Really having problems with food, not sure what to do.

[CharCharGabor]

I'm 17 weeks pregnant and after nausea and sickness for the first 12 weeks had been feeling fine. But for the last week or so I have started having massive problems with acid which is not being helped by antacids. I also have constant low level nausea and no appetite. I don't think I've eaten a proper meal for days as I don't feel my stomach has the capacity to eat a meal. Things such as lumps, slimy foods etc., which were a small issue before are now making me feel ill. Just thinking about them can make me retch, let alone seeing them.

I can't smell anything after eating or I'm sick. I can't bend over or I'm sick. I can't eat til I'm full or I'm sick. I can't even think about smells or I'm almost sick. Sorry to go on but this is really getting me down and I don't know what to do. Any advice?

[CharCharGabor]

bump

[Mama2b5]

hun you really need to go see your gpi do believe the baby is fine they survive really well drink plenty of fluids, but you with low energy aint good, try find at least something to eat and stick to it brown toast! ginger biscuits? i love jamaican ginger cake- yummy! keep updating - thoughts and prayers goin out to u hun xx

[CharCharGabor]

Thanks mama2b I'm managing to drink but could do with more. I'm eating very small amounts but it's definitely not enough. I can't predict what I can eat day to day because it changes and what I can eat becomes more limited. Will make an appointment with GP tomorrow.

[Mama2b5]

i know how concerned you must be! is this your first pregnancy? im on my 3rd and trust me it was the first time i ever been sick this lasted just over 3months! but baby survived! praise God xx good, get advice form GP asap! worse case they will give you an anti-sickness injection or may have to stay in hospital - nahhhh! u dont want that!

[CharCharGabor]

No it's my second but my pregnancy with my daughter was a lot easier than this! I'm sure the baby will be fine but not sure how much longer DD can survive on pasta and other cobbled together meals.

[geraldinetheluckygoat]

ugh, sympathies, I was very sick with both of mine too until about twenty weeks. I couldnt change the bin, or see pictures of food without being sick, and after the nausea went, i had to aviod thinking about certain things (pasta tomato sauce was one, weirdly) as they would make me retch. It's totally miserable isnt it? I got some tablets from the GP in the end, and they did help, I didnt have to take them every day or even the full dose, one every few days seemed to help a lot. Hope this passes for you, I agree if you can manage to find anything that you can stomach, you might find you feel less sick if your tummy isnt empty. Good luck

[penona]

Do you have a DP who could prepare your DD some meals? or can you do some batch cooking when feel up to it? Is she old enough to help out a little bit (making a sandwich or something if you sliced stuff up)?

I had terrible sickness when pg, fortunately no-one to look after except myself. I ate alot of malt loaf and dry salty crackers, and drank bitter lemon like some weird old lady. Oh and jacket potatoes. I despise them all now.

Good luck with it. It's not very pleasant!

[CharCharGabor]

Thanks for answering It is indeed grim. DD is 2 so only so much she can help with but she does seem to like the picky meals she's getting at the mo. DP cooks whenever he's here but works long hours. I think I may give batch cooking a go, should be ok as long as I haven't just eaten. Hopefully GP will be able to give me something to help. It's ridiculous, I end up having a whinge because of it which doesn't help!

[penona]

My GP wouldn;t give me anything until I was hospitalised at 9 weeks with severe vomiting. I am not sure what they can give you for nausea anyway - probably just rennies or some other sort of antacid.

Good luck though, is def worth a try. I did find sniffing a cut lime helped with the nausea, but was a little impractical! I also had a hankie with peppermint oil on it which I used to sniff.

[geraldinetheluckygoat]

dont blame you for having a whinge, it is totally miserable, really hope it passes for you soon.

My doc gave me some sort of travel sickness pill. I think some doctors will and some wont.

[CharCharGabor]

Thanks guys, don't know what I expect from the GP, just feels better than doing nothing. I am lucky not to be vomiting loads, I know others have it so much worse than me. I have tried remegel as the liquid stuff makes me sick but so far it's working for about 30 mins Think I'll need a face mask, too many funny smells about!

