Hyperemesis Support

[LucindaE]

I hope everyone suffering from the Horrors of Hyperemesis will find this thread useful as a source of support and information.
There's no TMI on here - can't be by definition - and nobody should feel ashamed of moaning as much as they feel the need to.

MOH's wonderful website is full of useful information on this illness:
sites.google.com/site/pregnancysicknesssos/
Another invaluable website is:
www.pregnancysicknesssupport.org.uk

If you need help in obtaining medication, this phone number is
brilliant:
024 7638 2020

Lastly, the NICE guidelines on treatment are useful:
links.nice.org.uk/nauseavomiting-in-pregnancy#!scenario

I would like to thank everyone who has given such invaluable support and advice on this and on previous threads.

Remember when you are at your worst, 'This Too Shall Pass'. It really will.
So many women on this thread have thought they couldn't get through this, but they did.

Thanks special you have summed up exactly how I feel. Yes ds is at childminders today so I will be home and resting. Only got people in to lay the floor today so should be quite quiet at home which is good. I really hope second baby I will either feel more confident (likely) and/or have an easier baby! Ds had awful colic which I found so hard to cope with. If my feelings get worse towards the end of pregnany I will see a gp but I think your right at the moment its probably bad combination of hg/tiredness/exhaustion! I am generally in life a really positive person and so don't really let this side of me show- over compensate by always being smiley and happy but don't think that's sustainable today anyway!

I hope you manage to rest at some point today special feeling tired in this heat and when pregnant is not at all fun!

Glad you can have some downtime today. Take it really easy, and don't try to over compensate. How old is your ds? (Sorry if you've previously mentioned). You most certainly do not deserve a hg pregnancy and a second colicky baby! Do take your mental health seriously. It's very easy to brush things off, but if you find these feelings ongoing, please mention them to midwife/gp.

I have 6 days in two weeks of work to get through, and feeling both stressed out about going to work now and at the thought of having a year out. I have given up on sleep for today and trying to eat breakfast (it is helping the nausea). I am a little worried about how I'll cope with a small baby. I'm averaging about 4-5hrs sleep/night at the moment (please don't laugh those of you with children already, I'm aware it will get worse!). Last week, both DH and I had a run of nights of bad sleep due to pregnancy and work stress and were so snappy with each other - what on earth will we be like with a small baby?!

special I will take it seriously had pnd last time (I blame colic!) So am quite aware normally of when I'm just run down and when I'm depressed but just hard with everything at the moment. Ds is 2 in a couple of weeks and generally fab so shouldn't complain just a typical active toddler!
To be honest sleep deprivation with a baby is different to pregnancy and I had insomnia last time too... its the broken sleep that is the killer so only an hour or two at a time. You and dh just have to be really gentle with each other especially if he is off for first 2 weeks. Don't get into competative tiredness and give each other lots of time to rest day and night. Make plenty of food for freezer to make like easy and some good tv recorded/box sets that you can watch either together or apart and then discuss! Two more weeks of work is amazing and don't worry about the year off bit, it will fly by! Good luck getting everything done. Have rang work and told them not going in. If didn't have workmen coming at 8 would be back in bed- where I will be headed when they get started anyway!

I'm so sorry that my comments made you cry. I wasn't meaning to. I too have lots of moments of panic about how I will cope with two. I think our little boys are pretty much the same age, mine also turns two in a couple of weeks. I certainly was no earth mother after I had him. A combination of infected episiotomy stitches that took about 8 weeks to heal, thrush from breastfeeding and a small baby who kept losing weight made me cry an awful lot. I am certainly hoping I don't have to have stitches this time or if I do, that they heal nice and quickly. I have no idea how I will cope otherwise. I still remember crying through the nights during that first couple of weeks, in agony getting up and down to feed baby. But, I am trying to look on the bright side and due to the fact this kid ain't giving me an easy ride during pregnancy it owes me something - a straight forward birth and sleeping and eating well will do me nicely! I think if you too had a bad experience first time round and you're def not having a good time at the moment, you're likely to be feeling down and apprehensive. Please don't be too hard on yourself. Take it very easy today - you'll have more than mother hen flapping otherwise.

special sorry to hear you too have struggled with sleep. I don't think the heat has helped but last night for me it was laying on my left hurt my hip, laying on my right made my heartburn worse, laying on my back sat up was just not comfy. Hope you manage to get through the day not feeling too tired, I remember feeling quite stressed during my last few weeks at work, trying to tie everything up so I wouldn't have to worry and then worrying that my maternity cover would be better than me and that people would like them more. Very silly I know.

