Susie Verrill has documented her horrific battle with extreme morning sickness after announcing she is expecting her third child.
Blogger Susie and her fiancé, Olympic long-jumper Greg Rutherford revealed the happy news of their pregnancy on Tuesday, announcing they are expecting a baby girl.
Susie, who is also mum to Milo, six, and Rex, three, has since spoken out on her experience with Hyperemesis gravidarum – which causes extreme morning sickness, a condition she was also diagnosed with in her previous pregnancies.
Tough time: Susie Verrill has documented her horrific battle with extreme morning sickness after announcing she is expecting her third child
Hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) is defined as severe nausea and vomiting during pregnancy. Up to 20 per cent of sufferers experience symptoms up to weeks 14-to-20, however, most have relief in the later stages.
Unlike morning sickness, which affects up to 80 percent of pregnant women, HG causes severe dehydration and prevents sufferers from keeping any food down.
In a video diary posted on her popular Instagram page on Wednesday afternoon, Susie is seen throughout the first six months of her pregnancy, documenting the extreme symptoms of HG.
Explaining she was keen to help others suffering with the condition to feel less isolated, Susie said she spent months in bed alone, even struggling to go downstairs in her home.
Expecting: Blogger Susie and her fiancé, Olympic long-jumper Greg Rutherford revealed the happy news of their pregnancy on Tuesday, announcing they are expecting a baby girl
The diary begins the night before Susie’s six week mark in her pregnancy as she explains that the nausea has kicked in ‘bang on time.’
From there the diary follows Susie as she speaks from her bed as her sickess worsens.
‘Feeling a bit sorry for myself today, it’s just not knowing how long I’m going to have to do this for,’ she is seen in one entry, breaking down into tears.
‘I also hate the fact I can’t really contribute anything positive to Milo and Rex’s day. I sleep most of the day. It’s really exhausting, it’s a constant day to day see-saw of what do I fancy eating or drinking, what can I keep in, trying to keep your sickness meds down. I feel really redundant and lonely.’
Sickness: Susie, is also mum to Milo, six, and Rex, three, has shared a video diary about her experience with Hyperemesis gravidarum – which causes extreme morning sickness
Lonely: Susie is seen throughout the first six months of her pregnancy in the video diary, explaining she wanted to share her experience to help others suffering feel less alone
Susie is later prescribed two medications from her ‘amazing’ team of doctors but experiences setbacks when chemists run out of supplies of one drug and another doctor decides to take her off one medication.
As the diary and Susie’s pregnancy progresses, she explains: ‘I feel really disheartened that even when I’m on two meds this is happening. I’m just conscious of getting back to that point where I was losing so much weight, I hit eight weeks and it’s vomit central.’
One particuarly emotional entry comes when Susie cries as she tells the camera: ‘It is sometimes not enough to know that there is a baby coming at the end of this.’
The diary also follows the blogger as she is taken to hospital after she was sick 15 times in just eight hours. She also experiences hair loss as the condition worsens.
Safe: Susie tells viewers that she has her ‘safe spot’ in her bedroom but even going downstairs triggers bad anxiety
Susie tells viewers that she has her ‘safe spot’ in her bedroom but even going downstairs triggers bad anxiety.
‘I had smell aversions the last two pregnancies but this time it’s really strong,’ she is seen saying. ‘The smell downstairs are so strong and horrible and it makes my house feel like I don’t want to be here.’
Thankfully as Susie reaches her 20 week scan she reveals she is beginning to feel better, and is operating at ‘70%’ most days.
In the accompanying caption, she explains that both she and Greg had reservations about trying for a third child.
‘Our decision to try for baby number 3 began with terror (from me), apprehension (from Greg) and a treatment plan/prophylactics (meds to take before conceiving as a prevention, from the doctor),’ she wrote.
Baby girl: As Susie reaches her 20 week scan she reveals she is beginning to feel better, is operating at ‘70%’ most days and has now shared the happy news of her pregnancy
‘While I felt dreadful and existed on a cocktail of drugs, it wasn’t as bad as Rex’s pregnancy which I’m thankful for. I only needed to visit the hospital for a drip once, managed to keep vomiting to once every 1.5 hours and ‘only’ lost 5% body weight.’
‘Anyway, you can see from the video (so sorry, it’s not cheery, but I did leave out the worst parts!) how much of a battle just existing is. And how low it can leave you feeling.’
Susie went on to thank Greg and her mum ‘for every ounce of their support. From keeping me mentally together, to washing my bedding, to putting up with the incessant switching of ‘safe’ foods & endless trips to the supermarket to get me anything obscure I might fancy trying to nibble for a couple of seconds.’
‘I’m so grateful I can be back to being a mum & while I’m not fully recovered, I’m so grateful to get to this point.’
Family of five: The couple are already parents to sons Milo, six, and Rex, three
Greg, 34, and Susie, 32, announced their pregnancy on Instagram on Tuesday, sharing photos of Susie showing off her growing bump in a cream shirt.
She wrote: ‘Really happy to share we’ve got someone new joining the family early next year. The boys are very excited to meet their sister and we’ve been buying lots of miniature pairs of tights…
‘It’s been another difficult HG pregnancy and a long, tough road to get here but we’re so very grateful.’
Greg shared the same photo, writing:’Absolutely thrilled to let you all know baby no 3 is on HER way. WE MADE A GIRL!’
She said yes!: Greg got engaged to long-term love Susie in May 2019 in Arizona
Greg and Susie met in 2012, exchanging messages for two months before enjoying a bowling date together – and hit it off instantly.
They welcomed first son Milo in Oct 2014 with Rex arriving in July 2017.
Greg won Olympic gold in 2012 and is the British record holder, both outdoors and indoors.
Greg proposed to Susie in May 2019 during a hike in Arizona, with the couple later proposing their planned 2020 wedding in the US due to COVID.