First trimester, feeling like crap!

[MissyTJ]

Hi guys,

I feel rotten for doing this as it seems so ungrateful, I am so happy to be pregnant but this is my first pregnancy and I was not expecting to feel like this, and wondered if anyone with a bit more experience has any advice for reducing/improving my symptoms, or can just let me know if its normal! I'm only seven weeks but for about a month I have felt like utter crap, like I'm constantly hungover/been hit with a sledgehammer, whilst swinging between nausea and no appetite and then the hungriest woman that ever lived and craving junk food; swinging between agonising constipation one day and then three or four 'very loose' movements the next day; constant period pains often combined with diarrhoea style cramps, stabbing pains in my lady parts that make me stop what I'm doing and take deep breaths; constantly dry lips, a sickly look on my face, pale, spotty, and by the evening so bloated I could pass as 5 months gone. Oh and urinating literally 12 times a day and unable to sleep more than 2 hours before needing to go! I haven't told anyone I'm pregnant yet as its such early days, my OH is no help on this stuff obviously, so I guess I'm just hoping for reassurance that this is normal and/or it won't last the whole 9 months!

[PurpleFlower1983]

I was like that too but I’m 12 weeks now and most of it has passed! I still feel sick sometimes and have the random constipation but the symptoms are nowhere near as bad so there is light at the end of the tunnel!

[le42]

I felt absolutely dreadful until week 14 so I totally get you! I couldn't believe how bad I felt.

I used to exercise everyday and I was just so exhausted I couldn't bring myself to... I do think if you can force yourself to have little walks it does help.

I found keep eating small meals helped with nausea and headaches.

Lots of fruit and veg made me feel psychologically that I was doing myself good, even though I didn't feel good!

I tried to limit pharacetemol but i was taking it most days as my headaches were so bad.

...I think just go easy on yourself. Your body is doing amazing things and it's hard work!!!

Hope you feel better soon! xxxx

[mizu]

Never have I felt so ill as when I was in my 1st trimesters

It was years ago now but golly I still remember it. You need to rest as much as you can, if you can. I remember teaching and feeling sick as a dog. I felt like my insides were being turned inside out and although I was rarely sick, I had constant nausea and only stuffing my face would make it go for a few minutes.

Hang on in there, it should go at 13/14 weeks. Those weeks up until then though can feel SO long.

[PiggyRae]

@MissyTJ I didn't have sickness but I was exhausted constantly and went off food. I put on a stone in my 1st trimester but I'm 19 weeks now so hoping to slow the weight gain down. I have the energy to walk the dog, swimming and do yoga. You will be surprised at how much energy you have in your second trimester.

I'm dairy intolerant too. I worried about not getting enough calcium in my diet so I would have cows milk and cheese. I found even eating prunes everyday and drinking a glass of prune juice I was so constipated. I would sit there crying sometimes because of the pains of the constipation and dairy. For me dairy free is better than cows milk even though I do have a bit of chocolate here and there. I find I'm ok with sheeps milk so try and have a bit of manchego a day and a lot of milk. I also take pregnancy supplements that have added calcium in so I'm not as worried. Since going dairy free I've had no problems so maybe it might work for you.

[Katie1962]

7 weeks and feel exactly the same!!

My head is killing, I'm knackered and constantly feel sick 🙃.

[MegsJ32]

This is all so reassuring to hear :o) First pregnancy and I'm 8 weeks + 3 days. Really happy to be pregnant, but been feeling pretty rubbish for about 3 weeks and it's reassuring to know it's normal! Certain foods I can't face and dinner in the evenings is an issue at the moment, as find I feel worse as the day progresses (think it's also related to tiredness) and some days I just can't eat much dinner, and then wake up in the night feeling nauseous, sore stomach etc because I'm so hungry!! I'm eating as mush as possible during the day, as otherwise I start feeling terrible and lack energy etc. Luckily no actual sickness yet, so just trying to eat as much as I can, when I can! All part of being pregnant... I'll just be relieved when it hopefully eases off in a few weeks :)

[Dannidh]

Oh my goodness misses TJ you’ve taken the words out of my mouth, every symptom you have listed I have.
I am approx 7 weeks, first pregnancy and absolutely terrified but so thankful and excited I don’t want to complain but every hour I jump between, sick to starving, tired, no appetite, back ache, spots, period ache all of the above ☝️😮
I guess we will get through and just rest when we need to, eat when you need to and hope we bloom in the 2nd trimester!!
All the look