Unfortunately I didn't get back to sleep until 4.45! Then the alarm went off at 6. At work now but how productive I will be is another matter.

Can I join this thread? I've been lurking for a while -I'm 35 weeks and have had HG since 5 weeks. This is my first baby and I'm also petrified of the first few months. I feel like a bad person for hating pregnancy and also for not feeling excited for the arrival- is that normal? I don't know anyone who has HG and everyone I do know who is pregnant/has a baby won't stop banging on about how bloody fantastic it is which makes me feel even worse!

Join in and have a good old moan snow none of us here are enjoying pregnancy in the least! I have decided its very normal to dread the first few weeks/ months too- survival is the name of the game! At you don't have long left although I do know how long every day feels!

sleepy it was a good cry- and it doesn't take a lot. Is important to get things in perspective! Yes my ds is also 2 in a few weeks and I took a similar rediculous long time to heal from infected episiotomy stitches...moving was so painful...! I will be having a day of rest don't worry- no antenatal gym session for me! Just wish had some chocolate milk in as thats pretty much all I fancy!

Snow, welcome. You are entirely justified in not feeling overwhelmed with happiness and excitement. when my HG was worst I didn't really know what to say when people said 'you must be so excited' because the only thing that excited me was the idea of keeping down a lollipop.
Now I have the right drugs and good doctors (am almost 20 weeks with my first, diagnosed at 17) I am just about starting to feel like I am having the emotions and feelings and excitements other mums have from earlier on. I stopped using my pregnancy app and have been less active on my MN ante natal group because my experience has deviated so much from the norm that seeing what I could be having wasn't mentally beneficial.
Day to day how are things for you? Sorry if I missed this but are you on meds yet?

Lucinda, thank you for asking. I am very weak from the thyroid meds but my eating has improved so, so much and my bump is definitely coming in. Even had a normal pregnant lady midnight feast on a box of biscuits last night. Morning puking still a thing, but manageable. How are you?

Snow123 Welcome. What meds have they had you on? I am so sorry you are one of the unlucky ones who suffer badly the whole way through. Nobody could enjoy pregnancy in such circumstances. I'm glad it's helped to lurk, anyway. Because there are no facilities for 'views' on Mumsnet, I have no idea how many people follow this thread. I believe a doctor did, for research; that must have dismayed her/him but been really instructive!
How are you doing for foods/liquids and keeping ketones under control?
almondbutter Glad things are not too bad. Morning vomits are horrible though. Wise words. It is very hard not to feel frankly jealous about how lucky some women are in pregnancy.
SleepymrsE Belated hugs over infected stitches and colicky baby. I had that too, and you think you're unnatural and will never feel proper happy love. Of course you do, though! It just takes a bit longer. It sounds as if your stitches took a very long time to heal.
Icklekid Mother Hen says flap and cluck, you sound exhausted. As ever, you expect too much of yourself. What you need is sleep, and too see a really silly film or read part of a really silly book to give you a laugh (I mean a Bertie Wooster level of silliness). But with a toddler, that's not easy. Some of the kids programmes on CBBC made me laugh when I had a LO, particularly one about two mice who wanted to take over the world.
Your OH sounds wonderful about DIY.
Vixxfacee How are you? We're all quite anxious.
Rae It's very difficult when you're usually active, I know. It is impossible to believe now, but through going through this hell, you will be stronger. You can always say, 'I handled HG; I can handle anything!'
Hence, my attachment...
SpecialStains I am glad things aren't too bad, and lol about your mother blaming you for her hair. Oh dear, that's not funny,but they way you put it.
Lucy and mrsmonkey How are things today?
Apologies to anyone rudely overlooked.

Sorry Rae I forgot to say much sympathy about catching such a horrible bug.

