Not just morning sickness

I just learned about something called Hyperemesis Gravidarum. It is chronic vomiting during pregnancy. To the point where it is life threatening. I discovered a new blog that described what this illness entails.

I had a friend who vomited throughout her pregnancy and was admitted to the hospital at one point for dehydration. Her baby was born healthy but she struggled. I don't know if she was ever specifically diagnosed with this disease, but I know she went through a lot of pain. I remember one story she told about the orange drink they give you for the gestational diabetes test they do on pregnant women. She could barely keep it down. She said as she was driving home she was focusing on not puking, then as soon as she pulled in the driveway she got out and was on her hands and knees puking in the grass in front of her house. Her son in a gesture of solidarity was right next to her pretending to puke with her.

Myself, well, I was nauseous my entire pregnancy. There was a period of about 2 weeks at the end of the second trimester where I wasn't nauseous, but after that it came back. I never vomited, only once or twice, but the chronic nausea was annoying. So although I can't fully experience what women with Hyperemesis Gravidarum do, I can understand that constant feeling like you are going to barf.

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