HG Protocols and Action Plans

As I read more and more writings from hyperemesis mamas, I notice a common theme: Mamas who have had HG once often write out action plans or "HG protocols" while planning subsequent pregnancies. I did, myself, and now I see other women doing it too.

There are two types of plans commonly written up: (1) A pre-conception plan, for preparing one's body and one's family/life/children/etc. to deal with HG or to avoid it, (2) A treatment plan for post-conception NVP. Sometimes the two types of plans are merged.

After #1 was born, and I started noodling about with the idea of a #2, I first wrote out a "things to do before we get pregnant" list. It's not half-bad, on a basic level, but unfortunately I can't figure out how to paste a table into this blog entry. It had a column each for task to complete, date of completion, and notes. Here are the items that I wrote down (this was about 2 years ago):

Item

DH’s job must be stable
DH’s job must be well-paid
Maternity Coverage
House – bought
Belongings – packed
Move – completed
Belongings – unpacked
Major home projects finished
Plan for DS – DS on solids
Plan for DS – sleep through night
Plan for DS – church help
Plan for DS – mom’s help
Meet with naturopath
Meet with OB
Pre-conception cleansing diet
Research HG supplements/drugs
Set target date for conception
Set up budget
Plan finances for future
Learn Natural Family Planning
Pray for guidance, easier pg
Start taking milk thistle
Start taking B6
Purchase Morningwell CD
Purchase Morning Sickness Balm
Speak to deaconesses for help
Plan for office substitutes
Make sure house is clean
Buy supplements
Finish HG-prevention/treatment protocol
Protocol approved by midwife
Protocol approved by OB
Protocol approved by Motherisk
Protocol approved by Shonda Parker
Protocol reviewed by hyperemesis.org
Contact church family to ask for prayers
Contact the churches I work for to let them know unavailable
Contact our midwife for prenatal care

From my notes, it looks like I completed about half of my to-do list before our little surprise-baby joined us.

My second list was the above-mentioned HG-prevention and treatment protocol. You can see the short version here, and gosh, I went to a lot of work for it! I read, researched, went online, got it checked out by Motherisk, my OB, my midwife, and Shonda Parker (a famous herbalist and midwife). Too bad none of it worked (that I know of). Here is the longer version, in case anyone is interested:

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Pre-Conception

WHOLE FOODS DIET
Purpose: Cleansing
Dosage:
Brand:
Notes:

WATER WITH LEMON
Purpose: Liver cleanser
Dosage: At least once a day – as often as possible
Brand:
Notes: Recommended by Shonda Parker

VITAMIN
Purpose: General nutrition, folic acid
Dosage: One daily
Brand:
Notes:

PRO-BIOTICS
Purpose: GI health and general health
Dosage: Acidophilus (1 cap daily) and yogurt
Brand:
Notes:

OMEGA-3
Purpose: General health
Dosage: 1-2 capsules of fish oil daily
Brand:
Notes:

B-COMPLEX SUPPLEMENT
Purpose: Morning sickness prevention
Dosage: 1 B-100 daily or 2 B-50 daily (each contains 100 mg or 50 mg each, respectively, of all the B-vitamins, including B6)
Brand:
Notes:

MILK THISTLE
Purpose: Liver Cleansing
Dosage: 2 capsules daily
Brand: Thislyn is a good brand. Anything with 70-80% silmaryn
Notes: Recommended by Shonda Parker

As Soon as Pregnancy is Confirmed

WHOLE FOODS DIET, cont’d
Purpose: Cleansing, health
Dosage:
Brand:
Notes:

WATER WITH LEMON, cont’d
Purpose: Liver cleanser
Dosage: Lots and lots and lots and lots!!
Brand:
Notes: Recommended by Shonda Parker

PRENATAL VITAMIN
Purpose: General nutrition, folic acid
Dosage: One daily
Brand: Possibly something without iron???
Notes:

PRO-BIOTICS
Purpose: GI health and general health
Dosage: Acidophilus (2 tablets with every meal) and yogurt
Brand:
Notes:

OMEGA-3
Purpose: General health
Dosage: 2-4 capsules of fish oil daily
Brand: Possibly NOW?
Notes: Is this needed if I’m doing the Entrox EFA supplement?

