The Effect of Guided Imagery and Diaphragmatic Breathing Exercise on the Severity of Nausea, Vomiting and Anxiety Level in Pregnants With Hyperemesis Gravidarum

1. INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE Pregnancy-related nausea and vomiting are attacks that occur in the first half of pregnancy, accompanied by occasional nausea and vomiting. Hyperemesis gravidarum is a clinical picture of unknown etiology and without standardization in its diagnosis and treatment. Hyperemesis gravidarum, on the other hand, although not a universally accepted definition, can generally be defined as a condition that causes a loss of 5% of the pre-pregnancy weight before the 20th gestational week, with vomiting severe enough to require hospitalization. It usually begins in early pregnancy (at 4-8 weeks) and lasts until the start of the second trimester. Hyperemesis gravidarum is seen in approximately 0.3-2% of pregnancies and is one of the most common causes of hospital admission in the first half of pregnancy.

In the treatment of hyperemesis gravidarum, there are many non-pharmacological treatment methods as well as pharmacological methods. Alternatively, some non-pharmacological applications can be used alone or in combination with drug therapy as an adjunctive treatment option to control nausea and vomiting. These non-pharmacological methods; diet, music therapy, daydreaming, and hypnosis. In addition to these applications, there are also applications such as social support groups, regular exercise, vitamin drugs, aromatherapy, yoga, ginger root tea, breathing exercises, acupuncture, and reflexology/foot massage in controlling nausea and vomiting. Among these alternatives, non-pharmacological treatment methods are breathing exercises and guided imagery. There are studies showing that guided imagery and breathing exercise practices reduce stress and anxiety in pregnant women, increase their well-being, are beneficial to their daily lives, positively contribute to mother-baby bonding, and reduce pain in high-risk pregnant women.

However, as a result of the literature review, it was seen that there was no study investigating the effects of guided imagery and diaphragmatic breathing exercise on the severity of nausea, vomiting, and anxiety level in pregnant women with hyperemesis gravidarum. Therefore, the aim of the researchers is to determine the effects of guided imagery and diaphragmatic breathing exercise application on nausea, vomiting severity, and anxiety level in pregnant with hyperemesis gravidarum.

HYPOTHESES

The hypotheses of this study are: