Trying to think quickly, aware that I might lose consciousness, I dialed 9-1-1 while frantically inscribing, "16 wks pregnt, pls b careful" on a piece of scrap paper. The operator, of course, couldn't hear or understand me. By the time the 9-1-1 operators had called me back ten minutes later, I had already managed to end my own choking.
Morning sickness is a fairly normal problem occurring in pregnancy, but it can--in cases like mine--lead to deadly complications. Here are just a few of the ways that morning sickness--and its much more serious cousin, hyperemesis gravidarum, can be dangerous.
Morning sickness is a fairly normal problem occurring in pregnancy, but it can--in cases like mine--lead to deadly complications. Here are just a few of the ways that morning sickness--and its much more serious cousin, hyperemesis gravidarum, can be dangerous.
1. Choking
As my own experience illustrates, it is possible to choke on vomit--especially if you experience very severe or persistent morning sickness. During pregnancy, the muscles that control breathing and swallowing can become relaxed, making you more prone to choking in general. This complication is extremely distressing, and the Heimlich maneuver can be dangerous to an unborn baby. If you do choke due to morning sickness, try to remain calm while you seek help. Note that choking is usually deadly only if your airway is totally obstructed--if you are completely unable to cough or breathe.
2. Dehydration
If you're not able to drink enough water during pregnancy, you may become dehydrated. This can lead to discomforts such as dizziness, fatigue and dry mouth in mild cases. When severe, dehydration might lead to preterm labor or fainting. If your morning sickness is so severe that you cannot keep sips of water or ginger ale down, call your doctor or go to an emergency room. You may need intravenous fluids to prevent yourself or the baby from suffering serious problems.
3. Underweight or Preterm Baby
Dehydration from morning sickness can cause you to experience preterm labor, which is associated with many of its own complications. In other cases, morning sickness can prevent you from getting adequate nutrition during pregnancy. If you are underweight before conception, your baby is likely to be underweight at birth unless you gain a minimum of 20 pounds during pregnancy. Fortunately, most cases of morning sickness resolve early in pregnancy, so expectant mothers are generally able to catch up on weight gain before the baby's birth.
4. Tears in Esophagus
Persistent or harsh vomiting can cause tears in your esophagus. Symptoms of this might include blood in your vomit or severe pain in your chest or stomach. These symptoms need professional evaluation in all circumstances, so talk to your doctor as soon as possible if you notice these issues. Esophageal tears are distressing but not serious in and of themselves. In most cases, they resolve without specific treatment.
5. Pregnancy Loss
In very severe cases of morning sickness, known as hyperemesis gravidarum, it is possible to experience pregnancy loss. Very severe malnutrition or dehydration in the first trimester may lead to miscarriage, while the same problems can lead to stillbirth later on. In other cases of hyperemesis, an expectant mother may be forced to have an abortion to save her own life. I know one woman who had to abort her planned pregnancy after two months of hospitalization, intravenous fluids, fainting, and extreme weight loss. It is rare for morning sickness to cause complications to this degree, but, tragically, it does occur in rare circumstances.
If you are experiencing morning sickness and are concerned about the dangers it may pose to yourself or your unborn baby, talk to your doctor or midwife about safe measures you can take to protect yourself and your child.