Will I Have HG With Every Pregnancy?

For a long time, conventional wisdom said that if you get hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) with your first child, then you will be certain to have it with every pregnancy. But that is not accurate.

Every pregnancy is different, and having HG once does not guarantee you will have it again. As a mum who suffered through HG with my first child, I’m very relieved to tell you that I just had run of the mill morning sickness with my second, so there is hope.

If you have had HG in your first pregnancy, you have a higher chance of having it in your next pregnancies.

It’s not clear how big the risk is. It’s somewhere between 15% – 80%  – there isn’t enough research to be sure. But, having it once does not mean you will have it with every pregnancy.

What Causes HG?

The honest answer is that no one is totally sure. Scientists are confident that there’s a genetic component. But, beyond that, there are no clear cut answers.

Can I Do Anything To Reduce My Chances of Getting HG?

Lots of studies have looked at the different factors that affect your chances of getting HG. From them all, there do seem to be some factors that can make a small difference to your risk level.

• Healthy weight – if you were overweight in your first pregnancy, then starting from a healthy weight before a next pregnancy can reduce your chances of getting HG.
• Stop smoking – If you were a smoker before or during your first pregnancy, then here’s a great reason to quit.
• Take vitamins – Vitamin supplements during the first trimester are linked with lower rates of vomiting.
• Have a boy – So, this one isn’t controllable, but it does lower your odds.

Unfortunately, there is no magic bullet, no one thing that will make a big difference. Every time you get pregnant, it’s going to be a roll of the dice about if you have HG.

What Can I Do If I Get It Again?

Getting HG the first time was probably a shock. Being prepared in advance can help you feel more in control which can make things easier. You should definitely check out Hyperemesis Gravidarum Australia. They are a great organisation who specifically support women and their partners through HG pregnancies.

There are some strategies and treatments you can try to help manage the symptoms and their impact on your life.

Hydration

The most important thing to focus on is staying hydrated. Get into the habit of carrying a drink everywhere, and take small sips as often as you can. And if you can tolerate fruit juice, cold soup or broth, that’s a bonus. You can get some calories and vitamins at the same time.

Diet

As difficult as it can be, you want to aim never to have an empty stomach. So, small, frequent meals. Salty food can help. Sucking on boiled sweets can be helpful too. Eating food cold can make it easier to keep down. Avoid fatty, spicy and rich foods.

Lifestyle

Eat at a time that works for you. It doesn’t matter if that happens to be 2 in the morning or the middle of an appointment. If you feel you can eat, go for it. When you feel nauseous, try and lie down. Possibly the hardest piece of advice to follow is to try and avoid stress. 

Medication

There is a range of safe medications you can try. A lot of pregnant women are hesitant to take medication when pregnant, which is totally reasonable. But, there are options that can help you and won’t affect your baby.

Alternative Remedies

Sometimes it is about trying things and finding what works for you. Ginger is a natural option, which you can eat in biscuits or drink in teas. There is good evidence that it works as well. Other treatments like acupuncture and acupressure, don’t have conclusive proof, but they are safe to try and might work for you.

Is HG A Good Reason To Avoid Another Pregnancy?

Living through HG can be traumatic. Watching TV and movies can give the impression that pregnancy is fun. Sure, there might be a little bit of throwing up in the mornings, but there’s also eating whatever you want and the fun of random food cravings. So if your experience of pregnancy involved hospitalisation, severe dehydration and constant nausea, then you are probably feeling a sense of loss, and rightly so.

If going through HG once has given you pause about getting pregnant again then you are not alone. In one review of women with HG, 37 out of 100 decided not to get pregnant again because of their experience. 

Deciding not to have more children can be a wrenching decision, especially if you have always dreamed of a big family. But, HG is brutal, and it is reasonable to avoid experiencing it again.

Any decision you make about having more children is yours to make. If you’ve had HG then, of course, it is going to factor into your decision about the future.

A Little Advice From A Fellow HG Survivor

I can only speak about my own experience, but this is what I learnt. If you are positive that you can’t go through another HG pregnancy, then trust that feeling. Being pregnant when you already have a child is much harder.

If you have doubts or are feeling conflicted, then give yourself some time to make the decision. Your postpartum hormones are scarily powerful. Not only does the experience of giving birth fade, but the pregnancy does too. Once you have the chance to meet and enjoy your little one, it can give you a different perspective on the whole thing.

Any decision can be the right one, as long as it’s right for you.

Frequently Asked Questions

How common is HG?

90% of women experience nausea and vomiting. Only 1% – 3.5% of pregnant women experience HG. 

How is HG diagnosed?

The exact definition of Hg varies a little depending on where you live. There are usually a few symptoms that are looked for to make a diagnosis.

• Loss of 5% of your body weight
• Ketosis – a sign of starvation, found by testing your urine
• Dehydration

Is HG dangerous for my baby?

In most cases, as long as you treat the symptoms of HG, the baby will be unaffected. When you are pregnant, the baby gets first call on everything, so while you are feeling rotten, the baby usually has everything they need. If you ignore the symptoms and get severely dehydrated or malnourished, then the risk to the baby increases.