[HelishAngel]

I'm 14 weeks pg with no 4. Had terrible sickness with all my pregnancies, after which I'd move swiftly into the the heartburn stage when I lived on Gaviscon. My eating habits have changed completely from pre-pg but I'm eating small amounts of healthy stuff often. It seems more manageable. We do what we can when faced with feeling so rough so don't be too hard on yourself.

Your GP may be able to give you something like Ranitidine or Omeprazole or something they know/consider to be safe to take during pregnancy. Ranitidine helped me hugely. If you need or want Gaviscon...ask for the Gaviscon Advance and get it on prescription. Costs way too much in the shops!

Hope you find something that works for you soon!

[jennifersofia]

Great sympathy. Zantac worked for me when Gaviscon didn't.

[timmette]

Do go to your gp I suffered for 8 months with morning sickness and acid reflux and the midwife said there was nothing they can do. This time around I spoke to the doctor who said there is no longer any need to suffer like this in pregnancy and there are medicines that are safe to take in pregnany. So do insist.

[beautifulgirls]

I agree - off the the GP for some help. I had really bad nausea and heartburn for the rest of pregnancy with DD#2 after a tummy bug that landed me in hospital overnight when about 6mth pregnant. The GP supplied me with anti-sickness tablets that I could safely use and different antacid liquid that was MUCH nicer that gavsicon (Maalox (mint) liquid, you can buy over the counter at pharmacy BTW) but I also have a friend who had bad heartburn and was given omeprazole tablets and found these amazing. There are plenty of treatments out there that can be given safely.

Hope you feel better soon - it is miserable when you feel like that.

[CharCharGabor]

Thanks for the replies Woke up too late to get appointment at doctors so will have to try again tomorrow. Hopefully they will be able to give me something to help.

[Mama2b5]

loads of good advice so your not alone,Good luck - and yes make that GP apt!

[Trying4Baby1]

Hiya, have you tried taking Gaviscon for your reflux? I have a severe reflux that I've had since before I was pregnant and I'm on omeprazole and gaviscon. Still get MS and I'm having to take more Gaviscon and I'm only 10 weeks. Gaviscon is available without prescription and is safe in pregnancy. If you're in the UK you should be able to get it free on prescription. I know how awful a ruflux can be as I've had mine for 5 years so I hope you get something to help it soon!!

[bethylou]

Also, don't forget that wrist nads from the chemist might help - I'm still wearing mine at 20 weeks and only take them off for a shower as find they are actually helping. Acupuncture itself may be expensive, but personally I was willng to throw money at the problem just to try and get me through it. The nausea is mostly ok now, apart from Mumsnetting in the evenings when concentrating on the screen makes me feel sick - doh!!

[bethylou]

ah yes, and clearly can't spell in the evenings either due to tiredness ... wrist nads should read wrist bands! Sorry!

[roary]

I second Zantac (ranitidine). My heartburn was exactly like yours all the way through and by late pregnancy I was completely unable to sleep (even sitting up in bed). I was sent to the hospital to check the baby's position at 37 weeks, the consultant read my notes, and was shocked I had been suffering for so long. Promptly gave me zantac by prescription and it was truly life -changing. I could sleep and eat which was just as well because my dd was 2 full weeks overdue. Do not suffer! One of the problems with a MW led system is that MWs can't prescribe drugs, so I think this happens quite often.

Good luck!

[roary]

PS: the drugs they can give you for morning sickness or HG will control vomiting and not nausea. So if you are having trouble keeping food down, they'll help; if you don't want to eat, probably not so much.

If it makes you feel better, I am 14 weeks now with no 2 and last night for dinner I had an avocado and a chocolate milkshake. I think the only thing to do is to eat what you want and not worry about it too much, even if what you want is entirely random. I eat a LOT of avocadoes.

[Mama2b5]

CCB- did you get to the GP? hope sooo

[bethylou]

Roary - don't want to worry you unduly, but thought I read something recently about too much avocado not being good in pregnancy due to the high level of vitamin E(?) in them. Perhaps worth checking out if you are eating lots (though hate the thought of taking away a food you can actually tolerate - if someone had removed salt and vinegar crisps from me a few weeks ago I might have swung for them!)