How I Survived Hyperemesis Gravidarum (really, really bad pregnancy sickness)

Two months ago, we found out the most wonderful news.  Two months ago, I started to show signs of morning sickness.  I didn’t know then that the next six weeks were going to be possibly the worse weeks I’ve ever had to endure.  When I was pregnant with Aiden, I had pretty bad morning sickness during the first trimester.  I was given medication and over the weeks, it was manageable and finally passed.  This time around, it has been three times worse.  I was diagnosed with Hyperemesis gravidarum.  I didn’t know it existed. I didn’t know that women suffered through such debilitating sickness; I didn’t know that for some it is their entire pregnancy long.

For two months, I was not able to keep fluids or little amounts of food down regularly. I was in and out of the Emergency and Doctor’s offices – for IVs, for blood work, for prescriptions, for reassurance.

My husband was by my side, carrying me, bringing me small glasses of pedialyte and giving me the courage to try to drink, in spite of the fear of throwing it all up again. Some days I lost my voice, some days I was too dizzy to stand up, some days I would cry and my tears were so salty they burned my eyes.  I thought of all the women who have gone through this. I thought how brave they are. I thought that if they could do it, I could too.  I thought that it would never end.

My darling Aiden would come to me in bed and stroke my arm. He would put his hand on mine and pray for me. He would give me a kiss and say ‘all better Mama’. It would break my heart and strengthen me at the same time. My mom was in France for six weeks over the worse of it, but she would call me and pray with me. She would write me emails daily and give me such encouragement.  My family reached out to me and sent me all their love.

For the past week, the vomiting and nausea is less.  I’ve been able to keep small meals and fluids. I was able to enjoy Father’s Day with my family and have begun to feel the relief I so desperately prayed for. My spirit is uplifted and hope has begun to flood my heart again. Hope, that this pregnancy will turn around and I will start feeling like myself again. Hope, that the darkest days have past.

And how about this growing angel in my belly?  After many routine and emergency ultrasounds – I’m happy to report that our baby is in fine form.  Doctors tell me that she/he is blissfully unaware of any hardship I’ve encountered.  All functions, measurements, heartbeat and movements reflect a healthy baby. To know this is a huge comfort and fills me with joy – that this Little One is ours and one day not so long from now, we will have a beautiful addition to our family. I look forward to the first kick, the belly hiccups, and feeling the somersaults. I’ll be sure to write more about my overwhelming excitement soon!

What has surviving the horror of HG taught me? I think it’s too soon, too raw to tell. My body is stronger than I ever imagined. It’s taken an involuntary beating that I thought would never cease. My spirit is indeed mightier than my flesh. My heart goes out to the mothers who are going through Hyperemesis gravidarum. The only thing that has helped me and continues to carry me, is taking it one day at a time.  Prayer, family, friends, and making it to the hospital for IVs –  have also helped me along. Help HER is a foundation dedicated to the education and research of HG and is another support tool that I turned to.

As I move further along into the 2nd trimester (15 weeks at this time) my hope is that I will have turned a new leaf and the health and radiance that I experienced in my first pregnancy will be on their way.  I look forward to a return of energy and a healing of the ordeal that I am coming out of. There is no doubt that days of retching, dehydration and permanent nausea took their toll on me – but as I am able to rest, restore fluids daily, and get the nutrients my body needs, I know I will be more and more like myself each day.

Thank you to my family, friends, and blogging pals who checked in on me and sent me their love regularly.

I hope to begin blogging again soon. I have a few posts that I was working on pre-HG that I am going to roll out in the near future.

xo!

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Emily Smith

Emily Smith is the Editor of The Best of This Life who has been writing in the lifestyle niche and creating delicious recipes for over 10 years. Her work has been featured on BRIT + CO, Today's Parent, Chatelaine, Huffington Post, The Pioneer Woman, and Food Bloggers of Canada. She writes about family, food, entertaining, home decor, wellness, travel and a litany of other topics. She loves sharing her three core values - love life, live well, share the beauty - and encourages her readers to enjoy the best of their lives every day. She lives in Ottawa with her loving husband, two darling children, and dreams of one day owning a puppy. 

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