Covington, Ga. (May 26, 2021) -- The majority of pregnant women will visit their OB/GYN practice on a regular basis prior to delivering their baby but will visit the hospital where they plan to have their baby maybe only once or twice prior to delivery. However, for moms-to-be suffering from hyperemesis gravidarum (HG), a rare condition during pregnancy characterized by severe nausea, vomiting, weight loss, and electrolyte imbalance, visits to the hospital to receive treatment to address the debilitating symptoms can be frequent. At Piedmont Newton Hospital, women suffering from HG are admitted to the labor & delivery unit in the Women’s Services department to receive intravenous (IV) fluids and medications to prevent dehydration and provide relief from excessive vomiting.

Kamilah Smith was admitted to Piedmont Newton Hospital 10 times for HG treatment prior to delivering her son, Jayse.

“I would get to the hospital and the nurses already had my medication ready,” remembers Smith. “They knew me and it was so comforting to know that they were there to take care of me when I was so sick.”

When Jayse was delivered by c-section at 37 weeks gestation, Smith felt like she was surrounded by people she had known forever.

“You get to know your nurse and other care providers because they work multiple shifts and you build a connection with them. They each treated me like I was their friend or family member,” said Smith. “I could tell they genuinely wanted the best for me and my baby.”

During one of Smith’s visits to Piedmont Newton she saw the physician who had been the anesthesiologist in the operating room when she had delivered her daughter a couple of years earlier. She stopped him and reintroduced herself. She asked if he would again be in the operating room when she delivered her son. He told her he would not be in the OB department that day, but that she was in good hands with his colleagues.

Having previously worked for a busy Atlanta-based OB/GYN practice, Smith understood that anesthesiologists are incredibly busy managing multiple patients across the hospital, so imagine her surprise when she was admitted for delivery and the anesthesiologist stopped by her room simply to wish her well and offer support.

“He made a point of stopping by my room to say hello even though he was not working in the OB unit,” said Smith. “It was those personalized moments that made having my son such a beautiful experience even after having been so sick during my pregnancy.”

Moms-to-be in Covington and surrounding communities suffering from hyperemesis gravidarum can receive the same compassionate, patient-centered care close to home at Piedmont Newton Hospital – a relief when you’re too sick to even think about driving into Atlanta, much less get behind the wheel of your car for the long drive to an Atlanta-based hospital.

To learn more about maternity care at Piedmont Newton here.