I didn’t have HG, but my hcg levels (hcg hormone causes pregnancy sickness) were x8 of an average pregnant woman (which triggered testing for Down’s syndrome) I had the most awful pregnancy, I was nauseous for 20 weeks before medication stopped 90% of it.
I could barely function, slept 5/6 hours a night and had to commute and work full time through it. That was ALL I could do: there was nothing left for my other children or my husband, house, family etc. it was the most miserable time and I feel I have mild ptsd from it.
However, my mum had HG in all her pregnancies, hospitalised for extensive periods and in the last 2 took sickness medication that was unapproved (it was the 80s) because in her mind, it was that or die. As another poster said, she also met women who had aborted due to hg, and women who were wheeled into delivery suite puking.
That’s how I know I didn’t have hg.
Truth was though, there is no official definition/ test to diagnose hg (above severe sickness or nausea) and it was suggested by dr/ midwife even for me. You’ve got to do your research if you don’t have first hand knowledge to understand what it really is.