Having HG during was one of the hardest experiences of my life. I could not stop vomiting, even when I wasn’t eating or drinking. The only relief I had was when I was asleep. The moment I woke up, a wave of darkness would come over me because I knew it was starting all over again.
Even thinking about it now brings me to tears because it truly felt like going through hell and somehow making it back out. This illness is far more serious than many people realize, and women suffering from it need real support, understanding, and medical care.
What HG felt like
HG is not “morning sickness,” and it should never be compared to it. The nonstop vomiting caused constant dehydration, pain, weakness, and a burning throat every single day. I could barely move, take care of myself, or function normally. It felt impossible to escape.
One of the hardest parts was having little to no help while going through it. There were times I was so weak and dizzy that I had to crawl with my eyes closed just to try to get to something I needed. Other times, all I could do was lie there and wait until someone came to help me. HG can leave you feeling completely helpless and stripped of your ability to function.
Another difficulty was trying to get my medication to help control the vomiting. Sometimes the doctor would prescribe medicine, but I would have to wait for insurance approval or for the pharmacy to have it available. When you are already suffering nonstop, waiting for medication feels like an endless nightmare. Every hour without relief feels unbearable.
I felt dismissed
What hurt the most was feeling like HG was not always taken seriously, despite how severe it truly is. There were many moments where I felt completely defeated and overwhelmed by the physical suffering. The only thing that kept me going was my baby. That love carried me through the darkest parts of both pregnancies.
Feeling dismissed by people who did not understand what HG truly was painful. Many would compare it to morning sickness and say things like, “Oh yeah, I had bad morning sickness too, but I still went to work.” They do not realize HG is completely different. This is not regular nausea. HG can leave you unable to stand, eat, drink, think clearly, or care for yourself normally. The lack of understanding made an already traumatic experience feel even more isolating.
I am sharing my story because women with HG deserve more awareness, compassion, urgency, and support. No mother should have to suffer through something this severe feeling unseen or dismissed.
I needed help
One of my biggest challenges was simply trying to help myself while being extremely sick and weak. There were times I could barely get up, felt dizzy and severely dehydrated, and my vision would become blurry from how sick I was. I often had little to no help, so I would be left waiting for hours until someone could come help me with basic things.
Another major challenge was trying to continue eating and drinking while my body rejected everything. I knew I still needed nutrition for my baby, even if I was throwing it back up, but finding the strength to keep trying every single day felt impossible at times.
Believe Us: we need you
If your loved one has HG, take care of them to the fullest. Do not wait for them to tell you what they need because many times they are too weak, dehydrated, exhausted, or mentally drained to even explain it. Just love them, support them, and care for them as much as possible. Even small acts of help can make a huge difference when someone is suffering that severely.
I also believe doctors and the medical system should treat HG as a serious medical emergency from the moment it is diagnosed, not simply diagnose it and send mothers home to suffer through it alone. Mothers with HG need immediate support, faster access to medication, hydration, monitoring, and real care. There should be more urgency and compassion around this illness. It should be treated as, “This mother is in serious trouble, and she needs help now.”
The importance of advocacy
I want people to truly understand how life-changing and traumatic HG can be. It is not something you simply “push through.” It can leave mothers physically weak, mentally exhausted, isolated, and feeling completely helpless. Even after pregnancy, the experience can stay with you emotionally because your body and mind remember that level of suffering. I also want other mothers going through HG to know that they are not weak, dramatic, or failing. HG can take away your ability to function normally, and surviving it takes an incredible amount of strength.
More awareness, research, medical support, and compassion are desperately needed for women facing this illness. I am grateful for the HER Foundation and how it brings awareness to HG and help mothers feel seen and understood. No woman should have to suffer through something this severe feeling dismissed or alone.
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