Fearing HG

In early 2016 while training at a new job, I began throwing up. It was out of nowhere, and came on very sudden. I had not missed a period, however, my most recent one had been very light and abnormal. I decided to go home and take a pregnancy test anyway, sure enough it was positive!! I was extremely excited because I have always wanted to be a mother, though this pregnancy was not planned.

The vomiting worsened! Before being able to see my OB/Gyn I was hospitalized twice for dehydration. I couldn’t keep anything down. No amounts of food or water would sit well with me. When I finally got in to see my OB he estimated I was 7wks (meaning the nausea/vomiting started approx 5wks) and I was already down 15lbs from my pre-pregnancy weight (215lbs) in just two weeks!! With how much I got sick and the amount of weight lost I was diagnosed with having Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG) by 9wks.

I tried every remedy in the books with absolutely no relief. No combination of medications would help. I chose not to get a PIC line put in my arm and also chose not to have a Zofran pump attached to my stomach (the Zofran didn’t help any so I didn’t think the constant pumping of the meds in me would help either) due to the place I was living at the time.

With no relief and constant puking, a woman (with seniority) at my job complained about me to the higher ups and I was let go 5mo into the pregnancy (I had no legal grounds to fight the termination because I was still labeled a temp which was supposed to change after 2mo employment). I stressed out even more because I needed that job I needed an income to provide for this child. NO ONE would hire me. I had about 7 interviews at different places but because I was already farther along and having such bad morning sickness I remained unemployed.

In total I had about 10 hospital stays (varying 24hrs/1week at a time.) I went full term (which was surprising because of the severe dehydration) and had a healthy baby boy. During delivery however, he was under a lot of stress and had to be taken to NICU so I didn’t get to bond with him right away. I lost 33% of my body weight. From 215 pre to 140 one month PP.

I have since put on 20lbs and am up to 160 (my delivery weight) and am FEARING developing HG again and I would absolutely LOVE to have another child. I’m so afraid though, the pain I endured, the taste of my own stomach acid, the cavities I’ve developed, I’m just not positive I can relive this nightmare.

This was my first pregnancy (no prior miscarriages or abortions) and all the research I’ve done regarding HG (though there are still so many unknowns about this disorder) indicates any future pregnancies I may have will result in HG being more severe than the first time. This scares me. I have been actively TTC for about two months even though this fear of HG weighs heavy on me.

Have any of you ladies had HG with multiple pregnancies? If you had it with your first pregnancy did you have it anytime after?