So Your Misses Got Hyperemesis

So your wife has hyperemesis gravidarum. Ouch. Out of curiosity, when did you realize it? When the morning sickness lasted all day? When she lost weight despite being pregnant because everything she tried to eat came out almost immediately after?

We understood we were experiencing an unusual pregnancy around the eighth week. It was the second or third time we went to the hospital to give my wife intravenous fluids, after she hadn’t been able to drink for three days. Everyone around us suggested various remedies: ice water, popsicles, soup, and more. But every fluid my wife attempted to ingest refused to stay inside her, finding its way out within moments.

This time at the hospital, one of the nurses recognized my wife from a previous fluid infusion. She clicked her tongue, said to my wife, “Looks like you’ve got hyperemesis gravidarum. I’m not jealous of you…” then she looked at me and added, “…or of you either.”

So welcome to the club, my friend. Not many will envy you. Being the partner of a pregnant woman is always tough, and pregnancy with hyperemesis gravidarum is several times harder. But there’s also good news.

The good news is that you’ve found this guide, and you’re not alone. You are going to get through this. When it’s over, you will appreciate your wife and new child more than ever before. It’s the most worthy reward that can be. 

As the husband of a woman who went through severe hyperemesis gravidarum, I learned a thing or two along the way. I learned why preparation is necessary and how I could help her maintain her health and the health of the fetus.

I also spoke with other women who experienced hyperemesis, and with medical professionals familiar with the condition. Their collective wisdom is concentrated here in this guide, which I began to write during the pregnancy so that other couples would have the guide I didn’t have at the beginning of the journey of pregnancy with hyperemesis… and also, if I’m being honest, as therapy for myself.

The purpose of this guide is to be a practical guide. One that can offer the right advice or provide a perspective to help you find the path that suits you in dealing with various issues: eating, drinking, household maintenance, emotional support, dealing with doctors and the healthcare system, and more.

Therefore, you don’t have to read the guide chronologically. If you’re currently dealing with a specific issue, for example, wanting to ease nausea or understand how to hydrate, skip to the relevant chapter.

Keep in mind that the challenges we faced and the solutions that worked for us may not suit you. Therefore, consider the ideas in this guide not as absolute truths, but as inspiration or a starting point for finding your own way.

I tried to keep it concise and to the point because as the partner of a woman with hyperemesis, you probably don’t have much free time.

Please note: this is not a medical guide. We do not recommend specific medications or treatments, medical or psychological.

What you will find here is guidance to help you understand how to act to assist your wife, and information to help you make informed decisions as much as possible in such a challenging period.

Let’s get started.