HG

Recently there's been a lot of talk in the media about Kate Middleton and her pregnancy. More specifically, teasing or making light of her "just a little morning sickness."

Only, Kate doesn't have morning sickness. She suffers from hyperemesis gravidarum which is a vastly different thing.

Most widely known of, the women of The View laugh about, and wave off, the Duchess's sickness as no big deal and nothing serious.

helpher.org is pretty much the best resource available to mothers, their families, and physicians.

HG is not just 12 or so weeks of some nausea with the occasional vomiting. HG can extend past 21 weeks and in many cases the entire pregnancy. It is marked by rapid and severe weight loss, extreme fatigue, acid erosion of the esophagus and stomach, and in the most severe cases can result in infant and/or maternal death.

HG is nothing to joke about or laugh at. I am an HG sufferer. It is one of the more painful things I've experienced in my life. Luckily for me, my OBGYN was quick to intervene and my resulting weight loss was *just* 26 lbs at its peak. I went on to gain just 14 lbs in this last pregnancy and deliver a healthy 8lbs 2oz princess.

I wrote about my trials after only 8 days of having my zofran pump and wore it for another 9 weeks after this post at my personal blog, Domesticated Damsel. I did not write about it again, so the severity of the pain inflicted on my abdomen is barely glossed over. I should note that it was nearly 6 weeks after removal of the pump before my skin fully healed. But the pump was better that 12+ times per day and continuing to lose 7-10 pounds per week.

I hope that any of you who suffer HG will share your story as well.