Anyone with Hyperemesis Gravidarum had an abortion?

[Handss]

Hi everyone,

Found out I was pregnant few days ago. I have feeling awful past week. We all thought it was some virus - but I fear pregnancy so much, I blocked out possibilities. Few days ago, my HG started (have severe HG with all of my pregnancies). I knew the nausea, the vomiting, the smells, the aversion to my kids/DH etc etc meant pregnancy. It is a specific feeling…I have my abortion consultation today but the past few days have been hell.

I just wanted to know how long after first pill, second pill does the pregnancy symptoms go away? I have heard that it takes about 2-3 weeks to get a negative test but I just want for the symptoms to stop!

I feel like my body has been hijacked. I feel horrible about my decision (religion and ethical) but I know I will not survive pregnancy or looking after a baby even with supportive family and DH.

DH is really hands on dad…like reallllyyy so he feels like he does not have the energy either. We have three beautiful kids.

How quick will the symptoms be gone?

thanks everyone

I totally and wholeheartedly sympathise. I had awful sickness and hated every second of pregnancy. Like you, I also felt like my body had been taken over!! I terminated and within 24 -36 hours of inserting the 4 pills and the pregnancy subsequently coming away, the fog lifted and the sickness had pretty much gone!

Good luck and best wishes.

Omg that is a relief! I was scared that it would take 1-2 weeks. If I could bother you with a few more questions:

How was the pain? Did you feel like you can do errands? I have three kids so was wondering if I will manage to do daily tasks, picks up etc. If not, then DH will have to stay home.

Honestly, these days when I see pregnant women I feel triggered. I considered abortion with my third too but DH was was feeling guilt and left the choice to me, and I too felt I could not do it. After trial and errors I found a specific combination of medicine that helped with the 20-30 daily vomiting episodes. However, all other symptoms of HG were still
present.

I had a big gap between 1 and 2 because both me and DH were traumatised by HG. DD1 was born when HG was not that well known/treated - some doctors outright not believed!

I’m worried you’ve said you’ll find the decision hard because of religion/ethical issues. Speaking to ARCH trust or Stillwater may well be helpful so you can talk through your feelings. I have awful HG currently, 3rd pregnancy and battling with thoughts to end it. Talking through my feelings helped. I did speak to BPAS but didn’t find it as helpful. Mine was a planned pregnancy (although 1st time and thought would take much longer as 40 and breastfeeding) but now I’m in it it’s incredibly tough. Sending lots of love

Hi.
I found the sickness and vomiting quite awful and I was miserable and chewed up with it, I couldn’t think straight. I felt like I had a permanent lump in my throat from it.

The actual termination aspect…
I took the first pill on a Tuesday morning and decided I was only going to wait 24 hours before doing the first insertion. I was told by MSI to wait 24-48 hours so I went for the least amount of waiting. Had no ill effect or symptoms from the first pill whatsoever. Carried on my day/night as usual.

Inserted the two pills on the Wednesday morning pretty much as soon as I woke up. Think you could dissolve them between your gums also but I felt like I wanted to do it vaginally as I was worried it wouldn’t work. Got back into bed and chilled. Wasn’t sure what to expect after the first insertion as had read mixed experiences. I had no blood, symptoms, cramps or any feelings at all from doing the first two pills. I could have carried on doing normal stuff easily. Three hours later I inserted the 2nd lot of 2 pills. Made sure to push them up as far as they would go. Got back into bed and took 2 codeine which were sent with my abortion pack. Within an hour I had stirrings and twinges. Kept going back and forth to the toilet to see what was happening. Little bit of blood but nothing concrete. Within another hour I began cramping and, in the interests of being honest, began to find to find it very painful as the cramping increased. It was just like contraction pain. Would come in waves and ease off before starting again. By the next hour I stayed on the loo as it was hurting and I found it more comfortable to be bent over, I then felt like something was going to happen. Then I felt a gush and the pain went instantly. I knew I had passed the pregnancy at that point. I was 8 weeks gone. Took a sneaky look at the tissue when I wiped but absolutely nothing resembling anything you would identify. I guess it very much depends on how a person feels about it all in general but I was very pragmatic in the sense I knew I wanted to terminate, and didn’t feel like it was a baby, rather just a few cells that had fused together.

There is no way I would have been able to do normal house/children/work things after I had inserted the last two pills as it all happened quite quickly after that. I had passed the pregnancy within 3 hours of inserting the second lot of pills. Of course everyone’s experience is different, but to be on the safe side, it might perhaps be easier to have your husband about. I bled for quite a few days after and was changing pads several times a day. Eventually it stopped and I had a normal period 5 weeks later, only slightly heavier. I also tested positive 3 weeks later on the sensitive test they send with the kit, but I didn’t follow up on it or request another one as I JUST KNEW I was no longer pregnant. I felt it come away, the sickness stopped within days and the sore boobs went within a week.

