A GP guide to nausea and vomiting in pregnancy

Nausea and vomiting of pregnancy and hyperemesis gravidarum can be overwhelming for women both physically and psychologically

It is important for clinicians to recognise that this condition, even in milder forms, can be overwhelming for women both physically and psychologically. It should never be considered best practice to dismiss nausea and vomiting of pregnancy (NVP) as a benign nuisance to be endured.

The reluctance of health professionals to recognise and treat NVP can itself worsen a woman’s physical and mental health.1-4 There are many medication options, some of which are off-label, but nonetheless recommended by national guidelines.

This article aims to empower GPs with the confidence to prescribe promptly and safely for holistic symptom control.5 General supportive measures, particularly around managing family and work responsibilities, as well as mental health, are also needed.

The Pregnancy-Unique Quantification of Emesis (PUQE) scoring index (see table 1) is a quick and simple three-question tool that can be utilised in general practice to establish and monitor symptom severity.6