Martha Kalifatidis is moving forward well, despite the hardships she endured during her pregnancy.
The Married at First Sight star showed off her growing belly in an Instagram Stories post on Friday.
In a promotional post for a Black Friday sale, the 34-year-old showed off her bump while wearing a beige crop top under a flannel shirt.
Martha Kalifatidis (pictured) is doing well, despite the hardships she endures during her pregnancy
Martha added a pair of pink tracksuit bottoms to the casual and comfy outfit.
She looked brighter and better than she has in recent months, wearing minimal makeup and her brunette locks were down around her face.
It comes after her fiancé Michael Brunelli revealed how Martha’s morning sickness “almost destroyed the couple”.
The Married at First Sight star showed off her growing belly in an Instagram Stories post on Friday
In a promotional item for a Black Friday sale, the 34-year-old showed off her bump while wearing a beige crop top under a flannel shirt
The 31-year-old reality star has revealed his wife-to-be suffered from hyperemesis gravidarum, an extreme form of morning sickness, while carrying their first child.
In an article for Body & Soul, the personal trainer shared that looking after Martha caused him to drop his healthy habits, lose muscle and gain weight.
“Not to say that we are not eternally grateful to have been able to get pregnant, but this experience almost destroyed us, individually,” he wrote before explaining that Martha’s health quickly declined after being got pregnant earlier this year.
It comes after her fiancé Michael Brunelli (right) revealed how Martha’s morning sickness ‘almost destroyed the couple’
Michael explained that at first he thought his symptoms were normal, but over the weeks his discomfort became “extreme”.
“She was vomiting, refusing to eat, could not tolerate drinking water, was nauseous 24 hours a day, and was unable to get out of bed,”
“By the ninth week of pregnancy, Martha had lost 22 lbs, was taking several medications and required regular intravenous drips in the hospital to stay hydrated,” he wrote.
She suffers from hyperemesis gravidarum, an extreme form of morning sickness, while carrying their first child
Michael quit working as a personal trainer to care for his future wife – but also saw his mental and physical health decline.
“I stopped exercising, I lost worry about what I was eating, I was stuck in my own head and absent. I had no motivation, no will, no personal attention and no energy. I lost a lot of muscle, gained weight, slept poorly and my overall health declined,” he added.
Fortunately, Martha’s illness subsided at 22 weeks, she is now able to resume her daily activities and Michael is back to work.
Michael quit working as a personal trainer to care for his future wife – but also saw his mental and physical health decline
Earlier this year, Martha disappeared offline for several weeks, raising concerns for her wellbeing.
The couple eventually revealed that they have hyperemesis gravidarum, which causes persistent and excessive nausea and vomiting in pregnant women.
The couple explained that they should wait until Martha is feeling better and has reached a safe point in her pregnancy before sharing their news.
Michael explained that at first he thought his symptoms were normal, but over the weeks his discomfort became “extreme”.
“We wanted to explain our situation and make a little announcement. Martha is pregnant,’ Michael said in a video at the time.
“It hasn’t been such an exciting and wonderful time for us. I don’t want to sound like I’m complaining,” Martha added.
‘I was so sick. I couldn’t eat or drink anything. There were days when I didn’t even get up to pee. I lost ten kilos in five weeks.
“We went in and out of the emergency room and the hospital.”
The couple shared heartbreaking videos of Martha’s multiple hospital and doctor visits
The couple also shared heartbreaking videos of Martha’s multiple visits to the hospital and doctor’s office.
“I don’t know, Michael, if I’m going to survive,” Martha says in a clip, to which her husband-to-be replies, “You will.”
‘I do not know. I don’t know if I want to do it. I don’t know if I can,” Martha continues.
“I don’t know how you feel,” he said. “But we’ll get through this.”
In his caption, Michael expressed his grief and admitted he felt “completely helpless” during Martha’s illness.
In one clip, the couple are seen talking to each other in a room about Martha’s excruciating pain as she begins to doubt herself. ‘I don’t know if I want to do it. I don’t know if I can, she said
He said Martha had spent the “best part of the past 10 weeks in bed 24 hours a day, dehydrated, nauseous, vomiting, restless, tired, anxious, fatigued and unable to sleep or eat properly”.
Although she has visited the hospital several times, received medical advice and been prescribed various medications, she still suffers from the disease.
“But she’s a fucking warrior!” And the same goes for all other women diagnosed with HG [hyperemesis gravidarum] or any pregnancy-related condition,” Michael added.
