Is there hope for not getting HG again?

[CommanderShepard]

We're leisurely trying to conceive DC2 and one thing is niggling at the back of my mind: I had HG last time and only escaped IV fluids in hospital by the skin of my teeth. I have family members going on (and on and ON) about how it would be so much worse if I had another and how AWFUL it would be for DD and DREADFULLY UNFAIR.

I know no-one's psychic, and no-one can tell me whether or not next time will be the same, but has anyone had HG in one pregnancy and sailed through the next?

And did anyone have family members doing the same; what were your rejoinders? My general thoughts are that yes, it may be the same again, but I want DD to have a sibling and whatever happens in pregnancy we will cope and there is no point worrying about what might or might not happen when we're still talking hypothetically. Alas, said family members don't quite see it like that.

My friend had awful HG with her first child (a boy), (maybe adding 'awful' in front of HG is unnecessary!). But with her second (a girl) she didn't actually realise she was pregnant until 8 weeks because she hadnt had any morning sickness at all. That continued all the way through. So it's certainly possible.

I don't know about HG, sorry, but I think your family's logic is seriously flawed re not having another child because you might not be able to give your DD enough attention for the (relatively) short time a pregnancy lasts vs having a sibling for the 80-odd years of their life!! Ignore them, they're being ridiculous. Good luck, and I hope you have an easier time with your second pregnancy.

I had serious morning sickness with DS1 and HG with DS2 (to the hospitalised/drip stage). This time I went to the doctor's as soon as I found out I was pregnant and she gave me anti emetics just in case. I was taking them a couple of days later as the hurling started in earnest! I still felt sick as a dog and couldn't do anything for months but at least i didn't end up in hospital.

I'm 35 weeks now and off the meds and I'm only sick maybe once a fortnight. The worst of it was over by 16weeks.

Agree with Annie that a sibling will be more important to your DD than a few weeks/months being babysat by CBeebies that she won't remember. If your family are so concerned, maybe they can help you out a bit?

Your family's comments are a bit thoughtless and silly. All sorts of conditions during pregnancy can make it more difficult to look after existing DCs, e.g SDP or tiredness, but that doesn't mean that we should all have just one child. Your DD will adjust and cope and may even learn from the opportunity to look after you for a while - my DD adjusted very well to the changes brought on by my HG pregnancy and at the end of any pregnancy is a baby which is the biggest adjustment of all for existing DCs.

Most people who have had HG tend to get it again but the only thing predictable about HG is its unpredictability! Try to get drugs ready from when you TTC as that helps a lot with minimising the symptoms. There is a great HG thread in pregnancy you may want to post on.

I think the odds are 75% in favour of getting it again if you've had it once. I was in hospital for a week and bedrest for a further 5 weeks (still think I got off lightly), and if we'd actually gone for a 2nd then DH would have had to stay at home with DS during hospital stays. As it was we only ever wanted one and I admit I was quite relieved not to go through that twice.

If your family is that worried, surely they should step in and help?

Colleague's wife had it twice. Second time she made damn sure she got Ondansetron. (Apologies if this posts multiple times - I seem to have a stuck POST button)

I had HG with my first, dd1, was signed off work for most of my pregnancy and only just avoided hospital although was seeing gp weekly. I was really worried about getting pregnant again, but we knew we definitely wanted more children so went for it anyway. I had absolutely no sickness with ds1 and ds2 which really surprised me! With dd2 I felt sick through quite a bit of my pregnancy, but was only actually sick a few times, so no HG again.

So you might actually be fine Even if not, pregnancy isn't forever and the end result is so worth it Ignore what your relatives say, its your body and your family.

Oh, there's huge projection going on. Very irritating but it is what it is. Sad thing is that it makes me want to hide it if I do get sick again so that I don't get people crowing about how they told me so.

Thanks for the feedback - I only had cyclizine last time and it didn't really so as soon as I get a positive test I will be straight down the GP asking for All The Drugs. DH at least is very supportive (I'm sure it will be of no surprise to anyone that family = MIL) and we're just going to deal with it if it actually happens.

Got to get pregnant first, of course!

I had HG with my first (was in hospital and taking tablets everyday ect) but I didn't have it with my second. I was still really really sick for most of the pregnancy though. It just wasn't HG bad if that makes sense? I didn't have to take medication 3 times a day like I did the first time. I was still being sick every day but it wasn't out of control.

Hopefully you'll be lucky like me. But go and see your doctor as soon as you fin out your pregnant and they might be able to prescribe you something so you can get on top of the sickness straight away.

There is some evidence that magnesium supplementation from before conception can help with morning sickness although I don't know whether that extends to HG as well. It would certainly be an inexpensive thing to try - just make sure you get a bioavailable form of magnesium and don't take too many at once or on an empty stomach as they can give you the squits.

It's absolutely possible!!!
I had awful hg with my ds and again when pg with the ds I sadly lost but had an amazing pregnancy with both my dd's I glowed and felt great!
You may get it again you may not there's only one way to find out!

Your plan to get All The Drugs ASAP is a good one.

To offer my perspective - I had bad nausea the first time and HG with my second. It was a much wanted, longed for, long awaited very unlikely to happen IVF pregnancy but the HG was so awful I didn't enjoy a minute of it until 20 weeks or so and had some very dark thoughts :-(. I still feel guilty about the lack of attention I gave ds in those days, the long days he had to have in nursery when he could have been with me etc. I rang my mother in tears asking for help - I hadn't done that since I was 14, it was a massive deal for me to ask her for anything. So having back up and support for your family is going to be very important for you. You may need your mil onside, hard as that may be ;-).

On the positive side - dd was worth it, and ds doesn't remember.

In any event I really hope you don't get HG again!

Hi with my 1 st pregnancy i had a boy and no symptoms at all . My 2nd boy I was sick from before I could do a test ! I had Hg it was a nightmare . I am now pregnant with my 3rd I had sickness and nausea up until 18 wks and now enjoying stuffing my face . My gp was good and offered sickness tablets if needed but i just had normal sickness . So you can have another pregnancy without hg , good luck xx