Messages By: hgbabies

I wanted to take a moment and tell my story with hyperemesis. I have five children and had hyperemesis with every one. Most pregnancies I had hyperemesis the whole nine months. I am not an advocate for abortion, and was horrified that I even considered it, with each pregnancy. It scared me to death! I thought I was going to die and the only way I could stay alive would be to abort my baby. It was not until my fifth pregnancy that I understood that these feelings were a part of the horrible disease I had. It was not me!  I was lucky to be able to walk from my bed to the bathroom. I was the main breadwinner in the family, and we often found ourselves in serious money problems due to the fact I could not work. When I did go to work, I was always counseled for not being fast enough, not being there, and not doing a good job. I was told that others were pregnant and working and doing fine, so why couldn't I? I had a few nurses tell me that I had to realize when I was pregnant, I had to accept that there would be days I did not feel well. I had friends talk about how terrible they felt in their pregnancies, but they would never take medication because it was too dangerous for the baby. With tears in my eyes, I knew that I had to have the medication because I would die without it. I was unable to drink or eat anything. Oftentimes my husband would beg me to just eat something. I couldn't. 

I still have many food aversions, and not just one or two, but several! I still cannot drink water, it makes me throw up. I cannot watch someone throw up or I revert back to those horrible days when I was pregnant. When my kids get sick, my husband has to take care of them if they vomit. I am a nurse and cannot handle it when patients vomit. I try, but it is hard. I have learned, though, to not judge what my patients are going through. I am a better nurse because of what I went through. I would not wish it on anyone, but it has helped me to be a stronger person. I try with all my might to get the word out to nursing students (whom I teach) about hyperemesis and how to treat those with it. I am a part of the mother's forum for HER for that is where I have my greatest friends! They helped me with this last pregnancy. And so now it is my turn to help others.

Thank you so much for doing this show. The word needs to get out! Thanks again!