*Quick Disclaimer* During this 2nd pregnancy my Hyperemesis has been NOTHING LIKE some peoples is and NOTHING LIKE it was during my pregnancy with Addisyn. I had a few very rough weeks in the beginning, but I am blessed that God came through for me and I haven't been vomitting much at all recently.
What is Hyperemesis Gravidarum?
Hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) is a severe form of nausea and vomiting in pregnancy. It is generally described as unrelenting, excessive pregnancy-related nausea and/or vomiting that prevents adequate intake of food and fluids. If severe and/or inadequately treated, it is typically associated with:
-loss of greater than 5% of pre-pregnancy body weight (usually over 10%)
-dehydration and production of ketones
-nutritional deficiencies
-metabolic imbalances
-difficulty with daily activities
HG usually extends beyond the first trimester and may resolve by 21 weeks; however, it can last the entire pregnancy in less than half of these women.
Treating HG is very challenging and early intervention is critical. HG is a multifaceted disease that should be approached with a broad view of possible etiologies and complications. When treating mothers with HG, preventing and correcting nutritional deficiencies is a high priority to promote a healthy outcome for mother and child.
Among those women suffering from Hyperemesis, 55% admit to feelings of depression during pregnancy and up to 40% will end up terminating the pregnancy.
The previous information was taken from an AWESOME website www.helpHER.org. I do want to clarify that the HER (Hyperemesis Education and Research) foundation does not in any way encourage abortion as a treatment or solution for hyperemesis, although unfortunately many women choose abortion as a last resort. This website has detailed information on the disease itself, treatment and diagnosis, as well as forums, and support for husbands and family members. Many times I have read through the forums and cried at the desperation and discouragement of these women...and the fact that I could so relate! I was right there with them! Here are a few quotes from the forums:
"This is awful, it's the first day I don't feel like vomiting everywhere and I'm so incredibly tired I can't move my body enough to get out of bed. I asked my husband if I was this tired with our first, because, truly I don't remember anything other than being sick and he said that I would sleep for days at a time if I wasn't vomiting. How can I forget something like that, where can I find the strength to enjoy my family?"
"First of all, I would like to apologize for constantly venting. It's just so hard for me and I am not handling this very well...
I am now 11weeks +3d and see no sign of relief. I am getting more and more scared this life might be my reality for months to come. I am wondering what helps you mentally? How do you handle these thoughts? I cry daily and am so depressed."
"I am just having a pity party for myself, I guess... I am almost 10 wks and it seems so impossible to get through another 30 wks of this! I cry constantly, in between dry heaves and being so dehydrated my tongue is glued to the roof of my mouth. I try cramming in fluids bc I'm scared to death of having to go back to the ER for more IVs, when I just got out 2 days ago from my latest visit! I am depressed, stressed, sicker than I have ever been in my life, and I already love this baby so much that I can't stand the thought of aborting, but there is no end in sight to this! I just want to scream (and usually do) but I'm even too weak to do that. I keep getting suggestions to "try Saltines" and "it'll be over in a couple weeks" and I just want to cry because I know it won't help. I still have my job luckily, but for how long I don't know. How do you guys make the weeks pass and not lose your mind?! I already feel like I'm going insane! I'm on Reglan, Prilosec, Zofran, B6, and just stopped taking Unisom- none of it is working very well!!!!!! That ridiculous combo of drugs downgraded my HG from severe to "moderate" (Whatever that means, it doesn't FEEL moderate), but I still get sick, just not 30-40 times a day."
"In my first pregnancy I was sick but I still wanted to keep the baby. This time the sickness is worse and I hate this baby. I feel like I want to terminate this pregnancy but my husband and mom keep telling me not to talk like that and you can handle this. I don't feel I can. I just came out of hospital yesterday after having been rehydrated but this all feels too hard. How will I ever love a baby that I hate and resent so much at the moment?"
I ask that if you have some free time "surfing the web" please visit this link, www.helpher.org, and read up about Hyperemesis. You never know when you may encounter someone who is currently battling or has battled this disease. Please read through the forums...I promise it will break your heart. Pray for these women! I know from experience the only answer when life seems this dark is Jesus.
When Addisyn was about a year old, I had the opportunity of being introduced to a woman who was going through her 2nd pregnancy with Hyperemesis. She was the only other person I had ever met that had HG. I remember talking with her and the tears were streaming down her face as I could just "relate" to what she was going through, because I had been there. There was weeping as we talked about the physical pain that comes with throwing up for days on end... tears as we talked about the depression... and understanding silence when we admitted to each other that at times a miscarriage would've seemed like the miracle we had prayed for. I haven't spoken to this woman since that day, but i've never had a conversation with anyone like it. It was our only conversation we have ever had...but there was a connection. We understood a facet of each other's worlds that no one else understood...
When I get around to it, I am going to donate to the Hyperemesis Education and Research foundation so that I can get one of these bracelets as a "souvenir"... Mommy Strong.
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