Well in the light of recent news and
reference to this blog in various papers and on the BBC website I'd
be crazy not to re-open it and write an update!
Obviously the news that the Duchess of
Cambridge is suffering hyperemesis gravidarum is big news in the “HG
world” in which I've been immersed for a number of years now and
have been working so hard to raise awareness and improve care for.
But the reality is that I just feel so
so so sorry for the poor woman who is suffering right now. I remember
so clearly the feeling of being poisoned by every morsel of food or
sip of fluid that passed my dried out and tired lips. Her excitement
of a positive pregnancy test has been cruelly crushed by the
torturous nature of hyperemesis gravidarum, and it just feels so
unfair.
On top of the sheer living nightmare of
hyperemesis she will have the humiliation of the entire world
watching her suffer. And I fear that she won't be able to win in
terms of what the public want to see. If she manages to put some make
up on, force out a smile and feign an appearance of wellness then she
will be further criticised for going to hospital for “a bit of
morning sickness”. But who wants to see the revolting reality of
hyperemesis gravidarum... vomit, pale dry skin, dull lifeless eyes
and so on... wouldn't the cruel press love to see that!!!
The isolation that comes with this
condition is almost as indescribable as the unrelenting painful
nausea and vomiting that defines it. It is genuinely hard for people
who have not suffered to understand what it is like and unfortunately
terms like 'morning sickness', which the common form of mild
pregnancy sickness is generally (and incorrectly) referred to, makes
people think that they had what she had... “but they just got on
with it; they didn't have time off work to lounge around in bed!”... Just to be absolutely clear; Hyperemesis Gravidarum is
NOT morning sickness. It is a serious and debilitating complication
of pregnancy. Before intravenous fluids (drips) were invented in the
1930's it was the leading cause of maternal death in early pregnancy.
The only reason we no longer die from it is because of IV fluids and
safe and effective medication, which I have blogged about before and
which there is mountains of information about on
www.pregnancysicknesssupport.org.uk
Unfortunately, even well meaning family
and friends can accidentally add to the isolation and misery
experience by sufferers of this horrendous condition with “helpful”
suggestions about trying ginger, sucking a mint, or getting fresh
air, or my favourite... “thinking positively”!
So I thought I'd write some practical
tips for supporting someone with Hyperemesis Gravidarum:
- DO NOT MENTION GINGER!!!
- Don't wear perfume, aftershave or strong deodorant around the sufferer
- Don't eat garlic for the duration of the pregnancy!
- Do move slowly around her and talk quietly, don't make the bed bounce; vomit inducing!
- Bring food to her as soon as possible when she feels like it; the nausea free moment that she feels like eating in will soon pass
- Don't imply that she is lucky to just be able to chill out and relax and avoid being over excited about the actual pregnancy... it's hard to be excited when you feel like you're dying
- Just be there for her. Expect that she'll cry and seem down and withdrawn... take one day at a time and try not to project to the future - “only 4 more weeks until you're 12 weeks” is really unhelpful when you don't know how you'll survive one more day.
- Each evening point out that it's another day done which she never has to do again.
- Contact our charity and get her support through our national network of volunteers
Right, the news of her discharge has
just come through so my phone is ringing like crazy again!
I hope so much that the Duchess has
support from someone who has been through it and I hope that she know
there are hundreds of thousands of women around the world who have
endured this condition are sending her so much love and support -
regardless of her name and fame, right now she is one of us... A
Spewing Mummy!
