hyperemesis gravidarum

[missrosexx]

How do you actually eat with this? I've not been able to eat Proper food for about 5 days I cannot stand to smell look or even think about food, I'm on cyclizine but it doesn't stop the nausea it just makes me sleep. I'm weak from the lack of eating but thankfully ice pops are good for my hydration.. this is literally hell

There should be something you fancy/ could stomach even if it’s only one thing.
Don’t think I can’t eat that is unhealthy, what’s more important is that you actually consume calories.
for me it was pitta bread and brie, jam donuts, Diet Coke, ice cold milkshake.

I'm sorry you have this, it's awful. Not trying to make this about me, but I had it in my first pregnancy many years ago.

As you've found, it's not trivial. Some women even have to be hospitalised for rehydration.

If you feel you're dehydrated (though you seem to have it covered) you need to talk to the doctor again.

The good news is that your baby will be OK and you won't suffer any longterm effects.

It generally stops naturally at about 12 weeks. For me the change was abrupt, literally overnight, and I couldn't believe the relief. So you have that to look forward to!

Subsequent pregnancies weren't so bad. I must have thought it worth the trouble.

I'm having slushy ice pops a few times a day and hot chocolates that all I really can stand

Heinz tomato soup was all I could stomach - DD was born with red hair which was unexpected so I've always put it down to the amount of soup I ate 😉

It does get better, try high energy low quantity foods, seeds, nuts etc, or make your own fruit pop instead of just ice.

I really struggled to eat at all in my first hyperemesis pregnancy. Looking back now (and having been through two other HG pregnancies), it just wasn’t managed well enough.

Get in touch with the charity Pregnancy Sickness Support. They are superb. They will talk you through the help you need to request from your doctor. Cyclizine is good but is quite a first line anti-sickness. You are able to combine it with other meds or swap it for a stronger one. You may need to experiment for a while but in time will find a combination that will help enough to enable you to eat a little.

How many weeks are you? Do you have good support around you? I struggled to deal with food, but could nibble bits if someone put it in front of me. Do you have someone who can nip out and get what you’d feel able to try and prepare it for you?

otherwise, focus on hydration. It’s the most important bit. And if you feel you are becoming dehydrated, get yourself admitted for IV fluids. They can also give you IV anti-sickness drugs too, which are great and might give you a little relief and a chance to eat a little.

one day at a time. You absolutely will get through this, and I promise you it’s worth it.

I had days at a time of not eating anything solid. Days at a time managing small bites of toast. Days at a time sipping lucozade. And many weeks in hospital hooked up to IV’s for rehydration. Have you been offered cyclizine? It helped me a small amount. Sending empathy, it’s truly awful. I now have a teenager and preteen who are both in brilliant health and we got through it. You will too, as horrible as it is whilst you’re living it.

Cyclizine didn't work for me either, Omansterpron or something similar did. Can't remember the proper name.
Be gentle with yourself, rest rest rest and don't feel guilty about it. Listen to audiobooks for something to focus on during the really rough times. Your local library will have an app with hundreds of free choices.
Hugs