When it goes beyond usual Morning Sickness

Some women find their morning sickness is so bad it sends them to the hospital. They should know about this:

Hyperemesis gravidarum.

Patients who experience this often have such severe nausea during pregnancy that it leads to unhealthy amounts of weight loss, dehydration, malnourishment, vitamin deficiencies, hospital visits, and other severe health effects. This is not something that is improved simply by nibbling saltine crackers for breakfast.

Unfortunately, incorrect diagnosis of this treatable disease often forces women into a corner, where they feel they have no choice but to abort a wanted child. In other instances, it only gives one more reason to abort an unwanted child. In either case, correct diagnosis and treatment is important for the health of the woman and the unborn child.

What adds insult to injury is that women who have it are often treated as psych cases, rather than patients with a physical problem. Shocking in the 21st century. I thought we had moved past that "hysterical woman" stereotype, at least in the medical world.

Of course, it is always best to see your doctor. Self-diagnosis does not help anybody. But, as this is a rare disease, it is something Doctors may not always be aware of, and therefore a worthwhile topic for discussion with them.

More info:
National Organization for Rare Diseases
Wikipedia
Hyperemesis.org
Google search results.

Via Dawn Eden.

4/13/07 Update: After Abortion has also posted on the subject. So has Real Choice