Pregnancy, nausea - What happens in the hospital?

Pregnancy, nausea

What happens in the hospital?

If you're vomiting a lot during your pregnancy, you may be in danger of becoming dehydrated. If so, you may be admitted to the hospital.

If you are admitted, here's what's likely to happen.

A doctor or nurse will take your temperature,

blood pressure
Blood pressure is the amount of force exerted by the blood on the walls of the vessels that carry it. You can think of it like the water pressure in your home: the more pressure you have, the faster and more forcefully the water flows out of the shower. Blood pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury (written as mm Hg). When your blood pressure is taken, the measurement is given as two numbers, for example 120/80 mm Hg. The first, higher, number is called the systolic pressure, and the second, lower, number is the diastolic pressure. The systolic number is the highest pressure that occurs while the heart is pushing blood into the arteries. The diastolic number is the lowest pressure that happens when the heart is relaxing and is not pushing the blood.

blood pressure and pulse, and listen to your breathing with a

stethoscope
A stethoscope is a tool doctors use to listen to people's bodies. One part of the stethoscope is a disc (called the bell), which doctors put over a part of someone's body (like their heart or a vein). The bell is connected to ear pieces, which the doctors put in their ears so they can listen to sounds that come from that part of the person's body.

stethoscope.
A sample of blood will be taken from a vein, most likely in your arm. The blood will be tested for water and chemicals. If these aren't present in the right amounts, you may be

dehydrated
When you're dehydrated, you don't have enough fluid in your blood. This could be because you're not drinking enough or because you're losing water by sweating or having diarrhea.

dehydrated.
Your urine will be tested for chemicals called ketones. Your body makes these when it doesn't have enough water, so their presence is another sign that you're dehydrated.
If you're dehydrated, fluid, minerals and nutrients will be given to you through a needle inserted into a vein, probably in your arm.
In very rare cases when vomiting is extremely bad, a feeding tube is placed through your nose, past your stomach and into your small intestine. Liquid food is given to you through the tube. This can help to get food moving through your intestine and reduce nausea and vomiting.
You'll be encouraged to eat and drink small amounts of food and liquid as often as you can.
If absolutely necessary, you'll get some medications to treat nausea and vomiting. Doctors try to avoid giving you medications before your 12th week of pregnancy since your baby is still forming then. To learn more, see What treatments work for nausea and vomiting in early pregnancy?
A doctor or nurse will check your baby's heartbeat by loosely attaching a strap with a patch called an

ultrasound
Ultrasound is a tool doctors use to create images of the inside of your body. The ultrasound machine sends out high-frequency sound waves, which are directed at an area of your body through a device such as a probe. The waves reflect off parts of your body to create a picture. Ultrasound is often used to see a developing baby inside a woman's womb.

ultrasound transducer around your abdomen. The patch picks up your baby's heartbeat, if it can be heard. The heartbeat can be heard in most women by the time they are 12 weeks pregnant, and in some women by the 9th or 10th weeks of pregnancy. If the heartbeat is not normal, your doctor will try to find out what is affecting the baby and will keep close watch on you.
You'll probably be weighed every day to see if you're losing or gaining weight.
Your doctor may order other tests, including a test to check for a high level of

thyroid gland
Your thyroid gland is a small organ that sits in your neck, just in front of your windpipe. It sends out a hormone called thyroxine. This acts on receptors within cells. By acting on the receptors it gives the cells a message to speed up their metabolism and work harder.

thyroid

hormones
Hormones are chemicals that are made in certain parts of the body. They travel through the bloodstream and have an effect on other parts of the body. For example, the female sex hormone estrogen is made in a woman's ovaries. Estrogen has many different effects on a woman's body. It makes the breasts grow at puberty and helps control periods. It is also needed to get pregnant.

hormone, a test to make sure your

liver
Your liver is a large organ that sits on the right side of your body, just below your rib cage. It does several important things, including processing and storing nutrients from food, and breaking down chemicals, such as alcohol.

liver is working normally, or a blood test to check for the

bacteria
Bacteria are tiny organisms. There are lots of different types. Some are harmful and can cause disease. But some bacteria live in your body without causing any harm.

bacterium Helicobacter pylori, which can cause indigestion and lead to

ulcer
An ulcer is an open sore. Ulcers can happen in many parts of your body, such as in your stomach, and the skin of your legs, mouth or genitals.

ulcers.

You'll be able to leave the hospital when:

The water and chemicals in your body are at the right amounts
You're no longer dehydrated
You're able to eat and drink enough to keep from getting dehydrated again.

This information was last updated on May 12, 2009

This information is for educational use only, and is not a substitute for prompt professional medical advice. Readers should always consult a physician or other professional for advice and treatment.
© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2009. All rights reserved.

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