Danni

[Niki2]

Hi guys
I'm around 6 and half weeks pregnant and I feel awful. I literally have no energy to sit up I have been in bed for the past week and I can't stand the sight or smell of food .. any idea on how long this will last I feel so useless
Thank you

[your0choice]

I was wondering why do I feel bad every now and then until I found biorhythym www.lottostat.co.uk/biorhythm

[healthymama5]

ok seriously whilst typing this i am in tears........i feel sooooooooo crap, so so so tired, hungover, i cannot work, function, play with my kids..... i try to explain just how i feel to my husband and he has been fabulous, trying by all means to assist, run my errands plus work, cook etc etc. Also our nanny is supportive....extremely! but, all i do is throw up everyday and been hospitalized for awhile on iv's for hyperemesis gravidarum plus was given zofran. When i came home i can barely lift my head off the pillow. I have been lying in bed for about 3 weeks straight. I am 3 weeks away from 12 weeks and praying To God to give me strength....its not easy being a woman .......:( so i feel for all of u. People tell me to be strong i just do not know how so for now i wanna tell u all that i am with u all in this :( love u all

[MissyTJ]

teaandflapjacks thanks for that thought, I do keep thinking that myself, at least if I feel horrendous it means things are happening!

hey pinkapple, so sorry you are suffering so much. I hate my nausea and horrific bowels but I think I'd still rather have that than actually vomiting all day. Poor you. I keep wishing I could tell people but I feel its still too early, maybe at 8/9 weeks I will. I wouldn't tell my mum for a long while anyway as she's not really a normal mum, we don't really talk and I definitely don't trust her! I think that makes it a bit harder tbh, I can't ask the one person who could make me feel reassured about what I'm going through. BUT - I have you guys! I'm loving the support on here :-)

[SeriousStuff]

Teaandflapjacks thanks for the tip! I'll have a look for it.

I'm now working horizontal on the sofa under a blanket with the heating on full blast! If only my clients knew!

[PinkApple86]

Hi hun I totally feel your pain. I just feel ill and gross I keep forgetting I'm pregnant. What's more is my throat is red raw from all the puking. It's horrible having to suffer in silence. I told my best friend but she doesn't have kids so she doesn't really understand but she keeps checking I'm ok which is nice. Can u tell your mum? I did, as I thought even if the worse (god forbid) happens I would need my mum to support me. Hope u feel better soon.

[Teaandflapjacks]

just to try and make you feel a 'bit' better - my gyn. and my sister (also a doctor) told me that as awful as you feel, it means the pregnancy has really 'taken hold' which means it is a strong pregnancy - so it is actually a good sign.. Not sure if that is any comfort though!

SeriousStuff - i tried becks alchohol free and found it a bit too 'fizzy' - I live in germany and they have this awesome beer here called Erdinger alchohol free - it is so great - might be able to get it at tesco or sains. I make it into a shandy, tastes just like the real stuff, and not stupidly fizzy (heartburn...). :-)

MissyTJ - crap tv, paracetemol and feel better! LOVING bio oil... and apparently stretch marks are created much lower down in the skin - so it is mainly genetic TBH... but bio oil can't hurt hey?!

Wispa31- poor you - I had that until about week 10 - constant vomiting - but it did get better. I found slightly fizzy drinks helped, or really diluted ribena very cold - god know why!

[afrikat]

Well I am attempting to get thru a day of work despite a banging headache, fighting the desire to crawl under my desk and sleep and for some reason I am super emotional so may burst into tears at any minute! Not sure I can stomach lunch. Tempted just to sneak away and go home, get on sofa and try again tomorrow...

[MissyTJ]

I'm getting some bio oil as I feel exactly the same, I can exercise once the baby is born, but stretch marks need working on from day one!

I am in bed with a stinking cold, had diarrhoea twice already this morning and have those awful diarrhoea cramps combined with the menstrual cramp type pain...such joy! Lol! I am trying not to but may have to tale some paracetemol later just to feel remotely human. I made the mistake of looking in the mirror just now too ugh Xx

[SeriousStuff]

I hope everyone's feeling a bit more human this morning. I'm soooooo tired already! And my usual fix of marmalade on toast was not making me feel great this morning so settled for dried toast instead. Nausea disappeared for about 30 seconds and now it's back again.

