You're pregnant? That's fantastic! In a mere nine months, you will be a mother.
Isn't that great? But before you get too excited, there is another side you may not hear much about because many women seem to downplay it once they are finished with their pregnancy: nausea and vomiting.
When these two gifts of pregnancy hit you, it feels like the honeymoon is over.
I don't want to dampen your excitement, but it's something you should prepare for because it's practically inevitable.
88 percent of women suffer the symptoms of morning sickness, so the odds are not in your favor.
Do you want to know the worst party about it? There are so many unknowns associated with morning sickness that it seems like a cruel casino game rigged by the house so you always lose.
It is different for every woman and for every pregnancy for every woman.
Some go their whole pregnancy without symptoms, some are nauseated the first week, some women have symptoms that are a minor nuisance, and some women are in a constant state of nausea accompanied by extreme vomiting.
This last category of pregnant women, those with extreme morning sickness, is the focus of this article.
Extreme morning sickness is also known as hyperemesis gravidarum, and it affects one out of every three hundred pregnancies.
These odds are more in your favor, but it's still important to know when the nuisance of nausea and vomiting becomes a problem that needs the attention of a medical professional.
Let's break down the term hyperemesis gravidarum: hyper (over) emesis (vomiting) gravidarum (pregnant state).
So, it essentially means vomiting too much while pregnant.
This vomiting is so excessive, that it can lead to problems with your pregnancy.
If you feel like the vomiting is going on for too long throughout your day, and is lasting longer in your pregnancy than you think it should be (most women are through with morning sickness by the end of their first trimester), you need to see your doctor about it.
She will probably make a diagnosis of hyperemesis gravidarum if you've lost a lot of weight (more than five percent) and you have symptoms of dehydration.
There are unrelated health issues she will probably test for, and rule out, before she makes a positive diagnosis.
Weight loss can happen to a lot of pregnant women during any phase of pregnancy, so it isn't the biggest concern for you.
What you should be worried about is the dehydration, and what it might be doing to you and your unborn child.
Water is one of the most important substances in the functioning of the human body.
It is essential for almost every process, so if you are dehydrated, you are endangering important life functions.
Some of the areas where water plays an important part are brain function - it is a delivery system for your central nervous system, food digestion - dehydration can lead to false labor pains, and the immune system - keeps you free from disease.
So you see, it is extremely important that you seek medical attention as soon as possible if you are unable to keep any food or water down.
Your doctor will recommend treatment options, and determine the extent to which you and your unborn child are in danger.