Hyperemesis, Cannabis, and a Mother’s Courage: Ray’s Story of Survival and Advocacy

From Hospital Beds to Healing: One Mother’s Journey Using Cannabis to Survive a Brutal Pregnancy

Dr C: Pregnancy is often painted as a glowing, blissful experience. But for Ray, a 24-year-old mother from Texas, the reality was far from idyllic. Diagnosed with Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG)—a condition characterized by severe, relentless nausea and vomiting—Ray’s journey into motherhood was marked by hospital visits, IV lines, and an overwhelming sense of helplessness.

Traditional medications offered no relief. Desperation led her to a decision she never expected: turning to cannabis. With the support of her obstetrician, Ray found the relief she needed to endure her pregnancy, nourish her body, and protect her growing baby. Her story challenges conventional narratives, highlights the complexity of medical decision-making during pregnancy, and underscores the power of patient advocacy.

What follows is her story—raw, unfiltered, and told entirely in her own words. This is her experience of navigating a brutal pregnancy, a failing medical system, and the relief she found when nothing el…