This feels like a really long hangover - you know when you get spins and dizziness, your brain feels all dried up and if you can stomach anything, it's usually unhealthy!

Unfortunately, my mum informs me that this is exactly how she felt when pregnant so there's not much hope for me! I'm not necessarily worried about putting on weight as I love my exercise and know that (time permitting) once the baby is here, I will get back on it. It's the stretch marks that bother me! My mum didn't get any which should make me feel better, but I already have some on my hips and lower back from growing as a teenager. So all this leads me to the conclusion that maybe I should buy shares in Bio Oil!

[MissyTJ]

Oh and wispa31 you poor thing! Hope that eases off very very soon!! Xx

[MissyTJ]

Hey sj and congratulations! I am refusing to weigh myself as I'm sure I've put on a few pounds already which is crazy! I am moving house this week though, right opposite our gym! So hoping I will combat my crazy appetite with a lot of gentle cardio.

Just to add to my whingeing yesterday...I've woken up with an absolutely stinking cold! Ugh! Gimme a break! Lol!

Hope everyone else is feeling better today :-) xx

[SeriousStuff]

Well, DH came through and I had not one, but two cheese and tomato sandwiches. They were the best cheese and tom sandwiches I've ever had!

I had a craving for beer the other day so DH bought me some Becks Blue non-alcoholic lager today. Unfortunately, it didn't hit the spot and has left a sickly sweet taste in my mouth. Yuck!

[wispa31]

tea - im liking sound of cheese and pickle sambo. unfortunately i have been soo sick today :( ive been sick 15 times already and will keep being sick til i get to sleep i think. so far lost 10lb since finding out im pg.

[Teaandflapjacks]

MissyTJ and to the other poorly ladies - poor you!! Sympathy all round. I felt exactly like MissyTJ says until about week 13 ish, I am about 15 weeks now and have about 4 days ok, then a day feeling really awful again and so on. I threw up every day until week 13, and lost nearly a stone in the process, and put back on 5 pounds as soon as could eat in the last two weeks ( I suspect some water too). TBH I would eat whatever I could manage (also loved cereal). I also thought I was wheat and dairy intolerant (was diagnosed with this years ago with severe IBS which came on sporadically) but interestingly, since being pregnant, no IBS at all, and no issues with wheat and dairy. I wonder how much is affected by thinking- i am sure there is a link in intolerance's and anxiety about 'trigger' foods. I think maybe in some way body's needs to have carbs for fuel for baby overrides this link.

I crave brown bread sandwiches with grated cheddar cheese and pickle, crusts cut off like a child! Now I can manage meat (well only ham really) again, I also have the same with just ham and mayo mixed with mustard. Do not worry about the weight - it all evens out pretty much in the end apart from the unlucky few. You will gain about 2 stone at least whatever you do, and you are growing another person! whatever makes you feel better instead of feeling like you have had a session with two bottles of vino the night before (oh the irony!=- go for it!! p.s. salt and vinegar pringles - fricking lifesaver! :-)

[sjclarke86]

Thanks afrikit ! Hubby isn't one for reading so that's why I'm dragging him along hopefully he will learn a thing or two. I'm not worrying about the weight too much, just hoping no one notices my trousers undone in the office! Ha

[afrikat]

So sorry wispa31. Hope you can get some more tablets and it dies down soon. Never expected pregnancy to feel this bad!

sjclarke86 - I had my booking today and my husband was meant to come but couldn't and I was quite glad in the end - mostly boring form filling. We have done quite a bit of reading together so there wasn't really anything she told me we didn't already know but it would probably be useful if your hubby wants to understand more about the tests they do etc

I have put on about 5-6lbs already I think which is too much - apparently you should only put on 3-4 lbs in 1st trimester (if that) but I refuse to worry anymore. I feel too crap to run / do much exercise and cheese / bread helps the nausea!

[wispa31]

afrikat - i had counted myself lucky until today! was doing ok with the tablets and managing to eat and drink. hadnt had a bad day like today in weeks, actually thought i was maybe starting to feel better. clearly its the tablets doing their job. not managed to eat a thing so far today, cant even take a drink without rushing to be sick. i hate being pregnant.