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Birthing Units Increase Services For Unwell Mothers

Services for Canterbury women who experience Hyperemesis Gravidarum- severe vomiting and nausea during pregnancy- are being increased to improve management of their condition and reduce hospital admissions.

From next month, some women with Hyperemesis will be able to visit the primary birthing units at Burwood, Lincoln and Rangiora Hospitals for re-hydration and support to manage their nausea and vomiting.

“These women will, in the first instance, need to be assessed at Christchurch Women’s Hospital, as they are at the moment. After this, if they stay reasonably well and do not require admission, they will be able to visit the closest birthing unit to home for re-hydration,” Canterbury District Health Board maternity manager Jane Waite said.

Hyperemesis Gravidarum affects about one in 500 pregnant women, with nausea and vomiting sometimes being so severe that they will develop ketosis, electrolyte disturbances, severe weight loss and nutritional deficiencies. In Canterbury, about 150 women suffer from this debilitating condition each year.

“Rangiora Hospital has for the last five years been providing the service that will now also be offered at Lincoln and Burwood.

“Re-hydrating women before they become so sick that they require admission to hospital makes a lot of sense and is in the long term much better for the health of the mother and baby. Remaining in a well-woman environment rather than coming into a hospital bed also seems to help women cope better with day to day living during this difficult time,” she said.

After their initial assessment at Christchurch Women’s Hospital, Hyperemesis sufferers will be able to visit the primary birthing units when their condition starts to deteriorate. At the primary unit, they will be assessed as to the best course of treatment, receive blood and urine tests, be given intravenous fluids, receive advice on management of their condition and be discharged before the end of the day.

Given the annual number of spring babies, a significant number of Canterbury women will currently be experiencing the nausea and vomiting associated with most pregnancies during the first 16 weeks.

Practical tips for managing nausea and vomiting include:

Eating and drinking small amounts and resting often

Tips for drinks

Ø Drink fluids that you like ( except alcohol) and drink often

Ø Sip fluids. Aim for a ½ glass every hour. Try water or watered down cordial or juices.

Ø Try a milky milo before bed

Ø Try sucking on ice cubes or boiled sweets or iceblocks

Ø Liquid meals may be more easy to tolerate – try Complan or Sustagen or flavoured milk

Tips for food:

Ø Keep eating – try and keep snacks close by – use a lunch box to keep snacks handy

Ø Try some protein – flavoured milk, cheese, dairy food, yoghurt

Ø Salty – chips, crackers, pretzels, vegemite or marmite on toast and crackers

Ø Wet – tinned or fresh fruit, iceblocks, soup, jelly, mashed potato and gravy, ice-cream

Ø Sweet – fruit, lollies eg barley sugars, biscuits, ice cream and jelly

Ø Dry – bread, toast, crackers, dried fruit, muffins

Ø Ginger – ginger biscuits, ginger ale, ginger tea, ginger crystallised, ginger tablets

Other tips

Ø Ask family or friends to help with child care

Ø Slow down, get more rest and if possible reduce working hours

Ø Try taking vitamins and tablets if prescribed at night

Ø If you wake in the night have a drink and a snack

Ø Carry fluid with you wherever you go

ENDS