Hyperemesis Gravidarum
When I finally had that positive pregnancy test, I couldn’t have been happier. I was scared and excited. Scared that I would lose this baby and that the third loss would mean something was wrong with me. I quickly rushed to get an ultrasound to make sure the pregnancy was viable.
At 6 weeks I had just started having morning sickness and I thought nothing of it, typical pregnancy symptom, right? If only I knew it would be much worse and for much longer after that.
During the ultrasound, I was told it’s twins! I cried tears of joys as I saw their heartbeats pumping fast and moving around. In the following weeks, I couldn’t keep anything down. I could barely eat a cracker and have any water or juice. I scheduled an appointment with an OBGYN and was diagnosed with hyperemesis gravidarum (HG).
I had all of the symptoms of HG including:
- Severe nausea and vomiting

- Food aversions

- Weight loss of 5% or more of pre-pregnancy weight

- Decrease in urination

- Dehydration

- Headaches

- Confusion

- Fainting

- Jaundice
- 
Extreme fatigue
- 
Low blood pressure

- Rapid heart rate

- Loss of skin elasticity

- Secondary anxiety/depression
Within a week, I dropped from my pre-pregnancy weight of 133 pounds to just 108 pounds. My doctor was extremely concerned and rushed me to the ER for IV fluids. As the weeks went on, more ER visits were needed along with medications because my weight was hardly increasing, my urination was infrequent, my heart rate was too fast and blood pressure would not lower. I would feel dizzy and extremely fatigued even while taking anti-nausea meds and drinking plenty of water. I had so much fear about losing the babies, being too weak to continue and enjoying my pregnancy. I could not get inside a car without vomiting. I would throw up if I did any sort of U-turn, half circle or full circle.
The hyperemesis gravidarum finally subsided when I reached to 19 weeks, thankfully I don’t have the same depression, nausea or headaches it once gave me. I am so grateful and lucky that it subsided and didn’t continue my whole pregnancy. It had given me so many concerns and doubts and now I can enjoy water, fruits and veggies and a full meal every course. Not everyone is so fortunate and HG can continue througout a pregnancy.
If you think you are experiencing HG (the signs are feeling extremely weak and unable to keep anything down at all), go to the ER or Urgent Care immediately to get IV fluids and meds until you can see your Midwife or OB-GYN.
Have you suffered from HG?
Lee is from San Francisco, California. She is a stay-at-home Mother to a toddler and expecting twins in October. She enjoys spending time with her significant other and children.
Maria wants to live in a world where cloth diapers are the norm and moms can make parenting choices without judgement. When she’s not chasing her 18, 14 and 11-year old kids around, you might find her checking out the latest gadgets, organizing something (again) or exercising in the fresh air. 
