Very sick with DC1 = Very Sick with DC2

[Bumpsadaisie]

DH and I are about to start trying for DC2 (DD1 is 14 months).

The thing is I was really very sick last time round - had cyclizine and 8 weeks off work - managed to avoid hospital.

Any one out there got any advice about the likelihood of my having a miserable time again with DC2? Not sure how I would cope if it was the same again (though cope I would have to, of course!)

Thanks everyone - I am really quite anxious about this!

Bumps x

[MrClaypole]

Watching with interest Bumps - am also about to start TTC and am dreading feeling as ill as I did with DS1! I just started a new job 2 months ago so don't really want to have to take time off work.

Awaiting lots of posts to say "I had no sickness with DC2" [hopeful]

[lucy101]

I was very sick the first time around, but not as sick as you - I was throwing up around 15/20 times day and night but was able to keep going. This time I haven't been sick at all, nauseous but not actually sick, but I have gone off all food and have to make myself eat. I was dreading being so ill again so feel I have got off lightly this time. I think each pregnancy is different and I hope that you are luckier this time around. I have no idea if there are any stats on what the chances are of you being that ill again.

[Bumpsadaisie]

I know - the worry about feeling really ill is the only thing that gives me pause. How old is your DS?

[Bumpsadaisie]

Oh, good Lucy101 - thanks for that!!

[addie81]

I am also just adding my interest - currently 32 weeks with DC1, and NEVER wanted to have an only child, but really don't think I can face being this sick again, and don't know how I would manage to look after my DC 1 whilst pregnant with a second child - I was totally bed bound for weeks.
If those who have been really sick could post their experience of pregnancy with DC2 I bet there are lots of MNers who would really appreciate hearing about their experiences!
Thanks Lucy 101 for your post!

[pipoca]

Watching with interest as I had HG with DS. The Help HER hg website says:
If you have had severe HG more than once, you have a very high probability of having HG again. Recent research by the HER Foundation finds over half of women (about 2/3rds) will have HG in every pregnancy. Your chances are greater if you have a relative with a history of HG, especially a sister. Health professionals often underestimate the recurrence rate of HG.

So, perhaps for a 2nd pg the chances are no higher than for a first pg? IYSWIM?

[FranSanDisco]

My sister was hospitalised twice with her dc1 due to constant sickness. She was fine with dc2 apart from some mild nausea early on.

[Bumpsadaisie]

Oh no, Pipoca! That doesn't sound promising.

I've still got a stash of Cyclizine which I have been saving up...

[Bumpsadaisie]

That's more like it FranSanDisco!

[blocking out bad news emoticon]

[notso]

With DD I was sick after every meal and sometimes in between until about 20 weeks then again from 36 weeks until she was born, I didn't actually feel ill though but lost about two stone.
With DS I had slight nausia with certain smells but no sickness and felt fine all through the pregnancy.
This time (am 20 weeks) I had terrible sickness until about 15 weeks, was off work for 9 weeks and couldn't cook or even think about food, I really felt ill.

I realise this might not sound like a success story but hope it helps to know that each pregnancy can be completely different.

[pipoca]

but I think it means if you've had HG twice then you'll most likely get it a third time. That's why I bolded MORE THAN ONCE. it doesn't say "if you've had HG". Well, that's what I'm clinging on to desperately as we are ttc #2!

[asdx2]

I was sick with ds 1 and ds 2 nothing with dd 1 had HG with ds 3 and sickness with dd 2.
I thought I was bad with three of them up to 10 times a day but it was nothing compared to HG which only passed as he was delivered.

[QueenofDreams]

Well I hoped I wouldn't have HG with DC2. Unfortunately I have. BUT I seem to have coped better. I did end up in hospital for a few days, but once they gave me cyclizine I've managed to get it mostly under control. I'm still sick each morning, but I am functional.

I think the big difference is that with DS I could just retire to my bed and be ill. THis time I've had to keep on. I'm coping though, and definitely feeling better about this pregnancy than I did with the last!