I'm on ondansetron which helps keep everything down but doesn't really do
Much for nausea/acid reflux but I'm trying to power through! I can sort of function day to day when I'm on it (I work from home for
Myself which is a blessing and a curse) but I'm struggling to sleep now which seems to make everything so much worse! I was actually living in France when I got pregnant and was prescribed metrochlopramide which did nothing, and then was on ondansetron suppositories (thankfully now I can take them orally!) my main worry is that different consultants say different things about harm caused to the baby which causes me a huge amount of stress/anxiety which I don't really need! The good news is the baby is the right size and I have managed to put some weight on - partly because I only seem to want to eat sweet things and ice lollies! I've tried to steer clear of forums telling me how I should feel during pregnancy but been struggling with friends not really understanding the full extent. Does anyone else have weird associations with sickness? I've had to throw away clothes and duvet covers because they just make me start wretching as soon as I see them!

Glad you're on the best medication. Some find it works best of all with cyclizine, and that you've managed to gain some weight. I know just what you mean. I read 'War and Peace' when suffering. To this day, even the title makes me feel sick, years later. It's a shame about the duvets and things, but the charity shops will have benefited at least!

ickle and sleepy, I'm so sorry you're both suffering. Hope you managed to get some rest today ickle. Don't like to think of anyone crying either! to all.

special no advice here about having a newborn as I'm a first-timer. In the remainder of your time at work though just try to take thins one day at a time (I know that this is so much easier said than done!)

Snow just to second what others have said, I think the way you're feeing is totally normal. HG is miserable. It might be worth talking to your midwife if you're worried about bonding with the baby (I will do this if I feel as I do now nearer my due date). As for associating things with sickness- yes, I have one dress that I wore to work the last day before I was signed off with HG. I can't even look at it now without feeling sick! Think it'll have to go to the charity shop, which is a shame because I only wore it once

I'm still battling the bug from hell- at least DH could hit the cold and flu medication, I can't take anything! Got barely any sleep but made it into work. Ready to collapse into a heap!

Sorry for anyone I've missed- the thread has been busy today!

Still feeling bad about making ickle cry. Although I do agree sometimes a good sob can often help. Hope you have had a day of rest.

I have just climbed into bed. It's been a crazy busy day at work, legs starting to swell by the afternoon and bump hardening when walking too quickly. However, and I doubt you'll believe it but I have had pasta & bolognese for tea. That's a whole actual meal... At tea time. It's only taken 23 weeks to get to this point. Hurrah. Let's just hope it stays put. Heartburn already quite bad so not wholly confident but we'll see. DH kept asking me how it was/if I was ok. Had to tell him to shut up as I was just eating and trying not to think about it.

Sorry for lack of personals. Shattered so going to try and get to sleep before DH & the dog bound into the bedroom. I do just want to say a quick hi and welcome to snow, you've done remarkably well coping for this long, you must be so fed up. We all like a good moan on here so definitely don't feel bad for joining in. The more the... Not sure merrier is an appropriate term for a group of women who can't eat/drink without fear of vomiting but you get the drift.

Well done on the meal Sleepy! I hope it stays put. Also hope you have a good rest tonight

Well I survived and was only sick once more today. Dh left at 5am this morning and got back at 6.30. He ate tea whilst I was bathing ds and then went out to football as soon as he was in bed. So I've decided to ignore my annoyance and am currently sat in the bath having done the online food shop for dh and ds. Will then be going to bed and hoping for a better night. Told work I will go in for the morning and see how it goes.

sleepy really hoping food stays down and you get a good rest

rae does hot lemon or anything help to clear you at all? Having a bad cold virus is nasty at the best of times let alone without medication. Thinking of you

snow surround yourself with people who are supportive even if they don't understand how hard hg pregnancies are. Sounds like you are on good combination of medication. Enjoy the ice lollies

lucinda those badges are immense! I would happily wear one with pride to support those pregnant and also going through it. I guess there aren't the numbers in any given community to support each other but I really feel for those battling alone. This group is a lifeline for me!

Right bath is getting slightly cooler so time to retreat to bed I feel. Sorry for making anyone feel bad about being upset earlier.

Snow I hate being pregnant. I very much love my little baby, and can't wait to meet him, but there is not one aspect of being pregnant I enjoy. I feel nauseous all the time (though much better than the first few awful months). HG can be lonely and isolating, and even nice friends and family who are supportive generally don't always get it. Step away from the antenatal groups and delete all the crap pregnancy apps that say 'Make sure you exercise/eat veg/avoid medications'. I stopped the NHS emails because it told me I should be doing moderate exercise when all I could manage was standing up to get to the bathroom to vomit without feeling faint. If you're a bad person for hating pregnancy, I'm much, much badder!

