Pregnant and emetophobic

[Charlotte1x]

Hi,

Found out I was pregnant yesterday. First reaction was feeling absolutely over the moon and I spent the day in a bit of a daze.

At the risk of sounding crazy, I have a very big fear of being sick. I haven’t been sick since I was 7 years old (20.5 years ago!). I don’t really know where the fear stemmed from, it must have been a bad experience as a child. I did an online course which helped me but by no means did it get me over the fear of being sick. I have IBS and acid reflux so these often make me feel nauseous and I get very panicky that I am going to be sick. I am on tablets ranitidine to control the acid, and a low dose of amitriptyline for the anxiety that the feeling sick and IBS symptoms were causing me. I have an appointment tomorrow with my doctor to discuss whether I can continue this medication now that I’m pregnant. I don’t think I have ever told a doctor about my fear because I find it quite embarrassing.

This afternoon the anxiety has started taking over me. I desperately want to be happy and enjoy this very exciting news, but my fear of being sick is getting in the way. I have been feeling slightly nauseous, I don’t fancy eating much and I feel very very tired. No sign of sickness yet but I’m only 4 weeks pregnant.

I am not a sicky person, I have never been sick from being hungover, not travel sick, when I’ve felt very sick in the past I have repeatedly dry retched but nothing comes up. Is it possible that I could have a sickness free pregnancy? Any advice will be greatly appreciated. I know how lucky I am and that the phobia is irrational but it’s something I am really suffering with.

Thanks xx

@pomfluff thank you, that’s really helpful :) I have also tried but thrive programme but unfortunately only got halfway through x

Hey, I'm in the same position. Found out this week that I'm pregnant and it's made my anxiety around nausea/vomiting much worse. I have a history of bad anxiety and panic and the thought of morning sickness terrified me to the point it was hard for me to eat after I found out because my anxiety got so bad. I was getting into a horrible cycle of anxiety causing nausea, which caused my anxiety etc etc. After a few days I went to the doctor and asked for a prescription for cyclizine, not to take right away but just to have with me, which he agreed to. I haven't taken any yet but knowing I have it, and knowing that if I do end up getting bad morning sickness I won't have to get myself to the doctor in order to get medication is definitely helping me to cope much better.

I used to be very worried about being sick until I got pregnant. As PP say, most people are nauseous and not sick but what I'll say from experience is that (even if you are sick) you get over your fears of it. Honestly. I had HG, vomiting up to 30 times a day at its worst and I honestly no longer fear vomiting (and I really used to). Sometimes after being sick I would feel a bit better for a small amount of time so I actually 'enjoyed' (if you see what I mean!!) being sick just for 30 minutes relief afterwards.

You'll be amazed at what you can survive in pregnancy for the sake of your baby, any other situation and I would have had a breakdown by now! But for my baby it's worth it :-)

Good luck and I hope you don't have any sickness :-)