File photo of a pregnant woman

Belinda Addi, a midwife at Joma Health Centre in the Ga West District, has advised pregnant women to promptly report cases of severe vomiting to prevent malnourishment and preterm births.

She identified Hyperemesis Gravidarum, the most extreme form of vomiting during pregnancy, as a condition affecting “one to three out of a hundred pregnant women,” often leading to fainting, dehydration, fatigue, and weight loss.

In an interview with the Ghana News Agency, Ms. Addi explained that the symptoms could be very uncomfortable, but treatments were available when reported at the hospital.

She noted that for most women, the condition improved between 12 to 20 weeks of gestation.

Though no known causes exist, Ms. Addi pointed to rising levels of Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) and Estrogen during pregnancy as potential triggers for persistent nausea and vomiting.

Risk factors include a history of hyperemesis, multiple or first-time pregnancies, motion sickness, and a family history of severe morning sickness.

Ms. Addi noted that risk factors include a history of Hyperemesis Gravidarum, first-time pregnancy, multiple pregnancies, a family history of severe morning sickness, and a history of motion sickness.

“If symptoms are severe, it would require the pregnant woman to be admitted at the hospital and Intravenous (IV) infusion would be administered to replace lost fluids, and tube feeding in extreme cases,” she explained.

She advised pregnant women to avoid known triggers, drink ginger tea or chew fresh ginger, eat dry foods like biscuits and toast in small frequent portions, and stay away from greasy and spicy meals to manage symptoms more effectively.

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