the difference between hyperemisis and normal morning sickness?

[elliejjtiny]

Just curious really as I'm a bit confused. When I was pregnant with DS1 and puking 20+ times a day, the midwife said it was normal, a good sign that baby was doing well etc. Then a friend gets diagnosed with hyperemisis and given tablets because she is puking 3 times a day. So I go to the midwife and she says, no, it's only hyperemisis if you can't keep water down.

I'm now pregnant for the 6th time (3 live births, 2 miscarriages, currently 8 weeks pregnant). I've had various levels of morning sickness. I've had various friends, relatives, random people on forums tell me different definitions of hyperemisis. A couple of people have told me that my current state of constant nausea and dry retching in the mornings is hyperemisis (surely not, I've had much worse with ds1 and ds3). The GP told me that I could have anti-emetics with DS3 at 28 weeks but not earlier because all sickness is normal before that stage (bit late by then ).

So somebody settle this once and for all, what is the difference between normal morning sickness and hyperemisis?

[chairchairchair]

www.americanpregnancy.org/pregnancycomplications/hyperemesisgravidarum.html

This has quite a good comparison table half way down...

It sounds to me like more than 'normal' morning sickness: 20+ times a day is a lot....

[elliejjtiny]

Thanks. Looks like I had hyperemesis with DS1 and DS3 and just normal morning sickness with the others.