A British woman says she aborted her healthy baby because she was struck down with severe morning sickness.
Cheryl Harrison, 44, suffered from an extreme form of morning sickness, known as hyperemesis gravidarum, which put a massive strain on her heart and caused her to vomit up to 27 times a day, The Sun newspaper reports.
Mrs Harrison, who lives in East Yorkshire with husband James, has one daughter, Scarlett.
The couple decided to have another child in 2008, believing Mrs Harrison would be better equipped to deal with the sickness but they terminated the pregnancy after 16 weeks.
They are speaking for the first time about their ordeal to help other women.
"It was the most horrendous decision I have ever made," Mrs Harrison was quoted as saying.
"James could see how much I was suffering and never opposed the idea of a termination. But he still thinks of the family we might have had."
About one percent of women experience morning sickness so severe they are admitted to hospital to avoid dehydration.
Mrs Harrsion said she was not offered counselling to help with the condition.
"I think there are other women out there who terminated pregnancies for the same reason — but it's taboo and no one discusses it."
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