Not many people know what Hypermesis Gravidarum is. Most people have never heard of it, I know I never did! I was diagnosed with Hyperemesis Gravidarum when I was only 6 weeks pregnant. It is a pregnancy complication that can be harmful to you and your child, it takes morning sickness to an entirely other level. It can cause weight loss, the need for IV fluids, and severe nausea and extreme vomiting. In some cases, it can also cause your child to not be able to get all of the nutrition she/he needs.
I spent my days waking up at 5am and throwing up until about 6pm. I could not eat or drink anything; water, ginger ale, fruits, dry foods, nothing helped. No matter what I ate, I would throw it up. It was pretty hard to meet my calorie intake when I just kept throwing everything up. I hated the advice people gave me, “Just eat crackers and drink ginger ale or club soda.” I’m sorry but no that does not help, stop telling me this. The doctors would just say I’m sorry but here’s an IV so you won’t be dehydrated. And man how that IV made me feel so much better!
I think I only gained about 28 pounds throughout my entire pregnancy. I still fit into my Size 5 jeans until I was 5 months pregnant. I was genuinely worried that my daughter was going to be small and not healthy but the doctors insisted that she would be fine. And she was! From 6 weeks pregnant until the moment I delivered my daughter I was throwing up. I threw up mid-delivery, but it helped her come out faster. 😛 It sucked. I was always exhausted, hungry, nauseous, and puking. But I got through it. I went to the doctor multiple times for IV fluids, I spent days upon days in bed or on the bathroom floor, and I could barely do anything.
In the end, I don’t even remember how I felt during my pregnancy. I don’t remember the feeling of the sickness or exhaustion because once I had my daughter and I knew she was okay, nothing else mattered. I was happy just having her in my arms and not being sick anymore. 🙂
Hyperemesis Gravidarum isn’t just another morning sickness symptom, it is a serious complication that can cause malnutrition, dehydration, exhaustion, extreme nausea and vomiting. It is a problem that not many people hear about, but it is so common it’s surprising that you don’t hear about it more often. If you are suffering from Hyperemesis Gravidarum keep trying to eat, even if you throw up, because you might just find that one thing you won’t throw up. 😛 And don’t give up! You are creating a life. It will take struggle and if you can’t handle this now, you might not be able to handle being a parent.
MrsCraftyMcStepmom
MrsCraftyMcStepmom 