Latest Blogs
- Uncategorized
- personalized medicine
- Nausea
- Constipation
- CBD
- Cannabis
- Blog Posts
- Antacids
- Advocacy
- Accupressure
When the Hard Part Isn’t Over: Self-Care for New Moms After a Brutal Pregnancy
There’s this myth that once the baby arrives, your body stops struggling and your spirit just clicks into place. But if you’ve spent months tethered to nausea, dizziness, and the relentless loop of hyperemesis gravidarum, the postpartum period can feel less like a finish line and more like another marathon you didn’t sign up for. […]
Finding Myself After Birth: My Journey with Postpartum Depression
Motherhood is a whirlwind—beautiful, overwhelming, and sometimes deeply challenging. After giving birth, I expected a mix of joy and exhaustion, but what I didn’t anticipate was the heavy weight of emotions that came with it. Looking back, I realize I was experiencing postpartum depression (PPD), and I want to share my story for anyone who […]
Mastering the Post-Pregnancy Journey: Insights for New Mothers
In the journey of motherhood, the fourth trimester stands as a pivotal yet often unaddressed stage. It encompasses a myriad of physical and emotional transitions that new mothers encounter. Today, HG Pharmacist delves into areas faced during this period. From navigating hormonal shifts to embracing body transformations, our focus is to equip you with practical […]
Empowering Pregnant Women: The Significance of Patient Advocacy in Healthcare
Pregnancy is a transformative journey that brings joy, excitement, and anticipation. However, it can also be a time of uncertainty and vulnerability. It is crucial for pregnant women to feel heard, supported, and empowered throughout their healthcare experience. Patient advocacy plays a vital role in ensuring that women receive the care and attention they deserve […]
Finding a New Primary Care Doctor for Your Pregnancy
Disclaimer: The following writing is for information and education only. Please consult your doctor or other professional for medical advice. I often get the question on how to search for a new doctor. This challenge arises when you move, your doctor retires or you’re just not getting the care you expect and deserve from your […]
Pharmacogenetics (PGx) for Minimizing Medication Risk When Treating Hyperemesis Gravidarum
According to the artificial intelligence of my personal ondansetron results, the transporter variation I have can actually INCREASE my likelihood of nausea and vomiting.
“Natural” Ways to Neutralize Stomach Acid during Pregnancy
Disclaimers/Warnings: The following blog is for education and information only. Consult your medical professional for any decision making! Mentions of food may trigger women with Hyperemesis Gravidarum. Proceed with caution if this is you! Acid reflux is common among pregnant women. For those with Hyperemesis Gravidarum, stomach acid takes over all aspects of our life. […]
Treatments for Excess Saliva in Pregnancy
Note: The following information is for education only and not to be taken as medical advice. Be sure to consult your doctor for all medical decisions. ***Trigger Warning*** The following blog has details that might cause a reaction in women who have Hyperemesis Gravidarum. Proceed with caution if this is you! Treatments for Excess Saliva […]
Three Organizations Researching Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG). Participate Now!
Women suffering from debilitating nausea and vomiting during pregnancy, called Hyperemesis Gravidarum, constantly wonder why there are no safe and effective medications for this disease in which over 200,000* women worldwide endure annually. The answer is multifaceted – just think about the impact from the thalidomide disaster in the 1950s! Since we cannot go back […]
Choosing a Prenatal Vitamin for Hyperemesis Gravidarum
One of the many challenges of women suffering from nausea and vomiting during pregnancy is that they are not able to keep down their prenatal vitamins. Lacking these vitamins, which are necessary for the health of the mom and development of the baby, in turn leads the mom to worry that she is already not […]
Three New Books about Hyperemesis Gravidarum
Considering that Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG) is estimated to affect around 2% of pregnant women, there is a limited selection of books about this devastating disease state. While 2% may sound like a low number, based on the annual number of births in the United States each year, 2% equates to around 75,000 women. That number […]
Three CBD Recommendations that May Ease Pregnancy Nausea and Vomiting
***Disclaimer*** The following article is for information only and not to be taken as medical advice. Consult your doctor before trying any products discussed, as there are potential dangerous risks to everything ingested or absorbed during pregnancy. Some challenges with nausea and vomiting during pregnancy, from Morning Sickness (MS) to Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG), is that […]
5 Easy Ways to Support Your Wife Through a Complicated Pregnancy
First, a note to my readers: I am often contacted by significant others for advice on how to support their loved ones through Hyperemesis Gravidarum, so as a change of pace, I am taking a step away from medication information and sharing this lighthearted guest post written by Phillip Carr of Youryearlycheckup.com. A bit about […]
Five Types of Patches for Hyperemesis Gravidarum
I see doctors who understand that women cannot swallow pills prescribe dissolvable pills, suppositories and intravenous (IV) medications while ignoring a comfortable medication route: topical patches.
