It Ain't Easy Bein' Green

Oh, no sir, no ma'am, it absolutely isn't easy being green!

Introduction

My name is Becky. I'm a 31 year old stay-at-home mom, married 10 years with three children and a Baby Bug on the way (due sometime in October). My husband John and I were both born and raised in the deep South, but are currently living about 5 hours from most of our family.

I have suffered from Hyperemesis Gravidarum during all three of my term pregnancies. I've had two miscarriages (2007 and 2010) and had no symptoms of nausea during those short pregnancies  (8 and 6 weeks).


What is Hyperemesis Gravidarum?

 Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG) is a pregnancy illness that is thought to affect approximately 1% of the pregnant population. It is similar to morning sickness only in that is deals with nausea and vomiting. Unlike morning sickness, HG usually lasts morning, noon and night and rarely subsides until the baby is born. According to HelpHER.org:

HG is a debilitating and potentially life-threatening pregnancy disease marked by rapid weight loss, malnutrition, and dehydration due to unrelenting nausea and/or vomiting with potential adverse consequences for the mom-to-be and the newborn(s).

 HG is ugly. Uglier than I can ever describe, though I will be describing its ugliness over the next 9 months. Perhaps the ugliest side of HG, though, is doctor ignorance and apathy. As horrible and debilitating as this illness is, it's hard to convince most doctors you have an illness! With my first pregnancy it took a 30lb weight loss, not having kept food down for 4 days and not having kept water down for 2 days to finally convince my doctor that I was legitimately ill and not just "being a baby".

The Rules

I welcome comments to all of my posts, but I do have a few rules about what you may  not say or suggest.

1. You may not tell me stories of your "morning sickness" free pregnancies.

2. Please do not criticize any choices I have made about medications and treatments, especially if you have never suffered from HG. Remember: I already have three healthy children. Be gentle.

3. The whys and wherefores of morning sickness and HG are worlds apart, therefore common morning sickness 'fixes' do absolutely nothing for HG. In that spirit, please do not suggest:
     ginger anything
     lemon anything
     sea bands
     peppermints
     crackers
     anything for motion sickness
     small, frequent meals

4. This is probably the most important. PLEASE do not suggest that I "just eat" something. I'm not a tiny woman...I love food! If there was any possible way for me to "just eat" I promise I would. I just can't.