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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

Want to get pregnant but so nervous about sickness

53 replies

rebeccajones · 05/02/2016 12:51

Hi
I have just joined mumsnet and we have just started trying for a baby. I am 32. I am feeling really nervous about morning sickness and it is all I can think about. I am not sure what I am expecting people to say but I wondered if anybody had any helpful advice?
Thanks
Rebecca

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Original poster

rebeccajones · 05/02/2016 13:41

Yes I have bought a book about mindfulness. Hopefully that will help me :-)

OP posts:

SummerMonths · 05/02/2016 13:46

I'm an emtaphobe and felt the same before getting pregnant. I did suffer from morning sickness each time but it I wanted the babies so I coped. On the whole I just got on with life because sitting at home made me concentrate on the nausea more. It was only really bad for a coupe of weeks each time but I felt nauseated for about 3.5 months each time. It was worth t though. In late our they injected me with anti-emetic medication so I wouldn't be sick while labouring. That was a god send.

CityMole · 05/02/2016 13:50

I haven't been sick once. Lots of people get nausea but no actual sickness. I had neither- was just fine. Unfortunately, you won't know until you fall pregnant.

Don't dismiss a psychological referral without trying- I got one in less than 2 weeks for something unrelated through the maternity hospital's psych service.

Original poster

rebeccajones · 05/02/2016 13:54

That is a really good idea - thank you. I has not thought about going at the referral from that angle. THANKS

I just have to get pregnant first

OP posts:

Luckygirlcharlie · 05/02/2016 13:56

35 weeks with number 2 and never been sick. Neither were my sister or my mum or any of my 3 best girlfriends! However we have all had nausea to some degree. I think that's the most common tbh. Most people do get some nausea. It can be rough but you can manage it by trying not to get too tired - go to bed early as poss - and always make sure you have snacks handy. If it's unbearable there's medication. When it was at its worst for me I didn't enjoy it but I took comfort from the fact that in general it's a sign of lots of good protective hormones surging around and a healthy baby

Soapmaker34 · 05/02/2016 13:57

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

rebeccajones · 05/02/2016 13:58

Did anyone take folic acid whilst trying to conceive? I just ordered some but was wondering if they are worth trying?

OP posts:

LBOCS2 · 05/02/2016 14:01

I have been pregnant 5 times in total. For every pregnancy I have felt absolutely rotten in the early stages, but I've only ever been sick once. Which is not to say that the nausea isn't horrible - it is, and in some ways it's worse than being sick, as it's 24hr and doesn't resolve itself, and you still don't have the guarantee that you won't vomit so you have to make contingency plans for it (I carried around nappy sacks which are waterproof, just in case I got caught 'out and about').

You won't necessarily be sick. But it doesn't mean you'll sail through either.

goodnightdarthvader1 · 05/02/2016 14:01

Hi Rebecca, I'm an emetophobe too, I was DREADING morning sickness. And while I did feel sick a lot, it really wasn't an immediate needing to vomit feeling, and the medicine I took really helped. Plus I still felt hungry so managed to eat through the nausea, which also helped - having an empty tummy can make you feel worse. I'm due in a week, and I only ended up vomiting once (due to a dodgy KFC - pro tip: AVOID) early in my first trimester.

FYI, the meds I took were prochlorperazine (for the low-level nausea) and Avomine (travel sickness drug, for the strange queasy "I'm on a boat" nausea that struck occasionally).

I've also been promised by the midwives that I can have an anti-emetic when I get to the hospital in labour. If you tell them, they're very understanding!

Best of luck to you

goodnightdarthvader1 · 05/02/2016 14:02

Oh, and definitely take folic acid. It will help prevent spina bifida.

LBOCS2 · 05/02/2016 14:02

You should definitely take the folic acid, by the way - or a general conception/pregnancy multivitamin which contains it.

ShesGotLionsInHerHeart · 05/02/2016 14:04

Yes, absolutely get on the folic acid to prevent spina bifida.

maamalady · 05/02/2016 14:28

Definitely take folic acid (I think NHS recommends for at least three months before conceiving).

I had no sickness or nausea in my first pregnancy (not counting the time when I suddenly craved salt and vinegar chipsticks, ate a giant family-sized bag, and then threw up). Now 32 weeks into my second pregnancy and had about a month of mild nausea on and off very early on.

Some people are more prone to nausea/sickness than others, and every pregnancy is different as well. You can't predict what your body will do. I have a weak stomach and feel sick at the drop of a hat, so have been pleasantly surprised to find that pregnancy hasn't caused me to feel sick.

SwoodMing · 05/02/2016 14:44

My mum suffered terrible morning sickness with all three pregnancies. I, on the other hand, didn't have any at all - not even a hint of nausea.

JessieMcJessie · 05/02/2016 14:45

Yes, folic acid while ttc is very important. I took 7 seas trying for a baby which had fa and lots of other good vits too- they come in a packet with days of the week that is handy if, like me, you are prone to forgetting whether you took one. Only about 3.99 for a month's supply.

