Bryony Twydle, 36, has shared her experience coping with emetophobia—a debilitating fear of vomiting—amid a pregnancy that she ultimately ended due to the severe anxiety triggered by morning sickness. Twydle, who had long struggled to manage her phobia, described how the prospect of enduring morning sickness overwhelmed her mental health and forced her to make a difficult decision.
Emetophobia affects an estimated two to seven percent of the population, predominantly women, with most developing the fear around the age of ten. For Twydle, the origins of her phobia go back to childhood, including an incident where she was confined in a car while a friend vomited and recurring episodes of travel sickness within her family. Throughout her life, she avoided situations that might expose her to vomiting, including social gatherings and alcohol consumption, as a means of controlling her anxiety.
In her late twenties, Twydle sought therapy through the National Health Service (NHS) and underwent cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) to confront her fears. This process involved gradual exposure exercises, such as watching videos depicting vomiting and spending time in vehicles with simulated vomit smells, which helped her reduce panic responses over time.
After marrying, Twydle and her husband decided to try for a baby in January 2024, feeling that she was mentally prepared for pregnancy. However, November brought challenging news with diagnoses of bowel cancer for her father and breast cancer for her grandmother. Around the same period, Twydle contracted norovirus but experienced multiple episodes of vomiting herself—an unusual occurrence—leading her to suspect pregnancy, which was later confirmed.
Though Twydle and her family were initially overjoyed by the news, her anxiety escalated rapidly. Despite her strong desire to become a mother, the intensifying morning sickness triggered overwhelming panic. Describing her distress, Twydle recounted episodes of non-stop nausea and vomiting, and an inability to find relief. When she sought medical assistance at seven weeks pregnant, her requests for medication to alleviate symptoms were unsuccessful due to the early stage of pregnancy, with her doctor suggesting ginger as an alternative.
As her condition worsened, Twydle made the difficult decision to terminate the pregnancy, a choice supported by her husband due to the toll on her mental wellbeing. She described feeling profound shame and feared judgment from others but has since chosen to speak openly about her experience in hopes of supporting women facing similar struggles.
Two years on, Twydle emphasizes the importance of raising awareness about emetophobia and the severe impact that extreme morning sickness can have on expectant mothers. Her story sheds light on the complex interplay between mental health and pregnancy, highlighting the need for compassionate care and understanding for those confronting such challenges.