Any tips to get me through this week?

[RMarieClaire]

I am 8 weeks pregnant and I have serious evening sickness. In the mornings I am blessed to feel remarkably good - perky even! But from about 2pm it's all downhill. Feel weak, dizzy and very nauseous. This week I have two late work events I can't get out of. Both likely to go on till at least 11pm. I know I will feel ill and find socialising difficult, and the smell of alcohol may be too much for me, but I need to find a way to power through.

Any tips on how to behave like I'm not a moment from throwing up or crying!?

Hi OP

Just wanted to say that I sympathise - I’m 9+3 and have felt like this from the moment I wake to the moment I get to sleep every day since 5 weeks - it’s totally miserable and getting through each day at work (I only work mornings!) is a huge struggle. The only relief I get is if I eat something - it takes the edge off for maybe an hour before the nausea crashes back in - could you maybe take a few light healthy snacks to the events wIth you and have a nibble every now and then to help keep the nausea at bay?

Hi @RMarieClaire

Firstly congratulations!

I’m the complete opposite to you I normally feel perky around lunch time and awful in the mornings! However a couple of things which helped me:

• eat small things little and often - try to go with any cravings you have.. mine is egg fried rice I have this in moderation tho! Ice lollies were good as well, nausea stopped instantly when having them.
• get travel bands / sea sickness bands from the pharmacy I think mine were around £5 and I’m still using them at 20 weeks
• get plenty of rest when you can
• people recommend ginger (I love it usually but gone right of it now) mint is good for me; peppermint tea, chewing gum, polos etc
• if the nausea leads to sickness which doesn’t stop go to the GP and get tablets I’ve been on Ondansetron since week 6 and they help too (I was scared to take anything but it’s fine)

Also if you do struggle and if/when you tell work, I’d maybe say you struggle on an afternoon would it be possible to start earlier? I start later in the morning to accommodate my sickness and it’s really helped. I didn’t put in a flexible working request it’s more casual, but I know some places can be funny so you may need to go down the formal route.. as long as you have not put one in for the last 12 months and worked at the company for 26 weeks - you can put one in! Most employers are flexible and supportive tho.

Good luck with your pregnancy! X

I’m a really bad traveller and I swear by the Aesop Flight Therapy. It’s a ginger rollerball. Use on wrists or even under your nose. Lasts forever too! That and seabands from Amazon. I feel for you, i’m 8+5 and as you saw from earlier post I’ve been in bed all day nursing a non hangover!

Salty snacks kept my sickness at bay! Stash some salted crisps in your bag to nibble on :)

Oh fully sympathise OP. I’m 12+5 and have had terrible evening sickness until this week. Keep reminding yourself that this phase will pass eventually and be kind to yourself. Eat whatever you can stomach and don’t push yourself to be sociable. Tell work and see if any allowances can be made

I’ve been finding that tic-tacs are the best instant nausea reliever. They don’t make it disappear when it’s bad, but they certainly make a difference. All other mints are too big, and it’s too much like eating.

I second the recommendation for the anti-nausea bands. I’m wearing mine most of the time at the moment. My second pair were about £4.50 off eBay - Sea Bands. I take them off most days just before I go to sleep, and put them on again at my first waking. You can also massage the buttons for additional nausea relief.

I’m 10+1, and have just had two wonderful days of feeling much less bad, after a particularly bad time around 9 weeks (didn’t get dressed on two days, and made pitiful pleas to DH to feed me, poor fellow). Today it’s less good. But it’s still improving compared to last week, I hope! I’m very impressed that you are doing this while working - I’ve just not had it in me.

Good luck!

Thank you! Definitely going to fill my pockets with salty snacks. I'm feeling pretty bad this morning so perhaps evenings won't be as bad this week. Or both will be awful.

I have the sickness bands on and they don't seem to be helping - or perhaps they are and it would be even worse!

I've not actually been sick, so in a way I know it must be worse for other people. But I've always had a very strong stomach - never one for throwing up after drinking.