When does morning sickness become hyperemesis gravidarum?

[Fouryearslater]

I’m 6 and a half weeks pregnant with my second child. I suffered morning sickness with first child; constant nausea, slightest thing could make me heave which = puke. Had to eat evening meal by a certain time, all the usual stuff! Went on until 20 weeks.

Seems worse this time round. I’ve got cyclizine and didn’t feel so bad over the weekend but today has been a write off. Was sick before I could take the first pill, gagged (and thus vomited) when trying to take paracetamol for the crippling headache I woke with, and have just been sick again despite having been resting whilst DP dealt with bedtime.

Does it just seem worse because we are on lockdown and no respite from a toddler who has no concept of taking it easy? Stress of a pregnancy during a pandemic? The fact I know I’ve got another 14 weeks of it?

Any tips? I feel the absolute pits 😔

I've been dealing with terrible sickness since 6 weeks pregnant, I am now 18+2 and still Ill daily I've tried travel sickness bands as my choice has been to take no medication despite how bad things have gotten.
I honestly don't know when sickness turns into HG but I really feel for you!
I am unable to eat or even sip water until late afternoon/ evening or I am just unable to function all day with constant sickness, literally beyond the point of bile! I keep praying the next day when I wake it will be gone but I've never woke up feeling different yet, I've lost 1.5 stone in the past 12 weeks it's been really tough but I am desperate to get through it medication free, I really hope it calms down for you soon and you feel much better, rest as much as you can it really takes it out of you being this ill for so long xx

I had bad sickness with my first but HG with my second. The difference for me was that when I had HG I required hospital admissions and fluids. I tried all the medications I could and nothing touched it. It wasn’t unusual for me to be sick 10-20 times a day.

I feel sorry for you OP, having sickness like this is awful. It makes pregnancy a bit like a marathon and it feels so relentless.

Is your DP at home or working from home? Try to rest as much as you can, whenever you can and remember that it will come to an end.

Also hospitalised multiple times with HG, couldn't keep any of the anti emetics down long enough to do any good- gp prescribed buccol ones which you don't have to swallow and sit under the gum and slowly dissolve. There is a great HG forum here which was a lifeline to me!

My HG diagnoses came after hospital admission, wasn't even able to drink 200-300ml water a day let alone eat anything. Currently 38 weeks pregnant and still on anti sickness meds now, lost 2 stone at start of pregnancy due to sickness as well and 13 weeks off work as couldn't function. Thankfully once I found the right combination of sickness meds the pregnancy has gone really well but not been what I expected at all

For me the turning point was not being able to kee water down. Horrible. Give your midwife a ring if you're concerned, you know your body best. Take care.

Your question really is about getting help managing your symptoms not being hospitalised right?!

If the meds arent working go back and try a different one. Don't be shy. If you get fobbed off see a different gp. Both the females I saw were sympathetic. The male sent me away and told me to eat ginger biscuits fgs!

The first meds I tried did fuck all. The second one helped stop me vomiting, though I still ended up being too ill to function. I was not hospitalised as could keep down fluids most of the time. Could only eat bbq pop chips though..

Grapefruit juice was the only thing that helped minimise the nausea. Sounds crazy but it worked. A MN tip actually.

Hope you get sorted

Did they give you cyclizine for this or did you already have it? I had a prescription for cyclizine before I got pregnant but when I got pregnant they changed me to promethazine which worked much much better for me. I couldn’t swallow tablets when I started taking it but after a few days my nausea was much better.

I think the most important thing is that you’re able to keep fluids down and aren’t becoming dehydrated.

When I couldn't keep water down.

They’ve given me cyclizine for the sickness. It seemed to keep the edge off over the weekend but yesterday didn’t touch it.

Am managing to keep water down, but I’m having to force myself to drink it. I just don’t want food because I feel so lousy, but I’m sure lack of food is contributing.

DP and I are both working from home (with the toddler!). I shall continue my pity party and be grateful I’m not in hospital, I really don’t want that, especially at the moment.

Pregnancy Sickness Support has a lot of useful, practical, legal and medical info.

I had HG in both my pg. It used to be defined by ketone levels in your wee, but I don’t think that happens anymore. I think it’s to do with your ability to stay hydrated. I used to melt ice cubes in my mouth. Lemon ice lollies too.

It’s when you can’t keep down water, I lost a stone in 2 weeks during the worst of it but that wasn’t ‘good enough’ for HG because I could drink water sometimes, I vomited multiple times a day (at least 4 towards to end) until I was 23 weeks, now at 33 I only vomit maybe once a week, I’ve gained 3lbs only.

Midwife is shit and never offers help and it wasn’t until my 28 week appointment (second baby) that she even told me that I should see my GP for the medication, I always thought she’d have to refer me! Seemed a little pointless after most of it went away and it’s only occasional 🙄

On my 3rd Hg pregnancy and been given ondansetron. Currently 11+2 weeks and I only get relief from taking the max 8mg twice a day. I tried a few days without and the nausea came back as before all day very intense, dry wretching and bringing up literally spit because whatever I manage to eat seems to get digested instantly.
My question is has anyone had ondansetron for a prolonged time through their pregnancy as the GPS were getting worried about using it for more than 5 days .

@Fouryearslater sorry you're feeling so lousy! Would you consider going to docs and asking for a little more help? There's a lot they can do for you from cyclazine. Or speak to an EPU. Mine have been wonderful.

@Thisistherhythmofthenight I have been on ondansetron since about 6 weeks and I'm now 14 weeks. My 12w scan showed nothing untoward. (I know there's certain risks with ondansetron) I'm on cyclazine, prochlorperazine and ondansetron as this is HG the 4th time round 😩

Hope you all feel better soon. ❤️