I read the other day that possibly taking pre conception vits can reduce nausea when you conceive. Could be nonsense but it took us a long time to conceive so I was on them for over a year - am now 10 weeks and have not thrown up or come close to vomiting yet. The odd bout of queasiness but usually after eating and very different from the feeling you get when you know you're about to vom. Good luck!

MetalMidget · 05/02/2016 16:06

Definitely yes to folic acid!

I didn't have any sickness until week 8/9, it lasted about five weeks. I had three types of days:

Days where I generally felt fine
Days where I'd get hit by a sudden wave of nausea, which would sometimes result in me being sick. It'd pass quickly though.
Days when I just felt queasy for hours, but wasn't sick.

When I was sick, it was generally once per day max, and pretty rare tbh (didn't stop me from nomming ginger biscuits, just to be on the safe side..). Everyone's different though!

Nicky333 · 05/02/2016 17:09

I'm another one who hasn't had any morning sickness at all, not feeling or being sick. I'm 24 weeks.

cantbelieveImquittingcoffee · 06/02/2016 14:58

I have emetophobia too, never sought treatment for it but I wasn't sick between the ages of 7 and 32, and then only twice since then (so that makes it twice in 30 years!!). Everyone always said "just wait till you get pregnant..." but I'm 27 weeks now and though I had nausea i THANKFULLY wasn't sick once (yet!!). Have slightly got the fear of labour vomming now (not to mention dealing with a sick child what was I thinking??!!) but I just wanted to reassure you not to let the fear stop you trying if you want a family!

flanjabelle · 06/02/2016 15:03

The trick I found was to eat every time I felt sick. Just nibbling on bits seemed to settle it down. I was eating all the bloody time!

helensburgh · 06/02/2016 15:07

I've got emmetephobia. It's a nightmare in day to day life but I'm pegnant with my third child and have never vomited with any pregnancy.
Nausea yes but no vomiting. For me I'm sure it's been mind over matter.

helensburgh · 06/02/2016 15:08

If you feel.sick in labour they.can give you medication

ijustwannadance · 06/02/2016 15:18

A lot of people just feel nauseous and eating can help. A friend used to have a constant supply of mini cheddars.

I had no sickness at all until in labour. Instead I got about 6 weeks of migraines and nosebleeds and numb legs, then came the anaemia and later the heartburn and the feeling that my ribcage was being broken slowly.
All worth it in the end though OP

OhShutUpThomas · 06/02/2016 15:30

Hi Rebecca

I had to answer your post. I too am an emetophobe, and was terrified about getting pregnant because of this. My mum also had extremely bad morning sickness.

Important things to remember:

morning sickness is not hereditary. Every pregnancy is different, and your mum's experience will have absolutely no bearing on yours.

morning sickness is not guaranteed. I am currently 11 weeks with DC3, and so far (touchwood!) I haven't been sick through it all once.

if you do get it, there are various effective medications available.

With DC1 I had no sickness, no nausea, nothing.

With DC2 I had a few weeks of nausea which I struggled with but was never actually sick. It passed relatively quickly.

With this one I have had quite bad nausea, which has by now largely passed. I went to the GP and explained about my phobia, my nausea, and the fact that I hadn't actually been sick but that I couldn't cope with the panic. He was lovely and prescribed me some tablets which, even on a low dose, stop the nausea and make me sleep better. They're amazing and have totally helped, although I've felt loads better lately so haven't needed to take them much.

During labour you can ask for injected antiemetics which are very effective. I explained about my phobia and everyone was lovely and very understanding.

And FINALLY - the whole thing has helped my emetophobia immensely.
Because I've been getting used to feeling sick, I don't get so much panic when it happens.
I also have a friend who was quite phobic too - she had terrible sickness throughout her pregnancy, and is completely cured. She says now she's so pleased it happened, in a weird way!

Whatever happens - there are people and drugs to help, and you get through it. And babies are lovely and totally worth it!

applesvpears · 06/02/2016 20:12

I am really surprised how many people on here are suffering with the same phobia. I felt sick throughout the first 12 weeks, so so sooooo sick but never actually was sick. I am scared of labour sickness so it is good to hear there are drugs to take if you tell them. My biggest fear is a sickness bug from my child but I am hoping maternal instinct will kick in I am also scared about passing my fears onto my child. I think it is an awful phobia. If you are scared of heights you avoid heights, scared of spiders you avoid spiders and once it's gone it's gone. It's the unknown of not knowing if you have caught something, am I going to throw up? Are they going to throw up? It's dreadful.

FoxgloveStar · 07/02/2016 09:14

I have a mild vomiting phobia. Currently 24 weeks pregnant. Did I feel nauseous for 10 weeks, yes. Did my phobia effect this, yes. Was I sick, yes.

I think my phobia stopped me being sick when most people would have just chucked up in the loo. I'd rather stay feeling sick than actually be sick. So that's basically what I did although I was sick once.

Try not to let it get to you. It will probably happen but it's something most people have to go through at the start.

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