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Click here to read previous questions to Dr Wareing and our previous health expert Dr Gilroy. Ask a question here.

I suffered very badly with hyperemersis gravidium with my first pregnancy. I'm pregnant again now and I'm wondering will I get it again and if so, how bad?

Dr Jane Wareing completed her training in General Practice in 1993. She spent a few years working in Community Child Health and Family Planning before returning to General Practice, where she now enjoys working part time. She has three daughters aged six, five and three years old.

Nausea and vomiting in early pregnancy is common, affecting 70-80% of pregnancies, but of surprising inconvenience. 35% of working women have to take time off from their job, and 26% find problems with other day to day activities. Most women find that they can get symptoms at any time of the day, so that the term morning sickness is misleading. However only about one to three women per 1000 pregnancies suffer to such an extent with severe vomiting that they need to be admitted to hospital and this extreme vomiting is what is actually known as hyperemesis gravidarum.

Twin pregnancies, heartburn and thyroid problems may lead to particularly unpleasant nausea and vomiting. Psychological factors also are known to be significant and the incidence seems to be higher in unmarried women and unplanned pregnancies. In most women, nausea and vomiting settles somewhere around 18-20 weeks, and women often enjoy the middle months of their pregnancy somewhat more than the first three or four!

Women suffering nausea and vomiting should be reassured that it is not affecting the baby and advised to take small frequent meals and avoid large volume drinks. Not eating does not help. For more severe symptoms drug treatment may be helpful although always check with your GP or midwife first. Certain antihistamines, pyridoxine (Vit B6), certain specific anti sickness drugs and powdered root of ginger appear to be effective, although as yet the safety of powdered root of ginger has not been formally assessed.Sea sickness wristbands and acupuncture may also help some individuals. Good luck with your pregnancy! Every pregnancy is different and I would remain as positive as possible that you symptoms will not be so bad this time around.

Information given by Dr Wareing on this web site is not intended to be, nor is to be treated as, a substitute for professional medical advice given by your own doctor or health visitor relative to a specific medical condition or question.