If Pregnancy Sickness is starting to take over your day, you do not have to wait until you are unable to function before talking to your GP about it.
This is something I wish more women knew.
Pregnancy Sickness can range from nausea that makes everyday life difficult to severe nausea and vomiting, including Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG). And while medication won't necessarily make every symptom disappear, there are recognised treatment options available.
So, what might your GP discuss with you, and what is useful to know before that conversation?
When should I speak to my GP about Pregnancy Sickness?
The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) advises speaking to your GP if your symptoms aren't settling or are stopping you from carrying out your normal daily activities.
That distinction matters.
You don't necessarily need to be vomiting constantly before Pregnancy Sickness is having a significant impact. Persistent nausea can make eating, drinking, working, caring for children and simply getting through the day incredibly difficult.
If you're struggling, tell your healthcare professional what is actually happening rather than feeling you have to minimise it.
What anti-sickness medication can be prescribed during pregnancy?
There are several types of anti-sickness medication - known as antiemetics - that may be considered for nausea and vomiting in pregnancy.
According to current RCOG patient guidance, these include doxylamine with pyridoxine (vitamin B6), cyclizine, prochlorperazine, chlorpromazine and promethazine.
Other medicines including metoclopramide, domperidone and ondansetron may also be prescribed, usually when previous medications have not worked. In some circumstances, a combination of medicines may be needed.
Which medication is appropriate for you is a conversation to have with your doctor or healthcare professional, who can discuss the potential benefits, side effects and your individual circumstances.
Importantly, don't start, stop or change prescribed medication based on information you've read online. Speak to your healthcare professional.
What if the first medication doesn't work?
This is another thing worth knowing: being prescribed one medication that doesn't work for you doesn't necessarily mean you've reached the end of your options.
RCOG guidance includes several different anti-sickness medicines and recognises that some women may require a combination of two or more.
If you've been prescribed something and you're still struggling, go back.
It can help to be very specific about what has changed - or hasn't.
For example:
-
How many hours each day are you feeling nauseous?
-
How often are you vomiting or retching?
-
Are you managing to eat?
-
Are you managing to drink?
-
Are you able to keep your medication down?
-
Has your weight changed?
-
Are your symptoms preventing you from working or managing normal daily activities?
-
Have you noticed any side effects from your medication?
Keeping a short record can make these conversations easier, particularly when you're exhausted and trying to remember everything during an appointment.
What if I can't keep tablets or fluids down?
If you're able to drink something but not enough, RCOG says you may be offered fluids through a drip over a short period of time, alongside anti-sickness medication.
Hospital admission may sometimes be advised if you're dehydrated, have severe vomiting and cannot keep fluids or oral medication down, have abnormal blood tests, have lost a lot of weight rapidly, or have certain medical conditions and cannot take your medication orally.
This is why it is important to seek medical advice when things are deteriorating rather than trying to push through indefinitely.
What should I ask at my appointment?
When you're feeling extremely sick, advocating for yourself can be hard.
You don't need a perfect list of medical questions. A few simple ones can help:
What treatment options are available to me?
What should I do if this medication doesn't help?
How long should I try it before coming back to you?
What side effects should I look out for?
What should I do if I can't keep my medication down?
At what point should I seek more urgent help?
You can also ask your healthcare professional to explain anything you don't understand. Pregnancy Sickness is difficult enough without leaving an appointment unsure what you're supposed to do next.
Don't underestimate persistent nausea
One of the reasons we prefer the term Pregnancy Sickness at Replenish is that “morning sickness” doesn't describe the reality for many women.
Symptoms can happen at any time of day or night. And vomiting isn't the only measure of how unwell someone is.
Constant nausea can be relentless.
If it's affecting your ability to eat, drink or manage everyday life, it deserves to be taken seriously.
A final note
This article isn't intended to tell you which medication you should take. That's a decision for you and your healthcare professional.
It's here because knowing that treatment options exist and knowing what questions you can ask can make navigating Pregnancy Sickness a little less overwhelming.
For current clinical information on nausea and vomiting in pregnancy and Hyperemesis Gravidarum, see the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists' patient information.
If you need additional information and support around Pregnancy Sickness or HG, Pregnancy Sickness Support also provides specialist UK support and evidence-based information.
Medical disclaimer: This article is for general information only and does not constitute medical advice. Always speak to an appropriate healthcare professional about symptoms, medication or concerns during pregnancy.
