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Nausea and vomiting in pregnancy - Making a diagnosis
How do I know my patient has it?
- Nausea and vomiting in pregnancy are usually diagnosed on the basis of symptoms alone. Laboratory investigations are not required in uncomplicated cases:
- Women may report nausea, vomiting, or both. Symptoms are usually mild and self-limiting [Davis, 2004].
- Symptoms manifest before 9 weeks of gestation in almost all affected women [ACOG, 2004].
- A minority of women, for whom symptoms are more severe, will require further assessment. This group includes women with hyperemesis gravidarum, which commonly presents with [ACOG, 2004]:
- Persistent vomiting not related to other causes.
- Weight loss (usually at least 5% of pre-pregnancy body weight).
- Signs of acute starvation (usually large ketonuria).
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