A mother has chosen to name her baby after the lifesaving IV drips she relied on during her pregnancy, as they were the only relief from her severe morning sickness. Paige Turl, 24, suffered from hyperemesis gravidarum (HG), a condition famously experienced by Kate Middleton, which led to prolonged vomiting, dehydration, and significant weight loss. Turl, from Axminster, Devon, had to be hospitalised between three to six times a week, as she could only tolerate ice lollies, iced slushy drinks, and dry toast during her pregnancy. Standing at 5ft 4in and a size six, she plummeted to just 6st due to vomiting up to 70 times a day, fitting into size four jeans.
Despite being prescribed anti-sickness medication, Turl found solace in saline IV drips, which she credits for helping her survive the pregnancy. In honour of this crucial treatment, she decided to name her baby girl Ivy Gibbons. Turl revealed that the decision to name her daughter came after a change of heart towards the end of her pregnancy, as she realised the significance of the IV drips in her journey to motherhood. She shared, “‘I had my heart set on a different name [Faith] and then towards the end I wasn’t really feeling the name. I was like, ‘do you know what, I’m here for a lot of IVs, I really like the name IV. Could we make this work?’ to her dad.”
Having been diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) as a result of her challenging pregnancy, Turl now advocates to raise awareness about HG. Her experience at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital provided her with anti-sickness medications and regular saline IV drips. Despite initially hoping for a ‘perfect’ pregnancy, the reality was far from it, leaving Turl feeling like a mere ‘shell’ of herself during her pregnancy with Ivy, now three years old. Reflecting on the difficulties she faced, Turl stated, “That time of your life should be full of happiness, you should be getting excited. It wasn’t that at all.”
Throughout her pregnancy, Turl faced dismissive attitudes from medical staff, with some suggesting her condition was psychological and recommending she simply drink more water. One male doctor even refused to administer an IV drip, questioning the severity of her illness based on her appearance. Turl emphasized the importance of being vigilant and supportive towards individuals experiencing HG, highlighting the lack of awareness and understanding surrounding the condition. She expressed concern over the impact that the illness had on her mental and physical health, leading her to develop an eating disorder post-pregnancy.
Despite the challenges she faced, Turl has slowly recovered and is now at a healthier weight, though she continues to struggle with certain foods due to food aversion linked to her HG experience. Reflecting on the postpartum period, Turl expressed a desire for a more traditional physical transformation to reflect the journey of motherhood she endured. Her story sheds light on the physical and emotional toll that conditions like HG can have on expectant mothers and the importance of providing adequate support and understanding to those experiencing such challenges. Page 1Page 2Page 3Page 4Page 5Page 6Page 7Page 8