NUH develops new treatment guidelines to support women suffering from Hyperemesis

Nottingham’s hospitals (NUH) is the first Trust in the country to develop a new treatment plan to support women suffering from severe sickness during pregnancy.

Women with severe sickness during pregnancy, known as Hyperemesis, can become dangerously dehydrated which can put them and their baby at risk.

Clinical teams from NUH have developed new treatment guidelines in a joint approach with GPs in Nottingham on how to treat women suffering from the condition, to prevent hospital admissions.

Rachel Hawthorne suffered with the condition through her pregnancy. She said:

I was vomiting all the time. It was relentless and absolutely draining. My whole body shut down, I was at severe risk of kidney failure.

There's a lot of guilt. There is worry for the baby’s health, worry about medication you're given, worry that this will all harm the baby. To be in your own environment makes a difference. I spent months in hospital. Being at home would have helped, at least mentally.

Shilpa Deb, Lead for Emergency Gynaecology, said:

Hyperemesis is a common problem, the main issue being dehydration. We have a dedicated hydration suite which is comfortable and relaxed. We have reduced the number of overnight admissions significantly since starting this work however, we want more women to be at home with their families as much as possible during their pregnancy.

Shilpa Deb will present the Trust’s Hyperemesis guidelines at the Pregnancy Sickness Support conference, to be held in time for International Hyperemesis Awareness Day 2015.