I have never heard of hyperemesis gravidarum before my doctor concluded that I am unfortunately suffering from it. Yes, suffering is an understatement and there is no better word to describe it. For starters, hyperemesis gravidarum is when pregnancy makes you violently ill - excessive nausea, vomiting (sometimes more than 10 times each day), several trips to the emergency room, dehydration, medications with several side effects, and the list goes on and on. I did not put on weight and until now I am still not back to my pre-pregnancy weight.
WHAT IS HYPEREMESIS GRAVIDARUM?
Hyperemesis gravidarum is a condition characterised by severe nausea, excessive vomiting, weight loss, and electrolyte disturbance. Mild cases are treated with dietary changes, rest and antacids. More sever cases often require a stay in the hospital so that the mother can receive fluid and nutrition through an intravenous (IV) line. -AmericanPregnancy.Org
Hyperemis gravidarum usually begins at between four weeks and seven weeks, easing off at between 14 weeks and 16 weeks of pregnancy. In most cases, HG will end by the 20th week. Unfortunately, for between 10% and 20% of sufferers, HG goes on to last for the whole pregnancy. -Babycentre.co.uk
MY HG STORY
I have often quipped that having a baby will be my self-actualisation but it never occurred to me that hyperemesis gravidarum will be robbing me of the joys of pregnancy. There were times that I would be wallowing in self-pity because I don't feel normal at all and I would hear comments that everything is just psychological and that it's all in my mind. I just shrug it off and try to find support from my husband and my family and stories of other women who also had HG at some point.
There were times that nausea just reduces me to be holed up in bed. There would be days that I won't shower because I would feel like I would faint in the bathroom. Every time I see a sink I would retch. Every time I smell something strong I would retch. Just a couple of minutes after I finish eating, I would rush to the bathroom to throw up with tears rolling down my cheeks until the vomit is clear. Those moments would make me feel guilty that I am not providing enough nutrients for my baby. It was a nightmare that I wasn't prepared for. My husband tried to talk me several times to quit my night-shift job and I finally decided to agree to take a medical leave until after I give birth after my second hospital confinement.
I also felt that hyperemesis gravidarum did not let me enjoy the first few kicks of my little one because it felt like every time she kicks, the nausea sets off. I think that it was extremely unfair for me to suffer this much. There were times when I felt like giving up and there were several times that I told my husband that this will be my first and last pregnancy because the risk is very high for me to have HG again on my next pregnancies (just like Kate Middleton).
ROAD TO RECOVERY
I am now on my 28th week of pregnancy and I can say that my condition has improved to say the least at the onset of my 26th week (vomiting is now reduced to at least 2-3 times each day). I have been resting a lot (zero work stress at that) and I have been eating on time. I have also regained my taste for water and I am starting to feel hunger pangs and thirst. I have never ever felt hungry nor thirsty before my 26th week maybe because I was fearful that I will just vomit everything I eat or drink. The metallic taste in my mouth has also disappeared so I can now drink either natural or mineral water.
My focus now is not so much on hyperemesis gravidarum as I pretty much got used to it (if I may say so). I am now monitoring my sugar level as I was recently diagnosed to have gestational diabetes as well as GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease).
I am constantly praying that the next few weeks of my pregnancy until I finally give birth to our little one can only get better. I have been through a very difficult ordeal and I know that this will all be worth it when I finally see and hold our little princess, Baby VS.
Yes, I know and I am claiming it - things will only get better!
WHAT IS HYPEREMESIS GRAVIDARUM?
Hyperemesis gravidarum is a condition characterised by severe nausea, excessive vomiting, weight loss, and electrolyte disturbance. Mild cases are treated with dietary changes, rest and antacids. More sever cases often require a stay in the hospital so that the mother can receive fluid and nutrition through an intravenous (IV) line. -AmericanPregnancy.Org
| Morning Sickness: | Hyperemesis Gravidarum: |
| Nausea sometimes accompanied by vomiting | Nausea accompanied by severe vomiting |
| Nausea that subsides at 12 weeks or soon after | Nausea that does not subside |
| Vomiting that does not cause severe dehydration | Vomiting that causes severe dehydration |
| Vomiting that allows you to keep some food down | Vomiting that does not allow you to keep any food down |
MY HG STORY
I have often quipped that having a baby will be my self-actualisation but it never occurred to me that hyperemesis gravidarum will be robbing me of the joys of pregnancy. There were times that I would be wallowing in self-pity because I don't feel normal at all and I would hear comments that everything is just psychological and that it's all in my mind. I just shrug it off and try to find support from my husband and my family and stories of other women who also had HG at some point.
There were times that nausea just reduces me to be holed up in bed. There would be days that I won't shower because I would feel like I would faint in the bathroom. Every time I see a sink I would retch. Every time I smell something strong I would retch. Just a couple of minutes after I finish eating, I would rush to the bathroom to throw up with tears rolling down my cheeks until the vomit is clear. Those moments would make me feel guilty that I am not providing enough nutrients for my baby. It was a nightmare that I wasn't prepared for. My husband tried to talk me several times to quit my night-shift job and I finally decided to agree to take a medical leave until after I give birth after my second hospital confinement.
I also felt that hyperemesis gravidarum did not let me enjoy the first few kicks of my little one because it felt like every time she kicks, the nausea sets off. I think that it was extremely unfair for me to suffer this much. There were times when I felt like giving up and there were several times that I told my husband that this will be my first and last pregnancy because the risk is very high for me to have HG again on my next pregnancies (just like Kate Middleton).
ROAD TO RECOVERY
I am now on my 28th week of pregnancy and I can say that my condition has improved to say the least at the onset of my 26th week (vomiting is now reduced to at least 2-3 times each day). I have been resting a lot (zero work stress at that) and I have been eating on time. I have also regained my taste for water and I am starting to feel hunger pangs and thirst. I have never ever felt hungry nor thirsty before my 26th week maybe because I was fearful that I will just vomit everything I eat or drink. The metallic taste in my mouth has also disappeared so I can now drink either natural or mineral water.
My focus now is not so much on hyperemesis gravidarum as I pretty much got used to it (if I may say so). I am now monitoring my sugar level as I was recently diagnosed to have gestational diabetes as well as GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease).
I am constantly praying that the next few weeks of my pregnancy until I finally give birth to our little one can only get better. I have been through a very difficult ordeal and I know that this will all be worth it when I finally see and hold our little princess, Baby VS.
Yes, I know and I am claiming it - things will only get better!
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