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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Illness during pregnancy, has really knocked me out and worried me.......

16 replies

JimmyChoo17 · 21/01/2011 21:17

I had a bad cough for 2 weeks which got really bad over past 2 days. Coughing makes me wretch and wheezy, i was pretty much past my morning sickness but am now being violently sick in the mornings. Coughing makes my head really hurt which has been really bad and i have had to take paracetemol every 4 or 5 hours which I have avoided and really didn't want to take. I've been put on amoxicillin now. I have zero energy and feel awful.

Anyone been really poorly in pregnancy, what did you do to help yourself? I feel so sorry for bubs he can't be sleeping or comfy with me coughing and being so run down

I guess I'm posting because I want to vent but I'm so annoyed at myself for picking up such a nasty illness. I've never been like this with a cough before...it's turned into a chest infection too. This evening I just feel so rotten and worry what all this does to my unborn baby if anything?

Keep getting really hot but last temp was 37.5 which I think is not dangerous?

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Original poster

JimmyChoo17 · 21/01/2011 21:22

I'm 15 weeks tomorrow

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cocoachannel · 21/01/2011 21:28

Hi- sorry to hear you're not well. I had a nasty bug at about 8 weeks. I took paracetemol, drank lots of water and slept...

Try not to worry about the baby- he or she is well protected by your body. That temperature is only slightly high. Keep taking it every so often and ring NHS direct if it goes up despite the paracetemol.

Don't blame yourself for getting sick- it can't be helped. In my case when I was unwell it was the fault of all the people who were in the office despite clearly being very unwell!

Get well soon.

JetLi · 21/01/2011 21:52

Poor you - your immune system is naturally supressed during pregnancy because your baby is an alien presence really so unfortunately it's common to pick up every bug going & for the illness to be worse than normal. Try & rest as much as you can, plenty fluids etc.
The baby is very well protected

Readytoburst · 21/01/2011 23:02

You have my sympathies - I got a chest infection at about 21 weeks that lasted 2 months and 3 rounds of antibiotics! I'm now 37 weeks and have just kicked a nasty sickness bug! Poor baby must be desperate to get out and stop getting my germs!!

camdancer · 22/01/2011 09:12

I know how you feel. I got flu at 17ish weeks and was very ill with it including pneumonia and still pleurisy. But everyone I saw (and that includes GP's, nurses, A&E docs, obstetricians etc) said that although I might be feeling really dreadful, not eating, not sleeping etc, the baby will be absolutely fine. One of the reasons you are feeling so bad is that the baby is taking everything it needs before your body gets a chance to take what it needs. They are very effective parasites!

I hope you feel better soon. Lots of rest, fluids including chicken soup, more rest and no guilt. This is not your fault. It's just a random illness.

germl · 22/01/2011 12:28

I found out I was pregnant whilst on my honeymoon after having to visit a doctor for a bad ear, nose and throat infection - was 10 weeks already and unknowingly taking the maximum dose of ibuprofen (stopped straight away when I found out) and paracetamol - thankfully a course of anti biotics cleared it up. I take paracetamol every day as I have fibromyalgia.

From 10 weeks in my first pg I was constantly ill with viral coughs and colds that would make me throw up, make my neck and head ache constantly from coughing and even tore muscles in my sides. I've never felt so crap. Like others have said the baby will take what it needs and will be just fine in there - take a lot of rest, fluids and try to relax.

And don't feel bad - I hadn't had an ear infection for 15 years and was told that as pregnancy is an immuno repressant it is normal to get a few more bugs that take a bit longer to shift. Hope you feel better soon!

witches · 23/01/2011 11:56

I had flu in early pregnancy and it knocked me for six - as people have said i think the immune system is just working overtime and unfortunately this can mean u get to feel crap! On the plus side as others have also said baby tends to be fine it will stil take all the goodness from you - so really try to keep eating if you can x

Original poster

JimmyChoo17 · 23/01/2011 16:32

Oh dear preggy woman alert!!!! I actually cried. Reading above responses!!! Stupid hormones.