DICLECTIN REPLICA:
- Start with 4 doses per day, up to 6, then up to 8 with OB’s supervision. Standard timing is one morning, one mid-day, two at night

B-COMPLEX SUPPLEMENT
Purpose: Morning sickness prevention
Dosage: 10 mg four times per day (not sure if should do B-complex or B6 alone). This dose is to replicate Diclectin. It is safe to take up to 200 mg of B6, so I’d probably take more
Brand:
Notes:

UNISOM (DOXYLAMINE SUCCINATE)
Purpose: Morning sickness prevention
Dosage: 10 mg four times per day, taken with the b-complex (cut 25 mg pills in half)
Brand:
Notes:

VITAMIN C
Purpose: Absorption
Dosage: Take a little bit with the B-complex and unisom
Brand:
Notes:

MILK THISTLE
Purpose: Liver Cleansing
Dosage: Increase to 3 capsules daily
Brand: Thislyn is a good brand. Anything with 70-80% silmaryn
Notes: Recommended by Shonda Parker

WILD YAM
Purpose: NVP prevention
Dosage: (1) 3 capsules per day, (2) 1-2 tsp. dried extract three times daily, (3) 2-4 mL tincture three times daily)
Brand:
Notes:

DANDELION
Purpose: Cleansing, health, NVP Prevention
Dosage: As directed on bottle?
Brand:
Notes:

MORNING SICKNESS BALM BY MOUNTAIN MEADOW HERBS
Purpose: NVP prevention
Dosage: As directed on bottle
Brand:
Notes: http://www.mountainmeadowherbs.com/morning-sickness-balm-p-32.html?osCsid=8792a1b5dfaa82954bd35f5bd4534f0b

GINGER
Purpose: NVP prevention
Dosage: 1,000 mg every 2-3 hours as needed, no more than 20,000 mg per day
Brand:
Notes: Shonda Parker

ENTROX
Purpose: NVP prevention; this is an EFA supplement
Dosage: 3 caps per day with meals
Brand:
Notes: Shonda Parker

ABSORBAID
Purpose: NVP prevention; this is an enzyme supplement
Dosage: 2 caps three times daily with meals
Brand:
Notes: Shonda Parker


SPECIFICALLY FOR NVP

LEGUMES
Purpose: Supposedly helps deal with nausea
Dosage:
Brand:
Notes: http://www.karenhurd.com/morningsickness.html

BREASTFEEDING
Purpose: Helps some women with nausea
Dosage:
Brand:
Notes: Reference – Midwifery Today

GINGER
Purpose: NVP prevention
Dosage: 1,000 mg every 2-3 hours as needed, no more than 20,000 mg per day – or till you can taste it!
Brand:
Notes:

MORNINGWELL CD
Purpose: Supposedly helps deal with nausea
Dosage:
Brand:
Notes:

CHIROPRACTIC CARE
Purpose: For NVP
Dosage:
Brand:
Notes:

ACUPRESSURE/ACUPUNCTURE
Purpose: For NVP
Dosage:
Brand:
Notes:

HOMEOPATHICS
Purpose: For NVP
Dosage:
Brand:
Notes:

PHARMACEUTICALS
Purpose: For NVP
Dosage: Under an OB’s care
Brand:
Notes:

FALSE UNICORN TINCTURE
Purpose: For NVP
Dosage: ½ - 1 tsp. tincture or ½-1/4 tsp. (1-2 g) extract three times daily
Brand:
Notes:

OTHER HERBS
Purpose: For NVP
Dosage:
Brand: alfalfa, basil, black horehound, chamomile, ginger, lavender, peppermint, peach leaf, wild yam root, red raspberry leaf, yellow dock
Notes:

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Of course, when I say that it didn't work, I mean the parts that I got around to. I didn't get around to everything - too sick! So don't write off what was written, as it really did have a lot of research behind it and might help someone. Just not me!

I thought my HG plans/protocols were pretty good... until I saw other people's plans! If you go to www.helpher.org and read the forums, you will see a lot of pre-conception plans. Two HG bloggers have published theirs as well, and they are excellent.... and light years beyond mine. Please take a few minutes to check them out:

Knocked Up, Knocked Over: The Protocol

(Also, check out her "The HG Kit" - WOW!)

While you're at it, "Knocked Up, Knocked Over" could really use your thoughts, prayers, and written encouragement - she is in the middle of a really bad time with HG. Head over and leave your love if you have a moment.

And here is the other pre-conception plan:

Island of Grief, Mountain of Joy

So.... Have any of you other mamas out there made lists and action plans? I think it's a smart thing to do, especially the "to do before trying to conceive" ones. Lists make me feel better, even if nothing on them helps.

What do you think?