Doctors did not know what was wrong. At first, they thought I ate something bad, but after two days in the hospital, they diagnosed me with Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG). My world turned upside down quickly after my diagnosis with an HG pregnancy. I was vomiting 20 times a day. My throat was on fire. My stomach constantly hurt. I was always dehydrated. I was admitted to the ER more times than I can remember.
I lost my daughter at 26 weeks and suffered from many complications: preeclampsia, hemorrhage, infection/sepsis, premature delivery, severe dental damage, damage to my throat/stomach, PMADs, PTSD, Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome, gastroparesis, and cardiac complications.
HG Pregnancy
The hospital finally told me that they couldn’t treat me at the hospital anymore and sent me home with a PICC line. A nurse came once a week. I was on TPN, Protonix, Benadryl, Zofran, Reglan, IV fluids, and Pepcid everyday. I had to have my PICC line removed because of infection, so I got a feeding tube placed through my nose. The feeding tube only lasted for 2 days because I was still throwing up and couldn’t stand the tube in my nose. I got another PICC line. I felt scared to drink anything. I walked around with a cup in my hand just in case I would vomit. I had low potassium and problems with my heart. I had to get iron infusions at the cancer center.
Child loss
When I was 26 weeks, I went to the hospital for a check up, and the doctors said that the baby’s heart rate was high. They thought I was dehydrated, so they sent me to the ER. Once I got there, they monitored the baby and told me that night that they might have to do an emergency C-section.
The next morning, my daughter was born by emergency C-section. She was beautiful. It took them hours to work on her. Two days later, she passed away. It was devastating. My world turned upside down.
I blamed myself for having HG, and I suffered for months after delivery. I started at 216 lbs. in the beginning of my pregnancy and went down to 180. After I had my daughter, I still suffered with nausea and vomiting. It lasted for 3 months postpartum. I went from 180 to 130. I was weaker than I was when I was pregnant. I lost my job, my daughter, and myself due to HG.
HG Pregnancy Support
My partner was my biggest supporter but suffered a lot during this journey as well. We want to have a baby more than anything, but we are afraid of trying. Doctors told me that I could go through this again. Another thing that hindered us from trying again was our daughter’s autopsy report that said she had a significant brain bleed due to the HG. Also the TPN had a huge role, and there was a huge vitamin K deficiency.
Losing my daughter still affects me to this day. Hearing about other women being pregnant and having their babies make it to full term makes me sad. I am happy for them and glad they did not suffer how I did, but I am also hurt because there wasn’t anything I wanted more in the world than to just have my daughter and not have to suffer from HG.
I hope and pray that there will be a cure one day and people will get the help and support that they need. I hope that nobody has to go through what I went through. I hope to build a family one day and not be terrified to suffer from HG and lose my child from it again.
I found the HER Foundation after losing my daughter, and I learned that I am not alone. I tell others to donate and that the HER Foundation helps woman that suffer from HG.
GET INVOLVED
- Participate in HG research.
- Become an advocate.
- Make a gift to the HER Foundation.
- Share your story and support other HG moms.
- Become a HER Foundation volunteer.
- Blog about HG and show support for HER.
- Share HER resources with local health professionals and hospitals.
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