Emetophobia (fear of vomit)

[LaurenSl]

Hi all -
I’m new here so hello! I’m 5+5 (roughly) and feeling great so far! I’m excited but currently more scared. I’m terrified of Sickness hitting me soon!!!
Anyone else have this fear and managed??
Any amazing tips or hints etc.
Think my biggest fear is being ill at work or out - hate the idea of not making it to loo xxx

Hi OP, fellow emetophobe here! I posted something very very similar to this at around 5 weeks as well. If it helps you at all I haven’t been sick at all during my pregnancy and I’m 32 weeks now. I felt very nauseous at times and I retched a lot, which I think actually helped me feel less scared about actually being sick, but I never physically vomited. That doesn’t mean that you won’t but I do think that people with this phobia are generally less sick. My advice would be to eat as regularly as you can because I felt much worse if I didn’t eat, if you go off foods then just keep nibbling at what you can. And if you do get sick, it’s for the best reason in the entire world and that’s the little baby you’re growing :) good luck xxx

I used to be emetophobic both in terms of being sick myself and having anyone else vomiting. I got a tummy bug a couple of years ago (having made it over a decade without vomiting!) and it was actually fine - I just let my body do what it needed to do and made sure to pause to breathe. It happened again a year or two later, which was also fine. So now I’m not afraid of vomiting.

I’ve had pretty bad nausea this pregnancy, and I did manage some impressive gagging, but I’m not really the vomiting type, and I haven’t actually been sick at all. That’s been good - I’m not afraid of it anymore, but I certainly wouldn’t volunteer for it!

I’m still terrified of anyone else being sick, though. It’s a bit anxious entering hospitals, because there is a much heightened risk of encountering such a situation.

I have decided that my baby’s posseting is not vomiting, so it won’t bother me. By the time it is able to vomit, I will be de-sensitised, and it will all be fine. Let’s hope I’m correct!

I am emetophobic and suffered with bloody awful morning and evening sickness. To be honest, it took some of the sting out of the emetophobia because it was so predictable - get up, have shower, lie down for five minutes, throw up.

I am still dreadful at dealing with actual vomit though - that is DH's job. If one of the kids is sick I am usually two rooms away with my fingers in my ears and my eyes shut, and I will cross the road at the slightest suggestion of anything in the street. I am a teacher and my classes are all told that if they think they might be sick, they get up and leg it instantly

Thanks ladies - that does make me feel a little better. Was scared people would think I was daft for even being worried about!
Ok fingers crossed I make it through without - but if not I’m hoping I can brave it :) this is so exciting but so terrifying at same time heeh x

Hi Lauren. I have emet too and, lucky me, I have quite an extreme reaction to hormones. When I was pg with dd for months on end non stop I’d feel about 5 seconds away from being sick. It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done but also the best in that I got dd from it. I’m actually pg again and suffering again! I find it makes it worse when I overdo it (which doesn’t take much), don’t eat regularly, tired, anxious, stressed.

Having children has been quite good for my emetophobia. My maternal instinct is the only thing slightly stronger than my fear of vomiting so being forced to care for unwell DC has decreased my aversion to a manageable level. Still struggle an awful lot but it's better.

Thanks guys!! I hope I can do this - don't want to hate being pregnant!
I'm not even sure I know or remember what feeling Nausea feels like! That's my worry - that I won't know then I'll freak!
eek! Guess I'll see in next couple weeks!

Feel like ticking time bomb! Trying to use my CBT methods to talk myself into I'll be ok! Works sometimes! X

Hey all
I'm an emetophobe too. 29 weeks tomorrow. I've been lucky and had no sickness.
But still having odd freak out.
Have told my midwife and discussed having anti emetic for labour and she's been great!
Next battle is when the kid is sick hehe
But hoping step by step can work towards cure/improvement

Good luck XXX

Just replied to my own post! Baby brain at its finest!! Haha x