In January 2025 we were over the moon to find out we were pregnant with our third baby. However, having experienced hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) with my previous two pregnancies, I knew what was likely ahead of me. I hoped this time might be different, but deep down I knew the months ahead could be incredibly difficult.
During this pregnancy I was admitted to hospital and diagnosed with severe hyperemesis gravidarum (HG), a debilitating form of pregnancy sickness that affects around 3% of pregnancies. That admission marked the beginning of countless hospital visits and one of the hardest periods of my life.
HG is not “normal” morning sickness. It is relentless and extreme. Throughout my pregnancy I was attending hospital every two to three days for IV fluids due to severe dehydration. I was unable to eat and could barely drink. My body became weaker by the day and I struggled to care for my other two children or manage even basic daily tasks.
Most days were spent in bed vomiting, exhausted, and trying to find the strength to keep going. There were dark days where everything felt overwhelming and I questioned how I could continue. I spent hours waiting in A&E to be put on a drip and was admitted to hospital countless times, sometimes for days at a time, just to give my body the fluids it needed to survive.
I was losing weight rapidly and trialling multiple medications in the hope that something would ease the sickness. My veins became damaged and painful from so many cannulas, and each hospital visit became more traumatic than the last. The physical toll was immense, but the emotional and mental strain was just as exhausting. I often felt frightened, helpless, and consumed with guilt that my body wasn’t able to provide what my unborn baby needed.
On 27th February, during one of my routine visits for IV fluids, I was given a Stemetil injection, a medication I had received before. This time, however, I suffered a severe reaction. My airway began to close, I couldn’t breathe, and I experienced an overwhelming sense of impending doom. I genuinely thought I was going to die. The hospital crash team were called and I was given an adrenaline injection for what was believed to be an anaphylactic reaction. By that point my body was so weak it simply couldn’t cope.
Although I physically recovered, the psychological impact stayed with me. Returning to hospital became incredibly distressing. I couldn’t sit in the same room where it had happened and every visit felt triggering and emotionally draining.
Eventually I was prescribed steroids, a third-line treatment, but by that stage it was the only option left to help control the sickness. I required ongoing hospital visits and frequent scans to closely monitor my baby. Although the steroids made my symptoms more manageable, I continued to suffer with hyperemesis gravidarum for the rest of my pregnancy, both physically and mentally, right up until my baby was born.
Throughout this journey, Pregnancy Sickness Support was there for me. With the help of my support buddy and the constant encouragement to keep going, I felt less alone during some of the darkest moments of my pregnancy. When I struggled to see any light at the end of the tunnel, this charity reminded me that there was hope and that someone understood what I was going through.
I would also like to acknowledge the incredible care I received throughout my hospital visits. Their compassion, patience and kindness during some of the most difficult moments of my pregnancy made an unbearable time feel a little less lonely, and I will always be grateful for the care they showed me.
This year I am running the Great North Run to raise money for Pregnancy Sickness Support. After everything my body endured during pregnancy, taking on this challenge feels both daunting and deeply meaningful.
HG is still widely misunderstood, and no one should have to face it alone. By raising money for Pregnancy Sickness Support, I hope to help ensure that other women and families going through hyperemesis gravidarum can access the support, understanding and resources they need.
If you’re able to sponsor me, no matter how small, it would mean the world. Every donation helps raise awareness, fund vital support, and remind those suffering with HG that they are seen, heard and not alone.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read my story and for supporting me on this journey.
We thank Amy for her bravery in sharing her story and her dedication in raising funds for our vital work.
You can donate to Amy’s Great North Run by following this link: Pregnancy Sickness Support: Amy’s fundraising page
