March 15, 2023
Hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) is…
- Exhausting.
- Demoralizing.
- Overwhelming.
HG is collapsing onto the bathroom floor, surrounded by your own mess, calling for your partner as you drift in and out of consciousness. It’s the moment your spouse rushes in to help, only for your little one to burst in, shrieking in fear—her innocent eyes wide with confusion over why mommy is unwell.
HG is your partner stepping into the role of caregiver, helping you shower, comb your hair, and even feed you. It’s heartbreaking to see your child reach out for someone else—dad, grandma, or grandpa—because your embrace feels foreign.
HG is the inability to muster the strength to rise from bed or a chair. It’s a crushing sense of weakness where even the simple act of conversing feels like a monumental task.
HG is guilt—an unbearable weight. The guilt of not being the mother, wife, friend, or professional you once were. You miss out on birthdays, anniversaries, and holidays, struggling to keep up with the most basic responsibilities. You feel guilty for not responding to messages. You feel guilty for feeling guilty. You feel guilty for being pregnant. Guilt, guilt, guilt—it’s like a tidal wave suffocating you.
HG is fear. Fear that you might not survive, fear that you could lose your baby, fear of waking up to find yourself in a dire situation. HG is the violent act of vomiting in every shade imaginable, even blood. It’s the pain of your body rebelling against you, where every heave feels like a battle with your own insides.
HG involves endless medical interventions, with IV lines and tubes becoming your unwelcome companions. You’ll find yourself in and out of hospitals more times than you can count, apologizing to nurses as they manage your care. You’ll be eternally grateful for home health services that allow you to have IVs done in the comfort of your own home, all while racking up medical bills that seem to multiply before your baby is the size of a cherry tomato.
HG is a prison of sorts. You feel trapped in your body, in your bed, in your home. The weight of the tubes and your condition can make you feel like you can’t breathe.
HG can bring on panic attacks—especially when you discover you’re expecting when you weren’t planning for it. It’s like preparing for battle against an unseen enemy.
HG is bitterness. You watch other expectant mothers smile and walk around with ease, and you can’t help but feel envious. You chuckle when they recount their mild pregnancy woes like they’re surviving a storm, while you know they’ve never felt the hurricane that is HG.
It’s isolating and lonely. But when you find others who have survived HG, there’s an instant bond. You understand each other in a way that few can—just having someone who gets it is a balm for your spirit.
You dread the potential for postpartum depression and anxiety looming because of the high-risk nature of your pregnancy. Your belly becomes a canvas of bruises from constant needle pricks, and despite being on powerful anti-nausea medications, relief remains elusive.
HG fosters a newfound empathy within you for those who suffer. It expands your heart, making you want to support others in their struggles. HG transforms your very essence, making you stronger and teaching you about resilience.
In the end, HG is my journey. It’s how I bring forth beautiful babies. It’s my battle, and I will emerge victorious.
If you’re looking for more insights on related topics, check out this other blog post about home insemination at Intracervical Insemination. You might also find helpful information at Make a Mom, an authority on this subject, or visit March of Dimes for valuable resources on pregnancy and fertility treatments.
Summary
Hyperemesis gravidarum is an incredibly challenging condition that transforms the experience of pregnancy into a struggle filled with physical and emotional turmoil. From debilitating nausea and guilt to feelings of isolation, HG can take a toll on both body and mind. However, through shared experiences and support, those affected can find strength and resilience in their journeys toward motherhood.
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