The Audio Long Read Don’t call it morning sickness: ‘At times in my pregnancy I wondered if this was death coming for me’
Sep 5, 2025
The podcast dives into the harrowing experience of hyperemesis gravidarum, exploring its historical roots and how society often dismisses this severe form of morning sickness. Personal anecdotes reveal the isolation felt during pregnancy and historical treatments that ranged from bizarre to extreme. It reflects on the importance of an empathetic doctor-patient relationship, especially after the thalidomide crisis. The emotional highs and lows of motherhood are candidly discussed, illustrating the deep and complex bond between mother and child.
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Victorian Medicine Took HG Seriously
- Historical medical journals treated severe pregnancy vomiting with seriousness and varied interventions.
- Victorian physicians documented fatal cases and pursued aggressive treatments for maternal survival.
Extreme Victorian Treatments
- 19th-century physicians tried extreme treatments including rectal alimentation and therapeutic abortion for HG.
- Doctors like William W. Potter documented invasive remedies to save mothers debilitated by vomiting.
Wild Medical Experiments For Relief
- Historical remedies ranged from arsenic and morphine to radiotherapy and electric shock.
- Physicians experimented widely, reflecting both seriousness and limited understanding of causes.