My weirdest associations with hg are any kind of christmas foods (nut roasts and gravy in particular) and photos of me and DH at Harry Potter studios at Christmas! The week before Christmas was when I found out I was pregnant and first feeling really bad, and I still hate the thought of everything associated with it. Gravy adverts would set me off on a multiple vomit session. Urgh.

Rae sorry you've got a bad bug. Hope you get lots of rest tonight.

Almond Sorry you're still vomiting, but well done on the weight gain!

Ickle Hope you had a restful day filled with chocolate milk.

Sleepy That sounds an awful nights sleep. I hope you get more sleep tonight and your hip and reflux behave themselves. I'm ridiculously worried that work will like my maternity cover more than me, which is silly. I should hope they like my maternity cover and that me being off doesn't cause my colleagues too much stress. I still feel odd at the idea of a year out. I can't say these things out loud without sounding crazy!

In a particularly bad mood, as ended up leaving work at 12.30 because I'd been retching all morning, and on the walk home I had agonising period like abdominal cramps which had me in tears, and I was worried that I was going into early labour and that I couldn't give birth because I haven't been to any birthing classes yet, and DH wouldn't answer his phone. They lasted until about 2pm. I was debating about calling the midwife, but took paracetamol and a hot water bottle and managed to get a few hours sleep. Feeling a bit better now and raided DHs GP bag when he got home, I'm mildly ketotic again and my blood pressure is a bit low, but no UTI markers. So I have no idea what it was earlier but baby's movements are fine and the cramp has reduced. DH has fed me potato waffles (because I like to maintain my very balanced and nutritional HG diet of beige foods). I really want chocolate milk as it has been mentioned a few times recently on this thread, but not sure he'll be too receptive to going out and fetching me some.

Sorry for long, indulgent post. Is random cramping normal in pregnancy? I sort of went on the assumption that if I actually go into labour, I'd probably know about it. What are Braxton Hicks like? (I have googled, and it described a radiating pain in abdomen and lower back, mine was like a band of period pain intermittently happening transversely across my bump).

DH went and got me chocolate milk. It is very nice.

Snow just popping on quickly to say I totally understand you throwing out duvet covers etc! For me, the association is with a particular washing liquid that I'd used to wash one of my work dresses. I wore that dress the day I started vomitting and now the smell of the washing powder just turns my stomach because of the association.

special well done dh best husband of the day award can fo to yours and definitely not mine! Glad you enjoyed the chocolate milk I did mine although ds was determined to share. When I have braxton hicks it is like a tightening across bump which goes very hard but think it can be cramp like. If movement is still normal it's unlikely to be something midwifes are concerned about but paracetamol and hot water bottle are good suggestions. Now I want potato waffles for tea (with ham) and its too late for online shop coming tomorrow plus I can't get to my oven!

Well 3.30 is an acceptable time to start the day right??? At least not sick in the night so will be attempting work tomorrow...

Morning, everyone! I'd say good morning, but, well you know...

I'm so sorry for my MIA, I've had no notifications so have just caught up on about 5 pages worth. Feeling a bit dizzy, so apologies for the lack of personals here, it was a lot of info for my foggy brain.

Firstly, the two names to threads I can remember...

Snow welcome! Sorry you're here though. To answer your question, anything I've been sick on, or sick from eating, or cleaned up sick using - except my loyal stripy kitty friend (who I have been sick on 😿).

Ickle I really feel for how low you are feeling. I had terrible terrible depression in my first pregnancy & I became quite mad (using the word 'mad' due to the lack of my phone agreeing with me on how to spell psychosis). I tried to jump out of a window & really wasn't at all in a good place. Please seek some help if you need it. I'm currently the owner of an open referral to the pregnancy mental health unit (just in case), which where I am in Hampshire is at the hospital. There are safe meds they can prescribe, so if you're in need, please ask for help. Massive virtual hugs to you xo

To the ladies who responded about my completely vain & shallow hair concerns - thank you. I feel better about it now, just felt quite like the 'last straw' when getting ready for a fancy party, holding clumps of hair. This pregnancy lark is just so glamourous!

