With the news of British Princess Catherine’s pregnancy recently, Cindy MacDougall’s ears perked up. MacDougall had suffered from the same condition, hyperemesis gravidarum, that put the Duchess of Cambridge in the hospital.
The serious illness plagues affected pregnant women with repeated, extreme vomiting, leaving them dehydrated and malnourished.
MacDougall’s harrowing third pregnancy led her to the Hyperemesis Education and Research organization (HelpHer.org). She became a volunteer, advising other impacted women and their families, largely through an online forum she moderates for women with the illness, as well as one-on-one counseling. The organization gives out information for physicians and other health personnel, who may initially equate the condition with normal morning sickness.
MacDougall is pleased that the duchess’ experience has generated lots of useful information about the illness, leading many women to the organization seeking help. For a few weeks after the story broke, she put in a lot of extra time moderating her forum and supporting stricken women.
For her, as for most afflicted women, the illness strikes and peaks early, but it can often extend into the second trimester. She was hospitalized in order to have intravenous treatments for food and liquids, as well as doses of several anti-vomiting medications.
During her own pregnancies when she experienced such suffering, MacDougall prayed first to Mary, and then to St. Gianna Beretta Molla, an Italian pediatrician who died in 1962 shortly after giving birth and after refusing an abortion. She also prayed to her unborn daughter’s guardian angel to protect the child and herself.
Her husband, Clayton, suffered too at seeing his wife’s suffering. "It’s really miserable. Guys are supposed to fix things," he told the Register. He prayed to St. Joseph, too.
Having been helped by the hyperemesis center, MacDougall is glad to give back. It’s just another way she is being pro-life. The family, who live on Vancouver Island, witnesses to the truth that each child is a gift from God not only for them, but for the world. MacDougall writes a parenting column in their local newspaper called "And Baby Makes Six."
The dehydration and malnourishment that extreme vomiting cause can in turn cause impaired thinking, leading some women to contemplate suicide or abortion.
MacDougall is pleased to be part of Hyperemesis Education and Research, because it helps pregnant women who are suffering get the proper care — early diagnosis and treatment, as well as counseling — to ensure the well-being of mother and child.
Says MacDougall: "I know I have had a role in saving the lives of 10 children."
Steve Weatherbe writes from Victoria, British Columbia.
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I have known Cin through HER for years. We went through a couple pregnancies together. Cin and HER do great work!
My husband found HER when I was in the hospital with hyperemesis and it was such a blessing for us. So many friends and family thought I was a wimp who just had normal morning sickness and didn’t understand how sick I truly was. HER gave us the support and information we had a difficult time finding elsewhere! Such a blessing for our family.
Not to be nit-picky, but she is not “Princess Catherine”. Her title is Catherine, Dutchess of Cambridge.
It is so important that this is recognized and mothers helped through this. It is NOT being “wimpy” or over reacting. Getting through this type of illness is hard - but the blessings on the other side are too numerous to count. Every child is a Blessing from God!
See this comment about a SAFE, homeopathic medicine!—Mary
http://abchomeopathy.com/forum2.php/182572/
hyperemesis gravidarum (severe morning sickness)
From worriedmum [Log on to view profile] on 2009-05-24
Can anyone suggest anything for my dauther in law. She is 12 weeks pregnant and very sick all day every day. she has been into hospital twice for treatment and then the sickness subsides for a few days. I then returns before two weeks are up. She feels awful all the time, even when the sickness subsides for a few days, she still feels sick.
Re: hyperemesis gravidarum (severe morning sickness) From kadwa [Log on to view profile] on 2009-05-25
REPERTORY
by Oscar E. BOERICKE, M.D.
Presented by Médi-T
FEMALE SEXUAL SYSTEM
Morning sickness (nausea, vomiting) (See Stomach.)—Acet. ac., Acon., Alet., Amyg. pers., Anac., Ant. t., Apomorph., Arg. n., Ars., Bry., Carb. ac., Cereum ox., Cim., Cocc., Colch., ucurb., Cupr. ac., Cycl., Gnaph., Gossyp., Ingluv., Ipec., Iris, Kali m., Kreos., Lac d., Lact. ac., Lob. infl., Mag. c., Merc., Nat. p., Nux m., Nux v., Petrol., Phos., Piloc., Psor., Puls., Sep., Staph., Symphor., Tab., Ther., Thyr.
There are many remedies. Ipecac is generally used. (This is the HOMEOPATHICALLY prepared, extremely diluted, remedy made out of the ipecac tincture. It is DIFFERENT that what you give to induce vomiting after ingesting a poison.)
You may go through all the remedies at the website
http://www.homeoint.org/books4/boerirep/female2.htm#pregnanc...
and could see which remedy fits her well.
You may also go through the following thread
http://www.abchomeopathy.com/forum2.php/170597/
and may also contact maheeru at his email id which you can get from his profile.
If we’re really going to be nit-picky, Catherine’s full title and style is Her Royal Highness Princess William, Duchess of Cambridge, Countess of Strathearn, Baroness Carrickfergus.
On a serious note, does the helpher.org site seem to suggest that abortion is an acceptable option? I got that impression, but I could be overly sensitive, so I wondered what you all thought.
Goodness, I can’t believe I missed this—thanks, Steve, for such a lovely story about my family and about HG.
Jayme, HER is a fully secular organization. Its mission is to provide support and information to women with hyperemesis. That means as an organization not taking a position on abortion.
The volunteers there spend an exceptional amount of time helping women avoid unwanted abortions, and giving them their full options. That is essentially why we exist—to save women and babies.
Thanks again.
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