Outlook

Most women who experience nausea and vomiting during the early part of pregnancy go on to have healthy babies. In fact, some evidence indicates that women with mild-to-moderate nausea and vomiting are less likely to miscarry than are women who experience no symptoms at all. Some experts say that mild nausea and vomiting in pregnancy might have served some evolutionary advantage for early humans.

• Women with very severe symptoms, especially with dehydration and weight loss, are at higher risk for slowed fetal growth and low birth weight babies.

• Most women improve with IV fluids that may be given for several days without other measures.

• Women with continual vomiting and dehydration require IV fluid replacement in a medical setting off and on.

• Few women with hyperemesis gravidarum require a prolonged stay in the hospital, usually 7-10 days with continued treatment on an outpatient basis for 10-21 days.

• While in the hospital or as an outpatient, you may require a nasal feeding tube for placing fluid into your stomach or an IV to place fluid into a blood vessel.