I hope none of this upsets you, just wanted to be honest. I felt enormous relief once it was done, but again, that’s my own experience, and is not what all other people feel when they do it. Be as sure as you can. You sound like you’ve had a tough time with previous pregnancies. Do what’s right for you, don’t be rushed into it, but don’t be talked out of it. Your body, your mind, your choice. X

@Tearful123 thank you for signposting me to these services. I do feel guilty and likely forever. Although, with my third child I had post natal depression because another baby was not what I wanted. My DH at that time left the choice up to me which made me backtrack going through an abortion. Now I feel no regret (3 years after the birth) but I just cannot handle another 9 months of it all. Right now, I just want to cry because I miss eating, drinking and having my usual energy. I cannot even go to the supermarket without vomiting. Today, my DH drove me around hoping I’d crave something instead when he mentioned ‘what do you want in your falafel’, my eyes became teary with the need to vomit. I just cannot handle another day of this…

The only thing I can ensure is that as I don’t want kids anymore then I will need to double up on contraception. Thank for highlighting my doubts - It makes me think through my decision again…which I still feel is right.

@MyUmberSeal Thank you! That is really helpful to know. I will ask my DH to stay home . I spoke with MSI today for consultation and said I was eligible for telemedicine and tomorrow I have a call back. Hopefully, I can pick at nearest clinic. I feel guilty but sure it is the right decision for me and DH. Only me and DH know and will not be telling wider family. As you said it is my choice so don’t care what others feel tbh. I mistakenly told one of my friends why I cannot meet up tomorrow and she tried to convince me not to etc. I did say please stop trying to talk me out of it…which is why I will not be telling anyone else.

I fear it may not work or need surgical intervention. Those are what I really fear.

Update: I have taken the first pill and felt nothing. Will be taking the second dose soon. I am so weak, I have been bed ridden for 2 days. Movement, temperature changes everything sets me off. The constant nausea. My throat is burning from all the vomiting. I miss food, I miss water…I miss life! Even Ondansetron is not doing it for me…

I will never ever get pregnant again. After this I will take 4 types of contraceptives! I am sooooo miserable…

Just wanted to update:

Friday I took the first pill.
On Saturday around 9pm inserted the next 4 pills and laid down for 30 minutes. Around the 40 minutes mark, I started having contraction like pains. I took 1 Codeine. As minutes went by the intensity was increasing so I took another Codeine. Around 10.30pm the pain got really bad. After having 3 kids and no epidural - I can only describe it as giving birth. Thankfully kids were asleep and my DH was with me. I really did not think I can withstand it and DH wanted me to go hospital. DH was rubbing my belly through the contractions and the Codeine was like gas and air. I became so fatigued I passed out for a bit. Woke to more contractions and time to take second pills. At this point, I took 20ml of oral ibuprofen. After 15 minutes I noticed pain was less intense due to the painkiller and dozed off. Woke up at 3.40 am. Still having pain but manageable and HG fog lifted. Opened fridge - no longer smelt off. Craving food again. No nausea. I knew that the pregnancy was expelled. I checked myself - little blood on pads. No clots. I am still bleeding but not loads and saw some clots pass today. No pain today. And don’t feel pregnant. So far so good. My only warning is please have several types of painkillers at hand. Everyone is different but for me the pain was extreme. Apart from that, the process was straight forward. Whilst I am still sure of my decision and glad to be back to myself - I do feel sad. I do have a guilty conscious. Seeing the clots (which did not resemble a baby what so ever) really made me sad. I was fine until I saw the clots.

I will only update if there are complications otherwise assume everything went well.

Can I ask how you’re doing please @Handss ?
I am struggling with hyperemesis and struggling to continue. An abortion to end this suffering is all I think about. But I worry about feelings afterwards

Hey,

So sorry just saw this!

I am doing well, physically and mentally. I think because it’s one of those ‘out of sight, out if mind’ things. I still feel guilty when I think about it but it is not overwhelming…my happiness at being back to normal self is more powerful than the guilt tbh. Additionally, I genuinely did not want another child. I am very religious and in my eyes me and DH have sinned BUT I’d rather ask for forgiveness than go through the hell of HG.

Can you share a little more? What stage of pregnancy are you? Is it your first? Wanted pregnancy? Have you got support? Because I have had 3 HG pregnancies and by my 3rd pregnancy I took control regarding medication that actually made it manageable for me. Around 8 weeks of pregnancy - I was admitted to hospital. Magically, I would get better there be able to eat plain toast, orange juice…mild-medium nausea…that awful feeling in the pit of stomach gone…So when the consultant arrive in the morning to say I demanded that whatever they give me here was given to me at home or I was not leaving hhhh. They said it was a combination of Ondansetron, metoclopramide and cyclizine. The Metoclopramide can only be taken in cycles e.g 5 days on and then 2 weeks off. It worked! BUT - If i missed a dose I could feel it returning….so if you want the baby - please try the medication before abortion. With my first pregnancy back in 2015 - they would not even give these medications at the hospital….just iv bags and some nutrients. It was awful. But I really wanted the baby and was young, stubborn. Second again awful but it was during covid - so was home literally all the time and partner did everything - again wanted baby.

What does your midwife/GP say? How have they tried helping you. Please try the medication….Ondansetron alongside Cyclizine can be a really good combination even without the Metoclopramide.

@Handss i am @Mummy895 i had an abortion and regret it enormously it is the worst pain imaginable I hate myself I pray to get pregnant again but know it won’t happen