A couple of people asked how the party was - absolutely amazing! They were so nice to me too, even allowed me to bring in some plain biscuits & water that I was going to pretend I'd accidentally left in my bag. I went through 4 security searches (wearing my 'Baby on Board!' badge & they all said they understood my situation from The Duchess & let me in with my swag! Got to wish the Queen a very happy birthday & got to see my old school pal Spike (Harry) again, so glad I traipsed along to the Palace. Got to crack out my new Isabella Oliver too, perhaps the only thing about pregnancy I've so far been on board with - other than those price tags!

Big milestones for me yesterday, went in to work, not just logged in from home & I cooked a meal for the first time in months. Even ate said meal & kept it down. Just weighed myself & I've gained 1 1/2 lbs! First pregnancy weight gain, although I'm still about 2 1/2 stone down. Proud of that achievement though. I'm hoping I'm reaching a turning point with the drugs helping & eating, very much hope it lasts.

Hope everyone has brilliant, or failing that, manageable days today. More virtual hugs to those struggling - this too shall indeed pass xo

ickle I might try some hot black currant in a bit. I was better in the night- not coughing as much, so at least I got a vaguely decent sleep! Sorry to hear that you were up at 3:30

Special your day yesterday sounds really tough. Not sure about what Braxton Hicks feel like- something else for me to look forward to then! Glad you got some milkshake at least. I'm going to have some shortly

Lucy well done on the party, work, meal and weight gain. Sounds like you've achieved loads in just a couple of days!

Morning all, thankfully I managed a better night sleep however feel more tired today than I did yesterday. Have pain behind my eye like you get when you're really tired. At home today with DS so hoping he has a decent nap at lunch time. I managed to keep the food I ate yesterday evening down but don't really fancy anything this morning - maybe my stomach is too full as its not used to meals.

ickle glad to hear you managed some rest and that you escaped nasty night time vomit. Good luck at work today.

special I had braxton hicks in my first pregnancy later on and although they were uncomfortable I wouldn't say they were painful. I would get them if I did too much. I am having the occasional ones already this time, again if I find myself doing too much esp walking too quickly. They ramped up a lot in the week leading up to labour but as soon as I had my first contraction there was a noticeable difference. It was definite pain. I would keep an eye on it, if you are getting pains I would maybe give the assessment unit a ring. Could be an iratable uterus like some of the ladies who have just graduated had?

lucy well done on all your achievements, I totally understand how satisfying it is achieving things that most people do on a daily basis.

rae sorry to hear you're feeling poorly, make sure you keep an eye on your temp. Paracetamol is fine to take and should def be taken if you're fighting infection with a temp. Hopefully you can get some rest today and start to feel better soon.

Right best go check on what DS is doing. Although cute he's developed a new phrase... What is that noise, where is it coming from? The dishwasher is on at the moment and he's desperate to touch the buttons on the front to figure out where the noise is coming from.

Sleepy those headaches are awful! I get them when I'm stressed too. Pre-pregnancy I could shift it by taking codeine and going straight to bed for an hour. Not really an option for you though- I really hope it shifts soon. Glad you managed to keep your dinner down!

I've been resisting paracetamol because I feel the poor baby has already been exposed to too much (I know that this is mad). Randomly I am desperate for a swim because all my joints ache! Maybe a bath is a good call.

Good luck with DS and the dishwasher 😁

It's been a hard morning, or should I say DS has been hard work. Thankfully he's just gone down for a nap. Think I might lay on the sofa and close my eyes for a bit.

Don't be too hesitant on taking paracetamol. Running a temp can be dangerous for the baby so you're better taking it than not. Plus it's known to be safe to take.

Oh dear sleepy sorry to hear ds has been hard work that is definitely not what you need. Hope he has a nice long nap and you get a proper rest.

rae I think we all feel similar and would rather not take more than is needed but sometimes you have to. A swim sounds good to me too although did enjoy a bath last night too! Hope the hot blackcurrant was nice. Are you feeling slightly more alive?

lucy so pleased you had a great time at the palace. Especially because they were understanding about the snacks and water! Well done on getting a meal down very impressive!

I'm feeling awful baby is very low and painful whilst kicking away and braxton hicks like tightenings. I managed a morning at work only being sick a couple of times before abandoning that idea and coming home! Flooring isn't as quick as I'd hoped and I'm struggling just wanting to have my house back and clean now! To top things off tap is leaking onto new oak worktop 😥 just reaching tipping point now!