Early Pregnancy Ultrasound: Vomiting in early pregnancy

OMNI provides reassurance scans for women with uncontrollable vomiting in the 1st trimester. Nausea and vomiting are common during pregnancy. Although vomiting in the morning (morning sickness) is typical; nausea or vomiting can occur at any time. These symptoms are thought to occur because of the rise in the pregnancy hormone called human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) during the 1st trimester. Levels of serum hCG peak at 12 weeks gestation and thereafter slowly fall off. Consequently, once the woman completes the 1st trimester, these symptoms tend to resolve. Rarely, nausea and vomiting can persist beyond the 1st trimester.

Hyperemesis gravidarum is persistent pregnancy-induced vomiting that occurs during the first 12 - 14 weeks of pregnancy and results in significant dehydration. Under these circumstances, hospital admission, rehydration and anti-emetics may be necessary to control the persistent vomiting. Again, hyperemesis gravidarum with hospital admission is rare after the 1st trimester.

Pregnancies complicated by hyperemesis gravidarum are thought to have a much higher risk of twin pregnancies and molar pregnancies. As a result, an ultrasound scan is traditionally organised in these women. However, in a recent study we demonstrated that women with hyperemesis gravidarum do not have a higher risk of twin pregnancy and molar pregnancies. More importantly, the incidence of pregnancy failure was 10 times lower in the hyperemesis gravidarum group compared to the asymptomatic women. Under these circumstances, OMNI offers to perform an ultrasound scan for maternal reassurance.