8 weeks pregnant and my wife cant stop vomiting

[johnnyd1]

My wife is now approx 8 weeks pregnant and for the past week or so can't stop rushing to the bathroom to be sick. she keeps it down for a bit then off she goes again. at the mo it seems to be bile every so often. does any other woman share a similar experience? is my wife ill or is this just normal? she is very tired and lies down regularly. she has tried a range of food but nothing (except a pizza or a burger king!). she tries water and sometimes milk but nothing stays down. will this affect the baby growing inside her or is this just a normality? please help!!!!!!!!!!!

[sarahscot]

This is within the normal range. It's called hyperemesis when it's this bad. It's horrendous to go through for the mum but doesn;t affect the baby. The baby takes what it needs - your wife may feel like death but baby will be doing away nicely.

It's very important that if your wife cannot anything down over a period of 24hrs that she phones the early pregnancy unit - the will often want to take someone in this situation into hospital to put them on a drip to rehydrate.

She can also ask her GP for anti-nausea medication, although GPs are reluctant to prescribe anything as they are not tested properly in pregnancy.

I felt like death from weeks 6 to 16 and took cyclizine to keep me well enough to function.

[spilttheteaagain]

If she's vomiting several times a day and not keeping fluids down then she needs help. Dehydration can be very dangerous. There are a variety pf antiemetics that can be taken in pregnancy and should help. If she struggles on without treatment and gets properly dehydrated she will end up being admitted to hospital for rehydration via a drip.

It won't affect the baby unless she becomes incredibly ill - the baby will take what it needs from her body and she will be the one who suffers.

I would definitely get her to the doctors tomorrow and explain how often she is vomitting and what she is managing to keep down/or not.

Really extreme sickness in pregnancy is called hyperemesis gravidarium, and there are many ladies on here who have endured it.

Hope she feels better soon.

[belgo]

Has she been to her doctor? She should be assessed properly, the doctor will look for signs of dehydration test her urine.

Many women do vomit loads during pregnancy, and weight loss in the first 12 weeks is very common. In the vast majority of cases, the baby will be fine because the baby gets the priority of the nutrients.

Some women suffer from hyperemesis gravidarum - uncontrollable vomiting that needs immediate medical assistance and treatment.

A doctor will be able to decide how ill your wife is and if she needs treatment.

[belgo]

In the meantime makes sure she gets plenty of rest, give her whatever food she wants (I remember asking dh for mashed potato and he came up with spinach in cheese sauce, which looks like vomit at the best of times.)

[johnnyd1]

Thankyou for all your replies so far x very grateful. she has been to see the doc who suggested she only get treatment if she feels she cannot go on much longer. apparently the doc went through the same when she was pregnant and lived on fruit pastilles! I'll keep you informed x

[Dropdeadfred]

I tried to struggle on through this and ended up hospitalised for a week unable to even keep down a sip of water....
It is sooo awful..I don't think people can comprehend what it feels like to be constantly nauseaus and vomiting unless they have been there.
Ice lollies helped me get a bit of fluid down...I really hope she feels beter soon.

[johnnyd1]

the doc, i forgot to mention, stated she thinks my wife has laryngitis!

[wigglesrock]

I am 31 weeks and still vomiting on a very regular basis. Milk was the worst thing I could have, water a close second . Even now I can't drink water too quickly, still can't touch anything with milk. Coke or fizzy orange got me through. Anything sweet especially fruit, jam, fruit sauces etc was terrible. The only thing that never made me sick, ever was Chinese food, even though it was the last thing I wanted. Hope all goes well. This is my 3rd and the sickest I've ever been.

[MaudOHara]

I vomited every day through both pregnancies - its very normal - just be lovely to her as she'll be feeling crappy and hormonal. It will hopefully settle down after 12 weeks

[nicolamumof3]

oh this was me a few weeks ago. I think the doctor only medicated me as i was severly dehydrated when i got to surgery and could barely walk i was 'all out' unable to sit up couldn't keep a thing done and have three other children to look after. I feel much more manageable now. Still nauseous but can at least eat and some days even enjoy some foods. Am now 9+5 peaked around 6-7 weeks for me. horrendous your wife has my full sympathies.

[nicolamumof3]

wiggles i craved chinese so much in the early weeks!! i survived on crisps and fizzy drinks!

[pozzled]

I would suggest trying different drinks. I was nowhere near as bad as your wife, but I couldn't face drinking water or squash in early pregnancy- I'm 13 weeks now and can just about face it again. I found fizzy drinks best.