Important Notice – The advice on this site is intended to provide useful, generalised information. However, you must not act without consultation with your own doctor who will be able to assess your needs based on your own individual circumstances.
“Women with HG should take the medication that they need. Today, we have very effective options – true, not a total cure, but very effective nonetheless. It is not appropriate, and is often downright cruel, for others (e.g. husbands, mothers or mothers-in-law) to say: “It is selfish of you to take a medication that may make you feel better but may harm the baby” when the risks of medication are very low. The person making that final decision should be the pregnant woman, not someone else who is not going through her suffering. If the medications are judged to be safe by the relevant medical expert, they should be used.” – Rabbi Dr Akiva Tatz
“People worry a lot about taking medications in pregnancy. This is often the case with HG and there are ‘old wives tales’ about the baby being so tiny and needing so little that it gets what it needs from its mother even if she is starving and sick. Evidence now demonstrates that this isn’t the case and that if the mum is malnourished and lacking the nutrients, vitamins and minerals herself, then there can certainly be consequences for the infant.
It is important to remember that women suffering HG aren’t choosing to be malnourished – they are unable to eat and drink and keep the nutrients down. So, if taking an anti-sickness medication enables them to eat and drink more, then those risks are likely to be reduced. – Caitlin Dean, Chairperson Pregnancy Sickness Support
Research the medications currently used to lessen symptoms of HG. www.pregnancysicknesssupport.org.uk is an excellent resource and provides data on the latest studies and a very informative and supportive helpline with individual mentors. We have all made use of it and rate it very highly. We suggest that reading these studies before you call your doctor will allow you to ask for advice, including appropriate medication, on a more informed basis.
The Pregnancy Sickness Support website is a very rich resource; however, please note that this is a secular non-Jewish site, and as such it includes some recommendations and guidelines that do not accord with Jewish Law (Halocha). Please consult your own Rabbinic authority.
MEDICATIONS:
For further information, please review the excellent material at https://www.pregnancysicknesssupport.org.uk/get-help/treatments/
Many women have found Xonvea to be very useful, sometimes in combination/ alternating with the ondansetron group of drugs. Xonvea may be a very useful alternative to cyclizine. Again, discuss with your doctor.
Note : Xonvea does not appear on the above link but you can find out more about it if you click here.
https://www.nice.org.uk/advice/es20/resources/doxylaminepyridoxine-xonvea-for-treating-nausea-and-vomiting-of-pregnancy-pdf-1158169089733
PSS Disclaimer: The Pregnancy Sickness Support website is a very rich resource; however, please note that this is a secular non-Jewish site, and as such it includes some recommendations and guidelines that do not accord with Jewish Law (Halocha). Please consult your own Rabbinic authority.
TIPS FROM FELLOW HG SUFFERERS:
There is evidence that starting medication early, as soon as you see a positive pregnancy test, can make a marked difference to severity of symptoms
HOW TO TAKE XONVEA FOR BEST RESULTS:
Take 1 tablet in the morning, 1 tablet in the afternoon and 2 at night.
This medication works cumulatively as a slow release over 10 hours. If you decrease intake you’ll stop feeling the benefits. It takes 48 hours initially to notice that it’s working.
CYCLIZINE: Can make you drowsy.
ONDANSETRON: Is highly effective, but usually causes constipation, therefore you are likely to need to take a laxative like PEGLAX NEUTRAL which dissolves in water and has no taste or smell. Glycerine suppositories are helpful especially if there is a preference not to take anything by mouth.
OMEPRAZOLE: Lowers acidity and reduces quantity of vomiting and accompanying burning. This medication often completely eliminates heartburn, and therefore it is advisable to continue taking it throughout the pregnancy.
STEROIDS: Are not given readily. If you are in hospital you can ask your Consultant.
If there is any reluctance to prescribe what you feel and know you will need, you will have the information from PSS based on NICE guidelines to back you up.
