You may have heard it in the news a few times. In recent years, there’s been talk about this condition in mainstream media thanks to celebrities and A-listers who experienced it and continue to talk about it in interviews.

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It’s that hard-to-pronounce condition that’s even harder to spell. Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG) is an extreme form of morning sickness that’s afflicting pregnant women across the globe. Here are a few things about this condition you should know about.

10 It’s Different From Regular Morning Sickness

Morning sickness and HG are two different conditions. HG is characterized by much more extreme, and much more persistent vomiting that can sometimes lead to dehydration. A pregnant woman with HG can vomit three to four times per day, and more times for other people. The extreme and frequent vomiting would cause her to lose around 10 pounds or 5% of pre-pregnancy weight, she would also feel lightheaded and dizzy throughout the day.

9 HG Doesn’t Just Occur In The Morning

Like your common morning sickness, HG can occur throughout the day. Women who suffer HG could feel the need to vomit in the middle of the night or anytime within the day and could feel dizzy the whole day. While nausea in regular morning sickness typically goes away after a woman’s 12th week of pregnancy, HG lasts a lot longer so much so that almost half of the women who suffer from HG could feel the symptoms throughout their pregnancy.

8 They Can Vomit Up To 10 Times Per Day

The condition is so extreme some pregnant women who suffer from HG find themselves vomiting 10 times per day and it’s even worse for others who vomit 20 times a day.

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These women have trouble holding down any food or liquids and find it challenging to nourish themselves and more so their babies. It can leave women severely dehydrated, weak, and constantly feeling tired or drained. It can also lead to vitamin and mineral deficiencies.

7 More Common In Women Having Twins

According to Stanford Children’s Health, this condition is much more common among those having twins. It also occurs among women who have migraines pre-pregnancy. People who have had relatives or immediate family who have had HG in the past are also at a higher risk of developing the condition. Some pre-existing conditions put a person at a higher risk of having HG. A disease called trophoblastic disease, which causes the abnormal growth of cells within the uterus is one example.

6 A Blood Test Can Diagnose HG

A doctor may order some blood work to check the levels of electrolytes to know if there is too little or too much. Aside from that, he may also order a urinalysis to check for signs of dehydration. Doctors will also have to ask about the pregnant woman’s medical history and conduct a physical exam. He will check for other symptoms like weight loss. The doctor would recommend treatments based on the severity of the woman’s condition.

5 Severe Cases Call For A Surgery

If a pregnant woman gets dehydrated because she can’t hold down food or liquids due to the condition she may be given IV fluids to help restore electrolyte levels and vitamin supplementation to help supply nutrients to the mother and the baby. According to the American Pregnancy Association, others would need Nasogastric treatment which involves delivering nutrients through a tube that passes from the nose to the stomach. Another much more invasive treatment is called percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy that uses a tube that passes from the abdomen into the stomach. This one needs a surgical procedure.

4 HG Can Affect A Pregnant Woman’s Quality Of Life

Symptoms can get so extreme that women who suffer from HG may be unable to work or carry on with usual tasks. Most will be on bed rest and unable to do even basic chores at home.

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They won’t be able to join social activities, care for other children, and sometimes have a hard time even getting out of the house. This could affect the pregnant woman’s quality of life and sometimes even her relationships so people need to understand that although rare, this condition is not easy to deal with.

3 It Is A Rare Condition

According to the National Organization For Rare Disorders, while regular morning sickness occurs in around 50%-90% of pregnancies, HG occurs in only .5 to 2% of all pregnant women. “Over 192,000 hospital visits and/or admissions occur in the US annually for HG and approximately 4,000 Canadian women a year experience hyperemesis gravidarum,” the organization shares. While it is the second leading cause of hospitalization during early pregnancy, it is more common among non-white and Asian populations.

2 HG Can Start With Mild Nausea

Women who suffer from HG don’t just wake up one day needing to vomit 10 to 20 times and unable to get out of bed because of extreme nausea. It can either slowly progress throughout the pregnancy or conditions may develop and become more severe as the baby grows in her womb. Women can progress from mild to moderate nausea and vomiting and then progress to hyperemesis gravidarum. Others may develop symptoms rapidly within a few days or weeks or gradually over months.

1 Kate Middleton Suffered HG

The Duchess of Cambridge suffered HG throughout her three pregnancies. Her first experience with HG was so severe she had to be hospitalized. The Duchess’ experience with the condition shed light on the rare disorder as she and her husband Prince William talked openly about it and their struggles dealing with it. The Duchess has to cancel royal tours and visits while pregnant with her children because she had to be on bed rest. In an interview, Kate talked about how it even affected the Prince since the latter felt helpless. She says it's hard for loved ones as well to watch you suffer and not be able to do anything about it.

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