*WARNING* This story is about Hyperemesis Gravidarum, or severe nausea and vomiting in pregnancy. If reading about vomit freaks you out, don't read this.

They'd started out excited. When Grace's case of food poisoning turned out to be a baby, she and Wayne were elated. The pregnancy was a complete surprise, but they were thrilled nonetheless.

But their excitement quickly faded. Grace's morning sickness was relentless; it lasted all day, and she could hardly eat or drink anything. Her doctor and all the websites and books she read all assured her that she'd feel better by the second trimester. Her mother offered her sympathies over the phone; she'd had a rough first few months when she was pregnant with Grace, but reassured her that she had felt better at around twelve weeks.

But two months later, Grace's symptoms had still not let up. If anything, she was getting worse. She had gone on medical leave from work six weeks prior, as she simply could not leave the house when she was vomiting up to thirty times a day.

Her doctor had put her on some anti-nausea medication, but it did little to help her keep food down. All it afforded her was the ability to sleep in between episodes. She'd lost twenty pounds; despite the growing baby inside her, her previously flat stomach was now concave. She looked like a starving child, rather than a pregnant woman.

She'd been hospitalized twice for dehydration. Each time, her doctor would run fluids, medication, and multi-vitamins through an IV, keep her overnight for observation, and then send her home the next morning with orders to stay on her saltines and ginger tea diet.

She was becoming more and more discouraged. Words from various doctors haunted her as they echoed in her head:

"Most women get better after the first trimester. It shouldn't be too much longer before that happens."

"You've only had a milkshake? Why would you eat something so unhealthy?"

"Ginger should bring some relief. It shouldn't burn if you're doing it right."

"I'm going to refer you to a psychiatrist; there's definitely some mental problems happening here."

"If you really wanted this baby you'd stop vomiting."

"I think we should consider terminating this pregnancy."

One night, Wayne awoke at 2 AM as Grace rushed to the bathroom. He stood outside the closed door, helplessly listening as she was sick yet again. When he heard the toilet flush, he tapped gently on the door.

"Grace, sweetie, do you need anything?" He received no reply. He knocked again. "Grace?" Silence. He opened the door and peeked in.

His heart sank at the sight of Grace slumped against the toilet, her head on her arm as she stared into space. Her eyes were bloodshot and sunken, dark circles underneath. Her lips were cracked, and a single tear slid down her cheek. She looked up and met his eyes.

"Wayne," she whimpered. "I can't do this anymore. I can't. Why is this happening?" She gagged again, and began to retch into the toilet. She shook as she heaved, but nothing came out. Her stomach was completely empty. She finished gagging and pounded her fist on the toilet seat in frustration.

"That's it," Wayne said sharply. "We're going to the hospital."

"No!" Grace replied, shaking her head vehemently. "I'm not going back there just for them to tell me it's all in my head! I won't!" Wayne knelt down next to her.

"Grace, please baby," he begged. "We have to. You're dehydrated, you're malnourished… I'm really scared, Grace. I can't keep watching as you fade away. We'll go to a different hospital this time. Any hospital. We'll see new doctors." Grace closed her eyes and nodded.

"Okay," she whispered.

Wayne kissed her forehead and stood up. He walked hurriedly into their room and changed into jeans and a t-shirt. He grabbed his wallet and Grace's purse, and a few plastic bags and quickly went out and threw them in the car. He returned and strode into the bathroom, scooped Grace up off the floor and carried her to the car.

Author's Note: Learn more about HG at helpher dot org (I think it's ridiculous we can't put website URLs here...)

Author's Note part deux: This story was inspired by a dear friend, who suffered from HG with all 6 (!) of her pregnancies. The end result is 6 amazing girls, ages 15, 12, 10, 5, 3, and 19 months. But it was quite the rough road. She didn't receive an actual diagnosis until her 4th pregnancy; even when she was down to 83 pounds at four months along in her 3rd pregnancy, she was told that it was all in her head. All of her girls are healthy, but she sustained permanent organ damage from the constant dehydration. You can read more about her story here: theleakyboob dot com/2012/12/hyperemesis-gravidarum-a-princess-and-regular-ol-me-kate-middleton-and-i-have-something-in-common/

And if you are so inclined, watch the videos of the home birth of her 6th baby! (NSFW; there is some breast nudity, and you can see between her legs at a few points, but nothing close-up or graphic) - theleakyboob dot com/2012/06/ordinary-miracle-the-labor-and-home-birth-of-sugarbaby-april-19-2012/