice from older women because no two women or pregnancies are the same.
According to Ezechi, husbands of women who are experiencing this problem need to show compassion for their wives by giving them support and attention.
The illness can be treated, according to the experts, by giving the woman advice on her diet, counseling, and rehydrating her.
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