Posts from — September 2009

First of all: what is that? That was my reaction when I was told I was suffering a mild form of Hyperemesis gravidarum when I went to hospital for 5 days in the third month of my pregnancy (now being in the 5th). In the first three months of a pregnancy many women face morning sickness (which actually can come over you all day or in the night). But if the vomitting is more often during the day and you can’t even drink water without keeping it in then it is more serious. This is what happened to me and why I decided to go to hospital. There I was “fed” with medicine and liquid intravenously so I was able to regain my strength at least a little bit. But the vomitting and sickness came back a few weeks afterwards! So after a short period of being shocked I started to get informed about this illness and got myself (and the baby) the treatment I needed. Still I am not really well and still I am loosing weight - all in all nearly 12 kilo since the beginning of the pregnancy! But now that I know what is going on I feel mentally better and hopefully I can help others to survive this nasty experience.

1) Most important: Get informed!
The more you read and understand about Hyperemesis gravidarum the better for you and the better you know what treatment you might need. Sometimes doctors simply don’t see it as such a big problem - hey, they haven’t had the experience of being so weak that you can’t get up from the bathroom floor after vomiting!! Try to find an online forum or even a local group!!
A very good website is: http://www.hyperemesis.org/ to start with research.

2) Don’t let anybody tell you it’s a mental thing!
There are scientist (strangely enough more often men then women) who makes their case that Hyperemesis gravidarum is a mental thing and the women concerned are unhappy with their pregnancy/life/family/partnership/husband and whatever else you can think of. In my case I can clearly state: I am neither of all above! This is a sickness related to the pregnancy and whatever cause it might have (bacteria, inhertiance etc) IT IS NOT A PSYCHOLOGICAL PROBLEM!!

3) Reduce stress and fear
Having said it is not a psychological problem doesn’t mean it can’t evoke exactly those. During the weeks when I didn’t know what is going on with me I was scared, sad and didn’t know how to survive the next day and get on with life and the pregnancy - not very typical for me!! In the really worst case Hyperemesis gravidarum can lead to depression and even abortion or suicide. So if you follow 1) and 2) the next step you can take is: reduce your stress and fear! Normally the fetus doesn’t suffer as much as we women do (although no long term studies have been conducted) so the chances are really good for your unborn child. Try to get as much rest as you can! I even take a nap for about 15 minutes down on the office floor after lunch. My boss is aware of me feeling much better after that. And if you can’t do all the things you wanted to do before birth - don’t worry. You and the child are now the most important, everything else has to wait.

4) Seek help
Try getting help not only from doctors, but also midwives. Tell your friends what is going on with you and be patient with those who keep telling you this sickness should be over soon or those who think a hot cup of fresh ginger tea would help. And never forget to thank your partner/hubbie… for his help and support! My fiancé even cooks for me to make sure I eat healthy enough, I will be thankful for the rest of my life for everything he does for me during these difficult times. And he knows that!

5) Eating
For me eating is still a huge problem. Even though I take a pill every morning against the sickness I might end up vomiting in the evening. My lactose intolerance has become much worse so that even the faintest traces of milk or lactose in the food can cause another seizure. I also learned the hard way that tomatoes and pumpkin is nothing I should eat now - both I normally really love … Gee, I hate to think of my Halloween party! My point is: listen to your body, it does tell you what you can and what you shouldn’t eat. Right now I scuff marzipan - almonds have a lot of Calcium!

6) Never forget: this will be over!
It took me a couple of weeks to come to grips with the fact that the Hyperemesis gravidarum might stay till the birth of my child - in the worst case. It might end earlier; it might end in the labor room. Another 5 months seem like an awful long time, but: it will be over! And after that you will be rewarded with the greatest wonder on earth: your newborn child!

So: don’t give up! You are not alone with this!!

And after all this I will go back to writing…

This is one of my poems from the Poem a Day Challenge 2009, the writing prompt was “landmark”:

Siebengebirge

The last hills along the Rhine
before the land flattens down
one were the hero fought the dragon
one were the government quarter their guests
on the highest one you find the best onion tart
and the small one in the north
looks like a bread cut open

Many narrow paths
lead through the forest
hornet and bee
boar and deer
just behind my house
just up the street

The last hills along the Rhine
before the land flattens down
many poets have described them
many painters have portrayed them
but to my heart the sight of those hills
mean only one thing

home

© Julia Nickel

View of the Siebengebirge © 2007, Julia Nickel

The naming sounds as if there were seven hills, but actually it comes from “siefen”, which means raining a lot - and I can tell you, yes, it does!