A mum lost all of her teeth after she vomited so much while pregnant – and has now embraced her new look.
Louise Cooper,26, from Berkshire, fell pregnant for the first time in 2017 while she was working as a nanny in a French ski resort.
But, after only a week, the mum-of-three rushed back to the UK as she couldn't stop throwing up.
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She vomited so much that her teeth started to fall out.
Hairdresser Louise was diagnosed with Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG) – excessive nausea and vomiting – a couple months after she found out she was expecting.
Her oldest, Zachary, five, was born in November that year and just six months later, she had the rest of her teeth removed due to the damage sustained through being so sick.
Despite the trauma to her teeth, Louise had two more kids and has now embraced life with her gummy smile.
"I have accepted the fact I have no teeth," the devoted mum shared.
"I have embraced having no teeth.
"I have dentures now but they are not the most comfortable things to wear as they are cosmetic.
"They are also very triggering for the traumatic side of HG.
"I can now leave the house without having teeth in.
"Life is more relaxing and enjoyable for me."
Although many women experience 'morning sickness' during their pregnancy, the excessiveness of vomiting is not as common – and can be dangerous.
According to the NHS website: "Exactly how many pregnant women get HG is not known as some cases may go unreported
"But it's thought to be around 1 to 3 in every 100.
"Unlike regular pregnancy sickness, HG may not get better by 16 to 20 weeks.
"It may not clear up completely until the baby is born, although some symptoms may improve at around 20 weeks.
"This excessive nausea and vomiting is known as hyperemesis gravidarum (HG), and often needs hospital treatment."
Louise explained that she lost her teeth through the stomach acid in the vomit.
The high acidity of the sick decays the tooth and can increase gum sensitivity.
But after she gave birth, the HG would 'disappear'.
"The damage was caused by the acid from vomiting," the mum said.
"I lost my first tooth around 16 weeks and it was just out of nowhere.
"I was told that my teeth would need to be removed as they were so damaged.
"I gave birth to my son in November 2017 and six months after that I had my teeth removed."
Despite being traumatised by the condition, Louise went on to have two more children and experienced the same symptoms in all three pregnancies.
While parenting Zachary and Ollie, three, and Oakley, 11 months, Louise has learnt to adapt to motherhood – and having no teeth.
But, still, the mum said she wouldn't wish the gruelling condition on her 'worst enemy'.
"It is not enjoyable when you have HG and are in bed for nine months," she said.
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"I have only really just come to terms with everything in the past year.
"It has restricted my diet – I don't eat a lot of meat anymore. I mainly stick to eating vegetables.
"I would say my diet isn't the healthiest as it is restricted from trauma.
"I have a lot of trauma about food groups, it is so traumatic to go through severe vomiting for nine months – it was none stop.
"It is hard to go back into a routine of understanding that food won't make me vomit anymore.
"It was very traumatic, I wouldn't wish it upon my worst enemy."
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