To take time off work in first trimester

[ChimneyP0t]

Pregnant and the nausea has really kicked in over the last few days. Little actual vomit buy a lot of dry retching and the nausea is literally all day every day. It improves slightly (but by no means goes away) while eating and for a brief period after but soon escalates again. I also have severe food aversions so it's a constant struggle balancing that with needing to eat regularly. Also exhausted.

My job is heavily food related and I just don't think I can face it next week. But what do I do? Third pregnancy and its always like this and goes on until second trimester with no let up. Feel like I'm supposed to just suck it up and suffer through because I'm not actually vomiting multiple times a day. In reality I'd love to be sick if it brought some momentary relief.

Can't help thinking that most men would not continue to work feeling like this!

YABU carry on
YANBU get signed off

It really has to be your decision,it comes down to whether you can actually do your job or not.
If you are incapable then don't go in.

I had hyperemesis and have had to have time off in all of my pregnancies around end of 1st trimester - middle of the 2nd at least as I've been so sick.

Just be mindful that if you're getting SMP there's a window where they work out your average salary so if you don't get full sick pay it may be impacted.

Absolutely get signed off sick. Hypermesis is no joke. Keep your fluids up and eat little and often as you can manage. Your GP could prescribe you some antiemetics. Goodluck.

Hi @ChimneyP0t
YANBU, get signed off by the doctors and rest up. I took time off sick in my first trimester too xx

Thanks for the replies. It's not HG as I'm not actually vomiting. The constant nausea/gagging/excess saliva is horrendous but i feel really guilty about potentially not going to work tomorrow 😕

Apparently you can have dry HG where you don't vomit.

(Read up a lot about HG as I was never diagnosed but was horrendously sick in pregnancy.)

This

Feeling sick can be horrendous despite not vomiting. It's likely also an h&s issue if you work around food, I'd say.

Absolutely call in if you feel you can't work. Or ask for an alternative that is not around food.

Definitely not unreasonable, take some time off. I’ve been really struggling and if I worked in the type of work you say you do, I would have probably take Len the last month off!

Comments are reassuring thanks all. Phoning GP tomorrow!