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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to take anti sickness drugs in pregnancy?

91 replies

whatareyoueventalkingabout · 08/01/2014 22:05

have been prescribed for morning sickness. Have told three people all of whom who have said things like "you aren't going to take them are they?"

I feel so ill but I also can't help feeling like I might be missing something. Is it because people think they might harm the baby?

from a very very sicky mumsnetter

OP posts:
SquirrelNuts · 09/01/2014 08:02

I lost a stone in my first 7 weeks I tried 3 different kinds of antisickness pills none of them actually worked but both my dc are fine. hope they work for you, I really do sympathise!

elliejjtiny · 09/01/2014 10:31

I've had bad morning sickness but not bad enough to need tablets (puking 10+ times a day with DS1 and lost 2.5 stone in 1st trimester, not quite as bad with the others thank goodness). However I've had antenatal depression and been on anti-ds during pregnancy for DC's 2 and 5. So I'm firmly in the "if you have been prescribed medication, you need it" camp.

EmmaFreudsGivingMeJip · 09/01/2014 10:46

yanbu, if you need them take them. I'm 34 weeks now and was on Ondansetron until 24 weeks after trying several other anti emetics for HG. I heard people talking about me in work saying things like 'why does she need medication its morning sickness just get on with it' haha! These comments from women who never even had regular morning sickness. They have no idea what it's like to puke everytime you move, bring up blood and rapidly lose weight.

If they help take the edge off for you and allow you to keep some fluid/food down then take them and don't feel guilty. fwiw I don't think I would have got this far without them.

whereisthewitch · 09/01/2014 10:49

emma did you have any side effects with Ondansetron?

Seeline · 09/01/2014 10:53

Take them - I didn't have anything for my 1st pg but the GP signed me off work and I could stay in bed for 18 weeks. 2nd pg with a 2yo was not so much fun throwing up 24/7 so I begged the Gp for drugs. She gave me cyclizine which although made me feel soo drowsy were a miracle. DD is a healthy 9yo now so don't worry (and I still can't eat ginger biscuits Envy
Gp wouldn't give them if they weren't necessary. You will feel so much better.

TheCrumpetQueen · 09/01/2014 10:55

I took ondandestron (zofran) and it was amazing.

My son was born with webbed toes though but will never know if it was because of that :(

EmmaFreudsGivingMeJip · 09/01/2014 10:55

whereisthewitch yes unfortunately they made me really constipated. I took lactulose for it but that made me sick. Had to resort to gel suppositories.

TheCrumpetQueen · 09/01/2014 10:56

Btw all the drs said it was an anomaly and the meds didn't cause it

DragonPaws · 09/01/2014 12:51

I was really ill in early pregnancy - so much so that the hospital told my DH that I didn't have long to live and my liver started to fail. I was so sick though, I was unable to even swallow water without throwing up.

I had cyclizine and stemital (together) and they didn't work, but ondansetron was great and saved my and my daughters life. I was able to come off it altogether at 20 weeks.

Hyperenemsis can be a nasty illness so personally I would follow the medical professional's advice.

Some things which may help (if you are able to stomach anything ) are bananas (good for replacing potassium), flat coke (for rehydration), ice lollies (good for fluids).

pointythings · 09/01/2014 13:00

You were prescribed them, you must therefore need them, you should take them.

I never had HG, just constant very intense nausea for the first 20 weeks in both pregnancies and I remember how miserable it was. I can only imagine how bad true HG must be, please take all the help you can get. Modern anti-sickness drugs have been thoroughly tested and are safe.

moonbells · 09/01/2014 13:27

If you are given pills, please take them. If you don't eat, the risk to your baby will be much worse if it cannot get the nutrients to grow properly, and if you can prevent at least some sickness it will help prevent long-term damage to your stomach and oesophagus and teeth. Drink lots of water even if you think you bring it straight back, since that will dilute the stomach acids and bile salts which could otherwise cause tissue damage.

I had cyclizine and ranitidine from 9 weeks to birth with a pack of metoclopramide for really bad days. I wasn't allowed ondansetron as it was too expensive. I had five weeks off work full-time and another four part-time, one of them stuck to a drip in hospital. I bet that cost the NHS a bit more than the ondansetron would have!

PterodactylTeaParty · 09/01/2014 16:38

YANBU. You need the drugs so take them. I made it to 8 weeks without drugs, because I so badly wanted my pregnancy to be all-natural and healthy and drug-free etc etc etc. And then I ended up in the GP's surgery badly dehydrated, miserably weak, unable to eat or drink at all, and a sobbing retching mess, and I reconsidered.

I am now 32 weeks and on ondansetron + cyclizine, after going through a few others. I am still sick but with the drugs I can actually function, and not put my baby's health and mine at risk by being unable to keep down fluids and food.

People who tell you "oooh don't take drugs when you're pregnant" have no sodding idea how bad - and dangerous - sickness can get. Even some midwives don't seem to get it (I am looking at YOU here, bitch who told me to stop taking metoclopramide and "try ginger instead").

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726 · 09/01/2014 16:48

Oh god, there's nothing worse than feeling constantly sick, not in my book anyway. Take whatever you've been prescribed and defer to medical opinion, no other.

I seem to remember reading somewhere that Thalidomide was tested... but it was tested as a sleeping pill/anxiety reducing drug and on elderly people. The reduction of sickness was a positive side effect and that's why it was prescribed to pregnant women as it had been tested as 'safe'. Obviously, it was safe for elderly people, no risk of pregnancy.