[asdx2]

Do remember having to phone my sister to change ds1's nappy and to cook for him when it was at it's peak.
With ds3 sent oldest two to breakfast club and switched to school dinners and dd1 to nursery because I couldn't cope.

[peppapighastakenovermylife]

Sorry, was the case here. And with DC3

[Jacksmybaby]

I have had HG both times BUT the "good" news is that although it lasted right up til the birth with DS, it died down at about 20ish weeks this time round.

The other "good" news is that I think GPs are more likely to take you seriously (i.e. hand over some drugs and not just tell you to go away and get on with it) earlier on in your 2nd pg if they can see from your history how bad you have been previously.

[tullytwo]

I was fine with dc1 and 2 -both boys but was horrendously sick with dc3-a girl. Dont know if it had anything to do with their sex or not.

Wld love dc4 but have to admit I couldnt cope if I was sick again as I was with dd esp with 3 other kids to look after.

[colditz]

I have 2 boys. I was sick as a dog with ds1 but although I felt v tired with ds2, I was never sick.

[ArseHolio]

I was fairly sick with dd (I say fairly cos I'd feel felt like a fraud writing very after some of the stories on here) I was sick maybe 5 times a day I'll the day she was born and felt dizzy and lightheaded and generally grim throughout.

I was only occasionally sick with ds. After 12 weeks I didn't even feel pregnant which was a huge relief!

[Kity]

Hi there, just thought I would add my two penneth! Had serious sickness with DS1, lost weight, put on cyclizine couldn't work etc. Sick right to the last minute but strangely enough not at all whilst in labour???

Anyway, this time (am currently 37weeks) I DID have terrible sickness for about the first 4 months and then it gradually got better until I was sick perhaps once a fortnight? I will still now have the odd sicky day but god it is NOWHERE near what it was last time and I am so very grateful for that.

So I would say every single pregnancy is different, and perhaps you too will have an easier time next time?
Good luck

[Alibabaandthe40nappies]

I was horribly sick with DS, couldn't keep anything down for weeks and was off work for ages and then worked from home for another couple of months so that I could feel rotten and vomit in peace.

I am 7 weeks with DC2, and fingers crossed it is nowhere near as bad this time. I feel sick in the mornings and have gone off various foods - I can't really manage much in the way of cooking - but I'm fine, especially if I'm out in the fresh air I feel almost normal. I'm expecting it to get worse before it gets better, but by this stage with DS I was bed-bound and throwing up 10-20 times a day.

[chipmonkey]

Horribly sick with ds1
less so with ds2
Very, very, very sick with ds3, lost loads of weight in first trimester
not so bad with ds4.

[essexgirl31]

I was a sick for 22 weeks with DS1. Then I was very very sick with DS2 for 39 weeks - only stopped vomiting then - all day nausea continued

However - a really good friend of mine was terribly sick for her 1st pregnancy - was off work for most of it. Her 2nd pregnancy was so so so different. Only felt nauseous until she was 15/16 weeks.

[Bumpsadaisie]

Thanks everyone - some hopeful stories here.

I keep telling myself that it will be easier next time round.

Even if I am very sick I will not obsess and ruminate about the pregnancy like I did with DD1, because there won't be time! (in a totally non-scientific way I think this made my sickness worse and made the pregnancy more of a slog).

Also I really will just have to get on with it and so no doubt I will do that and cope.

Again total speculation but I remember being so shocked about the way the pregnancy and symptoms had invaded my life. I was annoyed about that. This time round, though, I have got used to not having much of a "me" life and so perhaps the "invasion" of pregnancy won't be such a big deal.

[I was delighted to BE pregnant you understand and I loved feeling DD - I was just very angry I felt so crap all the time!]

Do you know I think I have convinced myself that it will all be hunkydory next time! Bring it ON, sickness, nausea, heartburn, sore hips, breathlessness, swollen hands and feet, and exhaustion! I am ready!!

[Jacksmybaby]

Good luck!