Nollywood actress Adesua Etomi-Wellington has opened up about her battle with hyperemesis gravidarum, a severe form of morning sickness, during her second pregnancy.
Reflecting on her difficult experience, she shared her story in response to a report about a pregnant UK woman, Jess Cronshaw, who died by suicide after extreme morning sickness left her bedridden.
According to foreign news outlet PEOPLE on Monday, Jess struggled with the debilitating condition, which causes severe nausea, persistent vomiting, weight loss, and dehydration, often making daily life unbearable.
Taking to her Instagram story, Adesua expressed frustration over the lack of awareness surrounding the condition.
“When I talk about the seriousness of hyperemesis gravidarum, people don’t get it, and I hate it,” she wrote.
“It is not ordinary morning sickness. It is a serious condition that literally affects the quality of your life.”
She also thanked her husband, doctors, family, and friends for their unwavering support during her most difficult moments.
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The actress previously shared glimpses of her challenging pregnancy journey in a heartfelt birthday post, revealing that she endured months of illness, was hospitalised, and ultimately had to undergo an emergency C-section.
She wrote in part: “From being ill for months with hyperemesis (if you’re going through this, I see you. It’s not in your head. You are as ill as you feel & think you are, and yes, you need help), to being admitted to hospital, to finding out the love of my life needed another surgery to remove a cancerous tumour while being sick and pregnant, to ending up with an emergency C-section because the devil tried it with my life AGAIN, to a harrowing healing process… it was a lot.
“I want to thank all the doctors who looked after me in Lagos, Nigeria, and the team in Washington, DC, that pretty much saved my life. I am here, and I am grateful.”
The actress and her husband, singer Bankole Wellington, aka Banky W, welcomed their second child in 2024.
Hyperemesis gravidarum is a severe form of morning sickness that affects pregnant women, causing extreme nausea, persistent vomiting, weight loss, and dehydration.
Unlike typical morning sickness, which is common in early pregnancy and usually mild, hyperemesis gravidarum is much more intense and can require hospitalisation.
The condition can have serious physical and emotional effects on pregnant women, making awareness and medical intervention crucial. While it typically improves after the first trimester, in some cases, it can last throughout pregnancy.
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