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My daughter is 12 weeks pregnant and, although not vomiting, suffers almost constant nausea from food stuck in her oesophagus that just won't shift down. Even a small mouthful causes pain and discomfort, yet she is very hungry and if she doesn't eat she still suffers from excess acid. Reflux is getting under control but she still can't eat without discomfort. She is becoming so depressed (she suffered from PPD quite badly) and I worry that her low mood will affect her baby and her post natal mood. I live far from her and its not easy to get to her very often. Her husband cannot understand or help and she feels utterly alone without support. She knows of no one who suffers from this and feels she is being pathetic. She also suffers from extreme tiredness and is frustrated that she can't get motivated to anything but sleep when she can. She has an active toddler aged 3 so doesn't get much rest. If there is anyone out there who suffers as she does she might feel less isolated if she could chat to them. Help P-L-E-A-S-E !!!!!!
Unknown, 22nd September 2013

Hi! I'm so sorry to hear your daughter is suffering so badly. There is help out there. I can't post my email on here but you contact me using the form on the right or you can get her help by clicking on this link and filling the form in for the supporters network. http://www.pregnancysicknesssupport.org.uk/help/supporters-network/ There is treatment she can get and support she can access and you can help her by accessing that for her. I'd need to know where in the country she is. I can help but would need to take the communication with you further and off this public thread. Caitlin x
Spewing Mummy, 22nd September 2013

Hi Liam,

Thanks for your comment and praise. You sound like a wonderful supportive partner. And it's great that your employer has been so supportive.

I'll be doing a post on the partners experience soon and I would be keen to interview you for another project I'm working on if possible?

Also, there is a section on the PSS website forum for partners to get peer support. If you wanted to get involved with the charity, helping with the forum and supporting other partners I'd been keen to speak with you. You can email me using the contact form above and right.

Well done to you and your wife for getting through such a tough time together.

C x
Spewing Mummy, 26th September 2013

Hi Caitlin - I'd be happy to assist: contact details on their way!
Liam Faulkner, 26th September 2013

As somebody married to a hyperemesis sufferer (my wife is now at 22 weeks and still feeling sick at times) I can't congratulate you enough for your well-written blogs on the condition, and what people around can - and can't - do to help. Like most people we weren't really aware of what HG is or how debilitating it can be, and even after it being recognised by a consultant and my wife being admitted (for the first of six times to date) to be given IV fluid, we had to hunt around to find out information on what HG was, and how to cope with it. The sad truth is that there is scant information on the subject - well that's not entirely true because there is plenty of clinical information on what HG is, but little of any actual use when you're trying to struggle through it day-by-day.

This was particularly infuriating for me, because I (I'm a project manager by trade) like to have a plan on what to do, and have options open to me when things go wrong, but there's nothing worst when than being a partner to somebody who is clearly suffering and you want to help, but no help seems to exist. I did everything I could do to help my wife through the really bad times (thankfully the worst is behind us now) but there were time when I felt totally helpless and I didn't know what to do. All I could do to feel useful was to take as much pressure off her as possible

In the end we came to an agreement: if I felt that we were losing the fight and my wife needed some kind of medical help than I would make that decision. One of the things we realised the GP (or when she was in hospital) would do was check her ketone level, so I popped down to our GP surgery and asked if I could have a ketone testing kit. A presciption (and hunting around several pharmacists) later we had one. It seems obvious now, but having that to hand really helped in making that decision that it was time to call the doctor.

I also had to explain the situation with my boss who was incredibly understanding - and that really helped. They said that my wife came first: I was not to worry if I had to hang around for the GP or if I had to take her into hospital: we'd sort out all the leave at a later date and they turned a blind-eye to my slightly longer lunch-breaks (I go home - and still do - every lunchtime to check on my wife which is tricky to do in an hour when it's a 16 miles round-trip). I appreciate that not every employer would be like this, but I'd recommend to any partner of a woman suffering from HG to talk to their boss and explain the situation.


Liam Faulkner, 26th September 2013

Hi, I just wanted to say how useful this website is and how much I wish I'd found it a couple of months back when I was suffering badly (thankfully I'm at a point where I am being sick much less frequently and am coping much better). Number one on your list where you say 'believe her' really struck a chord with me. One thing I found a lot (other than people recommending bloody ginger!), was people not understanding the seriousness of it and making comments such as 'I had morning sickness and I didn't use it as an excuse to stay off work', or the one that really peed me off 'My friend is pregnant and has just run a half marathon. She's being sick, so if she can do that why can't you get out of bed?'
Anyway, keep up the good work :)
http://lemonadebudget.com/
lemonadebudget.com, 19th October 2013

Hi there, Thanks for your comment and I'm so glad to hear my blog is helping. People really do say the most ignorant things when faced with something they don't understand. Having HG has taught me a lot of things but probably top of the list is compassion, particularly for other conditions which I've never had and can barely imagine. People that make those sort of comments are generally luckily enough not to have suffered much of anything themselves and simply cannot imagine! I notice on your blog you mention a recent relapse - if you aren't already on one then consider discussing a strong antacid with your doctor like Omeprazole or Lanzoprozole. The relapse later in pregnancy is generally to do with acid reflux, even if you are unaware of other symptoms and one of those meds can really make a difference. Good luck with the rest of the pregnancy. xxx
Spewing Mummy, 19th October 2013