Do what you have to do, OP, really. I hope you feel better soon.

Babymamaroon · 09/01/2014 17:22

Yanbu and I really feel for you. Pregnancy sickness (morning my arse) is actually the worst illness I've ever had. In my 2nd pregnancy I HAD to take Cyclizine as I just couldn't bear it.

Bubs is here and she's fine :)

Thebluedog · 09/01/2014 17:27

I took them and went on to have a happy and healthy baby (she's 6 now)

I was sick as a dig and actually losing weight. I'd wake in the middle of the night to throw up, plus it was constant during the day. It was horrendous!

If the doc has prescribed them then I don't see why anyone would question if you should take them. Medical professionals are so much under the microscope that they'd never give you anything that they thought would harm you or the baby.

Hippymama · 09/01/2014 17:54

I am currently pregnant with my second baby and suffering HG again. With my first pregnancy I was so ill that I lost three stone in weight (even with taking metochlopromide). This time around I have been prescribed pretty much every anti sickness drug available in this country before finding a combination that worked for me (ondansetron and cyclizine). I was hospitalised a few times earlier in my pregnancy as I was severely dehydrated, but with the medication I am able to function and look after my two year old son (who was born completely healthy btw)

If you've been prescribed the drugs, you must need them. Ignore well meaning idiots who clearly haven't suffered the horror that is HG xxx

Original poster
whatareyoueventalkingabout · 09/01/2014 18:18

I know there is a similar theme on a lot of AIBU threads where people encounter someone rude, but there really are women out there who aren't sick and feel like it's ok to still say "I wouldn't ever take anything like that"

It REALLY makes me want them to feel like I do.

although from the sounds of it so many of you had it really really badly. Thanks so much to you all!

OP posts:
muminthesun1 · 09/01/2014 18:46

YANBU, I had hyperemesis too and tool stemetil, cyclizine, bucastem and zofran. None of them brilliant but brought vomiting down to a couple of times a day instead of 10 times a day. Still couldn't work, had to lie in bed for weeks on end! Don't think baby would have survived without them. Perfectly healthy normal baby. Will take them for next pregnancy if necessary.

If you are so sick you're needing drugs, sounds like hyperemesis? Have you been diagnosed?

dutchyoriginal · 09/01/2014 19:03

No actual HG, but constant severe nausea from 4 weeks on. Started drugs at 7 weeks. With drugs, I, 'm constantly nauseous and I retch a couple of times a day, but eating makes it stop for a little while and I only vomit a couple of times a week. Without meds, I can only lie on the couch, nothing helps and I vomit several times a day. Women who are fine after some ginger biscuits are lucky and shouldn't judge us. BTW, am now at 24 weeks and are only now starting to feel better. Was the same with DC1

FortyDoorsToNowhere · 09/01/2014 19:08

I did, I couldn't even keep water down.

the doctor will have the BFN medication book, the doctor will know what is safe and what is not.

kiwikaterpillar · 09/01/2014 19:25

YANBU

I had to take them when pregnant with DD to keep me out of hospital. I was nervous before taking them but it got to the point where I couldn't keep water down and I felt dreadful. Confused
Even on them I was still sick most nights but it meant I could function and at least eat/drink.
My DD is now 8 months old and fine.
Do what is best for you. This is between you and your medical team, tell everyone else to mind their own business if necessary.
Good luck with the sickness.

Echocave · 09/01/2014 19:30

YANBU. I was prescribed buccastem which is over the counter travel sickness medication. My dr was a bit iffy about me taking it as he is ultra cautious but it's really only because medicines can't be tested on pregnant women so no one can say they're risk free (or as risk free as any medication can ever be). And as someone posted up thread there's the shadow cast by the thalidomide cases.
Buccastem didn't work in fact and he wouldn't give me anything else so I threw up for 16 weeks. However I did not have HG and if sickness had been severe I would have asked for something else.

Original poster
whatareyoueventalkingabout · 09/01/2014 20:43

I don't know whether I have it or not. Not diagnosed yet. Anyone want to try?

in the mornings I can be sick up to ten times and maybe everything comes up. Bile and all.

I have to lie very sti for about two hours after I wake up and any motion makes me puke.

After I have vomited a few times, then I start feeling a bit hungry and something like a piece of toast or a packet of crisps will go from sounding disgusting to amazing. I will eat that and then as long as I eat something light every 45 minutes or so I am ok. Any long than that and I start to feel light headed and start dry retching.

Any longer than an hour and a half and I am sick again.

Any pungent smell can make me sick.

I am usually ok between about 11 and 6 as constantly eating but then start to feel like I can't face anything and spend all night trying to get comfortable in between the occasional vomit/retch and drinking gaviscon.

Anyone?

OP posts:
CommanderShepard · 09/01/2014 20:43

I took cyclizine which I think was originally developed as an antihistamine, wasn't it? It didn't stop me feeling sick but it stopped me vomiting which was enough to get fluids in.

I had it for unrelated reasons recently - I can't have codeine or morphine without it or I hurl - and DEAR GOD it burns like a fucker if you have it in liquid form through a cannula.

HG is horrible and most people have no idea how serious it is. Ignore them and take the meds. I really hope you feel better soon.

Original poster
whatareyoueventalkingabout · 09/01/2014 20:44

I wasn't sure if you could have Hg if you can keep anything down?

OP posts: