Nausea and Vomiting of Pregnancy

Abstract

Nausea and vomiting symptoms affect 70% to 85% of pregnant women during early pregnancy. These symptoms can have a dramatic effect on a woman's family, social, and occupational functioning. Hence, nausea and vomiting of pregnancy is a medical condition that should be taken seriously by health care professionals responsible for providing care to pregnant women. This manuscript reviews the current state of knowledge concerning the etiology, underlying mechanisms, and management of nausea and vomiting associated with pregnancy. An abbreviated version of the material found in this article is presented to second year PharmD students at the University of the Pacific as part of an elective course on evidence-based complementary and alternative therapies.Keywords: nausea and vomiting, pregnancy, drug therapy, complementary and alternative therapies and the fetus. Even when the condition is not so severe, symptoms can cause considerable distress and temporary disability. 3 Nearly 50% of employed women believed their work efficiency was substantially reduced by NVP, and as many as 25% required time off from work. Almost one half of women with NVP said that it had adverse effects on their relationships with their spouse, and 55% of pregnant women with NVP felt depressed. The financial burden of severe NVP on the American health system has been estimated to be about $130 million per year, which is based on an annual average of 39,000 hospital discharges at a mean cost of $3,300 per stay. These figures do not include physician fees, loss of productivity at home or on the job, or the cost for patient treatment.

Dietary behaviours and weight management: A thematic analysis of pregnant women's perceptions

“…In this population, pregnancy itself had an influence on dietary behaviours. Pregnancy-related physiological changes such as cravings or food aversions have previously been identified as an influence on dietary behaviour (Quinla & Hill, 2003;Richter, 2003). Although pregnancy-related symptoms are outside the women's control, they are considered typical features of pregnancy (Quinla & Hill, 2003).…”