My HG story: Bonnie Barnett

Pregnant. That’s what that stick said. I was certain it was the flu. I had been vomiting for days. I was just nineteen. I couldn’t do this. By week 11 I was down 50 lbs, in the hospital 4 times a week for fluids and vomiting 30 times a day.

My doctor was useless. She had never seen anyone so sick and basically gave up. I was non-medicated because nothing helped I just had to accept this was normal and how pregnancy was supposed to be. After passing out for the fourth time, my doctor finally admitted me for nearly two weeks. By week 20, I had stopped vomiting (mostly) and could finally eat most things. My first beautiful girl was born perfectly healthy.

I went on to have two more HG pregnancies each a little worse than the last. On pregnancy number three my incredible, supportive doctor (who I also had with pregnancy number two) had me on a Zofran pump and set me up with home health care to get fluids anytime I needed which made things a little more tolerable.

Now that I am so incredibly blessed with three beautiful daughters, I find myself terrified of nausea, weird things trigger me and I panic with the slightest fear of being late for a period. HG doesn’t end when your baby is born. It leaves an everlasting mark on you. I love my daughters and would go through this hell a million more times to have them. I hope more mamas come forward and tell their stories to spread more awareness of this awful disease.

I often look back and wonder “How in the world did I survive?” We HG survivors are warriors.