Nollywood actress Adesua Etomi-Wellington has opened up about her struggle with hyperemesis gravidarum, a severe form of morning sickness, during her second pregnancy.
The revelation comes in the wake of the news of UK-based woman Jess Cronshaw, who committed suicide amid her battle with the sickness.
Adesua took to her Instagram on Tuesday to detail her ordeal while expressing frustration over the misunderstanding of hyperemesis gravidarum.
“When I talk about the seriousness of hyperemesis gravidarum, people don’t get it, and I hate it,” she shared on her Instagram story.
“It is not ordinary morning sickness. It is a serious condition that literally affects the quality of your life,” she added.
Unlike typical morning sickness, which up to 80% of pregnant individuals experience, hyperemesis gravidarum comes with severe nausea, persistent vomiting, weight loss, dehydration, and other symptoms, according to Cleveland Clinic
In a previous birthday post, Adesua recounted months of illness that defined her pregnancy journey.
She described enduring prolonged bouts of severe nausea, multiple hospitalisations, and the eventual emergency C-section.
“From being ill for months with hyperemesis… 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,” she wrote.
She also emphasised that those grappling with the condition are facing a genuine, life-altering illness.
Adesua credited her husband, singer Bankole Wellington (popularly known as Banky W), alongside a dedicated team of doctors, family, and friends, for their support.
The couple welcomed their second child in 2024.
Medical experts have defined hyperemesis gravidarum as an extreme form of morning sickness, naturally emerging in the first trimester of pregnancy.
EDITOR’s NOTE: If you are in Nigeria and you or a loved one have contemplated suicide, call National Emergency Hotlines at 112 or Nigerian Suicide Prevention Initiative Counselling Centre at 0806 210 6493 to connect with a trained counselor.
For support outside of Nigeria, a worldwidedirectory of resources and international hotlines is provided by the International Association for Suicide Prevention.
