| Morning Sickness | Hyperemesis Gravidarum |
|---|---|
| You lose little to no weight. | You lose more than 5% of your prepregnancy weight. |
| You are able to eat and drink a sufficient amount each day. | You are unable to eat or drink adequate amounts during the day due to nausea and vomiting. |
| You experience mild to moderate nausea periodically; vomiting occurs infrequently. | You experience moderate to severe nausea constantly; vomiting occurs often and may contain bile or blood. |
| Diet and lifestyle changes help you feel better most of the time. | Symptoms are uncontrolled by diet and lifestyle and may require medications and IV hydration. |
| Symptoms usually improve after the first trimester, with occasional nausea throughout pregnancy. | Symptoms usually improve by mid-pregnancy, but sometimes may persist until late pregnancy. |
| Most days you are able to continue working and caring for yourself and your family. | You may be unable to work or care for yourself and your family for weeks or months. |
| You may struggle with your mental health occasionally if nausea is severe, but overall you feel like your normal self most of the time. | You may have major struggles with your mental health including depression and anxiety. The trauma of your experience may lead to post-traumatic stress. |
Table adapted from the HER Foundation