Let’s take a dive into the often overlooked and underestimated condition known as Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG). If you’re unfamiliar with HG, you’re not alone. Frequently overshadowed by its milder counterpart, morning sickness, HG is a severe form of nausea and vomiting experienced during pregnancy that can have a debilitating impact on expecting mothers. However, HG is more than just “morning sickness on steroids” – it’s a complicated and potentially life-threatening condition that necessitates understanding, support, and proper medical care.
Hop aboard the rollercoaster ride with Dasha as she bravely battles nausea, unstoppable vomiting, and the all-consuming fatigue that comes with HG. Her story is a powerful reminder of the grit and courage it takes to face this tough condition head-on and come out victorious.
Hi, my name is Dasha. I am a mom to four beautiful children and a 4x HG Survivor.
My first baby is 12 years old and that is when my HG journey began.
My husband and I were married for two years at that time and got super excited when we found out about our pregnancy. I thought the hard part was over – we were pregnant.
I was at work when it happened the first time – nausea for the whole day and uncontrollable vomiting. I set a garbage can by my desk and kept on puking into it every few hours. I wrote it off as a bad day and went home to sleep it off…. except….I could not. The nausea never left me.
With each new day the nausea only intensified, and the vomiting continued, and I began to run out of food options that sounded appealing. I was developing intense aversion for food and liquids. By the end of the week, I was completely exhausted, hadn’t eaten in days and could barely keep some soda down. I ended up in the ER with severe dehydration. I was given 3 liters of fluid and some Zofran for nausea. I felt better for 24 hours until the HG Beast returned to torment me again.
I brought my horrible symptoms to my OB during my next appointment and was brushed off with the words: “Nausea and Vomiting are normal in the first trimester of pregnancy, tough it out”. I asked him for some anti-nausea medication that I was previously given in the ER and was told that he does not think I needed it. I continued to suffer with my pregnancy, except now I was also thinking that I am a weak woman and mother and began to hide my horrible symptoms.
The weight was coming off rapidly too; I was losing a few pounds a week. My relationships began to suffer starting with my marriage. All I had the energy to do was to lay in bed and be miserable. The only time the symptoms left me was when I was sleeping. Friends and family saw my suffering but often I just overheard them saying “She is weak” and those words wounded me deeply.
I went on with carrying my entire pregnancy this way…. miserable, crying daily and vomiting. My vomiting was so hard that I would always lose control of my bowels; it was humiliating. I was only 22 years old at that time and it felt like my life was over. I was missing out on the Joy of pregnancy and dealing with a severe, undiagnosed, unsupported sickness instead.
This lasted for months, until I felt a little bit of relief around 32 weeks of pregnancy. I suddenly was able to eat again and drink some of the liquids, but not water. I lost 35 pounds during my pregnancy and only began to slowly gain a few in my late third trimester. My doctor completely ignored all my symptoms and weight loss. I suffered with HG without knowing a thing about it…I thought this was just a normal pregnancy and I am a weak woman….
I delivered a healthy baby girl at 39 weeks of pregnancy. She weighed 10 pounds! I was shocked that was possible considering my poor and at times non-existent diet. I ended up accidentally delivering with another doctor (mine went on vacation) and really liked my experience with him. Although HG did not come up, he was attenuative, he listened, and he never made me feel like something is wrong with me.
I vividly remember the feeling of placenta leaving my body and with it the HG leaving my body too. I was immediately hungry and thirsty. As I type this, I remember dreaming at night about drinking and eating and waking up to my stomach hurting from hunger and thrust with bouts of nausea and vomiting. That dream came true when my baby finally arrived, and I enjoyed a feast! I remember feeling totally like my old self and had a huge rush of happiness wash over me. I carried on raising my daughter and living my life until two years later we decided to have another child.
HG came back at the six week mark, BUT this time I had another doctor, who immediately caught on to my rapid weight loss and reports of extreme nausea and vomiting. I was immediately placed on weekly IV infusions for hydration and vitamins, as well as continuous Zofran prescription. I felt so confident and supported this time around, however, HG came back stronger, and this pregnancy was much more challenging than the first one. However, that is a story for another day.
The reason why I wanted to share my story is to raise the awareness about HG and to help women recognize a difference between coping and struggling. I was struggling and alone during my first pregnancy. No mama deserves to struggle. With proper diagnosis and treatment, we can try to cope with horrible HG. Most of the times treatment does not take away the symptoms but it helps us to go from struggling to coping and before you know it, you will be holding your sweet baby in your hands and the horrors of HG will be behind you. Good luck mama, you got this! One day, one hour at a time and you will get there.
I am now a doula who helps moms on their journeys. I am especially passionate about working with mamas struggling from HG, as I know how lonely and horrible that path is. I reside in Boise, ID with my husband and four kids ages 12,10,6 and 2. I am grateful for the miracle of my kids and that my body survived four HG pregnancies and I delivered healthy children. I am grateful to be a birth-worker who witnesses a miracle of birth while providing families with vital support.
If I could take away one positive thing after surviving HG four times is that it taught me to fall in love with life and appreciate the smallest of things. In the end, HG did not destroy me – it actually brought more Joy and meaning to my life.
To learn more about Dasha, you can visit her website at www.lalanterne-mama.com . You can also follow her on Facebook. Dasha is located in Boise, ID and attends births in Seattle, WA parts of the year as well.
Dasha shared a post on her Instagram that gives even more insight to her experience with HG if you would like to learn more about what happened to her.
If you are struggling with HG or would like more information, please visit HER Foundation.
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