Perinatologist Corner - C.E.U/C.M.E. Modules
Nausea and Vomiting in Pregnancy
Sponsored by The Indian Health Service Clinical Support Center
1. Goals and objectives
The student will understand the maternal and fetal consequences, methods and limitations of screening, and understand nausea and vomiting of pregnancy.
Objectives
The objectives for this module are:
- The student will understand the maternal and fetal consequences of nausea and vomiting of pregnancy
- The student will understand the categories of severity of nausea and vomiting of pregnancy
- The student will understand the treatment options for nausea and vomiting of pregnancy
Over 75 per cent of pregnant women experience some degree of nausea and vomiting during pregnancy. Up to 2 per cent of pregnancies are complicated by the severe syndrome referred to as hyperemesis gravidarum, which frequently prompts hospital admission for control of symptoms and the accompanying biochemical abnormalities. Hyperemesis is second only to preterm labor as the most common reason for hospitalization during pregnancy.
A treatment algorithm for this spectrum of symptoms, based on the available evidence, will be suggested for mild nausea and vomiting and for severe nausea and vomiting (hyperemesis gravidarum)
One clinical definition is persistent vomiting, with weight loss exceeding 5 percent of pre-pregnancy body weight, and ketonuria.