I have been hardly able to move since Friday. I don't think it's flu as when I had that I literaaly lost 2 days where I couldn't recall much!

I have not really had an appetite but made sure I eat at regular intervals to keep bubs going but it takes all my energy to go to the loo blow my nose and change rooms! Pretty pathetic. It's only occurred to me today that my doses might have to be different...I have been taking what I would normally, 2 X 500mg paracetemol is that right?? On amoxicillin too but 3 days of it hasn't even eased it yet.

I've forgotten what it feels like to feel normal. Feel bad for hubby vie either been I'll with pregnancy or this!! Still, it's been great to be I'll on a weekend as I've got company!

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Original poster

JimmyChoo17 · 23/01/2011 16:34

Sorry about spelling typing curled up with a squished laptop!

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camdancer · 23/01/2011 16:40

I'm sorry to hear you aren't feeling better yet. If you aren't feeling better in the morning it might be worth going back to the doctor - just to check in and make sure all is ok. Your doses sound right to me - it's what I was taking and I don't think they change for pregnancy - but I'm sure the doctor wouldn't mind you asking.

I know what you mean about poor DH. I did the same, got the flu just after the first trimester madness. I just reckon it is good practice for when the baby comes and I'll be sleep deprived and even harder to live with!

Original poster

JimmyChoo17 · 23/01/2011 16:46

Thanks I am going to call them if still bad

How did you manage with pneumonia? That must have been scary?

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camdancer · 23/01/2011 17:23

It has been a scary few weeks but it seems to be a lot better now. DH was really great, even though he was ill as well. The DC's watched too much television and got away with everything but we got through it.

Sadly a few of the tests and treatments I had to have do have side effects which will be at the back of my mind for years. The moral of the story is don't google anything - ever - especially during pregnancy!

sparklytoes · 24/01/2011 15:53

I really feel for all of you suffering at the moment - its so reassuring to know that I am not the only one having these thoughts. I've been pretty unwell that I thought was flu, (sore throat, aches, pains and coughing till sick - horrible) but phoned docs today and got some reassurance that as long as temp is pretty much ok, then I just have to sit and wait it out. He thinks it is just that I'm not fighting off stuff as effectively cos of being pregnant. Its horrible wondering what the effects of all the horrible germs might be on baby, but reassuring to read that one of the reasons I might be feeling so rubbish is because baby is taking what s/he needs. Get Better soon everyone x

Original poster

JimmyChoo17 · 26/01/2011 11:23

sparklytoes - an awful thing to say but its nice to know that we are not alone!

I went back to GP and was prescribed a cough medicine, an inhaler and kept on same antibiotics...was told if not clearing (which my chest isnt) to come back for next set of different types of anitbiotics

BUT I was such an idiot..I got in the room and cried...alot. I was just so exhausted and felt just awful I couldnt stop crying! To reassure me...she played me babies heartbeat

Felt miles better as realised its really just me suffering.

So am loaded with orange juice and healthy foods and resting up. Dr signed me off tho as she said I had no chance of fighting it off whilst continuing to work.

Am bored of sky..1000 channels and nothing on...up to date on sky plus and now working my way thru my dvd collection. however I have decided to write up a preg journal complete with all my scans in! Can sit in my duvet and amuse myself with it.

Hope you are feeling better.

camdancer - I have stopped googling conditions and just stick on here as we are/have been been thru the same thing whereas search engines are lethal!

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camdancer · 26/01/2011 12:44

Whst a lovely doctor you have.

Rest well and enjoy being bored.

Original poster

JimmyChoo17 · 26/01/2011 19:21

Eeek - You dont know the half of it...my actual GP surgery is shocking....this lady is new so I'll be sticking to her from now on tho! (I had a MC due to being given incorrect results from my old GP!)

Oh well...I slept from mid day until about an hour ago....bliss :)

Now let the coughing begin!

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