Hyperemesis Gravidarum Treatment – Then versus Now
I originally wrote this as a LinkedIn post, in hopes to reach the medical practitioners working with pregnant women, but I received such a tremendous response that I am sharing it here so it can be shared indefinitely. Here’s to improving care of women with Hyperemesis Gravidarum! My medical records when I was #pregnant at 8 wks, […]
Deciding which Medications to Prescribe for Hyperemesis Gravidarum
***The following perspective is of HG Pharmacist and not of any organization or association in which she is affiliated or employed. How do doctors decide what medication to prescribe to pregnant women for nausea and vomiting? After working with hundreds of women around the world suffering from Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG), extreme nausea and vomiting during […]
Ten Tips to Surviving Hyperemesis Gravidarum
My network of HG survivors celebrates every time we have a mom who made it through and is holding her newborn baby in her arms. Yesterday, Hayden Mathews, posted these important survival tips in an HG support group and gave me permission to share with you. They are tips that I often share verbally but […]
Four Alternate Medication Routes for Pregnant Moms #DoNotSwallow
Enjoy this infographic summarizing medications that you do not swallow that can be taken at home. I intentionally left out any medications that require a needle, but keep in mind ondansetron (Zofran) and metoclopramide (Reglan) pumps as other home options which have worked wonders for many HG moms. The key is finding a treatment regimen […]
Holiday and Celebration Survival Guide
This blog is based on an Instagram Live that Kimber McGibbon, RN and Co-founder of the HER Foundation, did on December 20, 2020. Festive times for others can be the most difficult times for an HG moms. Here are our suggestions to help survive holidays and other celebratory events. Kimber and Danielle’s Instagram conversation from […]
Top Ten Ways to Relieve Constipation from Ondansetron (Zofran) During Pregnancy
Updated November 12, 2021 At least once per day, I get a cry for help from Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG) sufferers about how to relieve constipation during pregnancy, often due to a side effect from taking ondansetron (Zofran). Being in an almost constant state of dehydration as a result of HG will itself lead to constipation. […]
Acupressure Techniques for Hyperemesis Gravidarum
Disclaimer: This information is presented as a reference only and should not be construed as medical advice. It is assumed by the author that you are under the care of a licensed physician and that before performing any of the techniques described herein that discussion has occurred as to the appropriateness of these methodologies in […]
An HG Patient in the ER – a Pharmacist’s View
My heart went out to this pregnant woman in our ER, getting her IV in place, and I wanted her to know she’s not alone.
Two Gene Mutations and Pregnancy: MTHFR and MMADHC
***Updated May 1, 2021 With all the advances in “modern medicine”, what is known about Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG) correlates to being in the dark ages. I am hoping that the young science of pharmacogenetics, the study of how the body’s genetic variation determines the response to medications, including vitamins, may give us some clues. One […]
Strategies for Pharmacists to Support Women with Hyperemesis Gravidarum
Originally published on May 20, 2020. http://www.farmakology.com/issues/farmakology-newsletter-issue-46-250421 I wrote this article for an international newsletter whose subscribers are pharmacists to present ideas on how to support women with Hyperemesis Gravidarum. So many women I meet either had severe nausea and vomiting in pregnancy or knows someone who did, yet there are still so many people […]
Therapeutic Music to Relieve Nausea and Vomiting in Pregnancy
Throughout human history, different cultures used their senses to try and utilize the concept of “mind over matter”, or influencing our mind for the greater good of our body. These senses are touch, sight, hearing, smell and taste. It is common knowledge among those with Nausea and Vomiting in Pregnancy (NVP) ranging from mild morning […]
Raise Your Voice
Find Your Voice and Raise It May 15, 2020, will mark the 3rd annual International Hyperemesis Gravidarum Awareness Day. Events are being planned around the world to increase awareness and support, because while we know that this is not just morning sickness, the rest of the population needs to know too. This year’s theme is […]
Granisetron (Kytril, Sancuso) for Nausea and Vomiting in Pregnancy (NVP)
I encourage hyperemesis gravidarum patients to discuss the possible use of granisetron with their doctors and reach out to the manufacturer to find out where and how to get it, if their insurance does not cover it, or if their local pharmacy does not carry it.
Ranitidine (Zantac) Recall – Important facts to understand when pregnant
Over the last few months, I received many questions regarding the ranitidine (Zantac) recall. Women with morning sickness and/or hyperemesis gravidarum often take ranitidine to decrease their amount of stomach acid, allowing them to feel better throughout the day. This medication does not require a prescription, which means it has met a standard of safety […]
Cannabis and Pregnancy by Dr. Melani Kane
Lots of love, from Dr. Danielle, your HG Pharmacist About Dr. Kane: Dr. Melani Kane (Bersten) graduated from the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and returned to Minnesota as a Cannabis Pharmacist in a pharmacist-led dosing model. After spending countless hours researching the endocannabinoid system and phytocannabinoid pharmacology, Dr. Kane created Prepcann, an e-learning platform designed […]
Herbs, Teas, Pregnancy and Morning Sickness by Melissa Ruiz, Tea Creator and Blender
Pregnancy is a miraculous time and an unforgettable experience. That being said, it may also be accompanied by its own set of challenges. Two of the most common issues of pregnancy are nausea/indigestion and vomiting. Most women today are looking for more natural ways to balance their bodies and manage their health. Tea is one […]
Bendectin/Diclegis/Bonjesta -What’s in a Name?
The Oldest, the Newest, and the Only FDA Approved Drug for Severe Nausea and Vomiting during Pregnancy In 1956, the FDA approved a medication called Bendectin for nausea and vomiting in pregnancy. The same drug was known as Diclectin in Canada, Debendox in the UK and Australia and Lenotan in many other countries. It consisted […]
CBD and Hyperemesis Gravidarum
It never occurred to me to use CBD for HG until this week when Amy Schumer posted that it was the only thing that helped calm her suffering. https://www.bravotv.com/the-feast/amy- schumer-pregnancy-nausea-hyperemesis-cbd-the-lord-jones. The cannabidiol (CBD) insanity exploded because the US government amended the Farm Act in 2018 and changed hemp from illegal to a commodity. It […]
Supporting Hyperemesis Gravidarum. Why Now?
Today is May 15, 2019, International Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG) Awareness Day. That’s why. Gone are the days of suffering in silence. #hyperemesisgravidarum on social media brings up tens of thousands of photos of women looking and feeling like death is upon them. I applaud and admire these young women for putting a face to HG. […]