Morning sickness and work

[Sohe]

Hi everyone.
I have been getting morning sickness since 5.5 weeks off and on and for the most part have just been able to crack on with things. However last night I felt nauseous from about 2am and vomiting since about 4.30. I feel that awful I have actually rang in sick for work. I feel like fraud and I should have just gone in. However My job is very active and stressful and I honestly don’t think I could have made it through a 12.5 hour shift the way I’m feeling this morning. Anyone else felt so awful they have had to take a day off? X

I felt so awful I had 8 weeks off in both pregnancies!
You are not alone. I spent a lot of time I hospital being rehydrated during this time as I had hyperemisis.

Does your employer know that you are pregnant? This is important for 2 reasons
1- pregnancy related sickness must be recorded seperately to ordinary sick leave and cannot be used against you.
2- they need to do a risk assessment on your role. D duties during pregnancy.

There is a lot of very helpful advice and information here Pegbancy sickness support.

If this continues, or you have trouble eating and drinking (especially drinking), contact your GP, they are anti sickness medications (antiemetics) available they can prescribe you.

Good luck. I really hope you are feeling better soon. I use to suck ice cubes to stay hydrated!

I did and it was more because I had not rested at all. Impossible to work. I told my line manager really early so she knew and then wider management from 12 weeks x

Poor you op, it sucks. Mine subsides slightly at 25 weeks or so.
On a memorable day I threw up on the way to work so much had to turn around to go home and change then threw up 5 times in work. Was utterly grim.
Pregnancy related sickness only kicks in at 20weeks plus at our place I'm afraid but t
Do take the time if needed and your ill.

It’s not up to the employer to decide when pregnancy sickness rights start! It’s covered by the Equality Act 2010. For the first 36 weeks of pregnancy. It’s only in the last 4 weeks of pregnancy that the employer can request you start mat leave if your health leaves you unable to work.

I was signed off by the doctor for 3 months from about 6 weeks I felt so bad. Tiredness, stress etc can make it worse, so if you are not feeling able to work do speak to your doctor.

Take as much time off as you need! Get signed off if you need to- you are protected. If you haven’t told them you are pregnant then considering speaking to your boss so they know the situation.

Luckily I have been working from home in a very low stress job or I definitely would have been signed off by then! The first trimester can be brutal.

Thanks for the replies everyone. Yes my manager and the team know I’m pregnant. I had to tell them as I kept being sick at work and half where worried about me and half had guessed anyway. Like I said I have been suffering with sickness pretty early and still only 10 weeks so I’m praying this stops soon because I feel terrible.
Iv not had my risk assessment yet as Iv been on nights for the past few weeks but my manager said she would do it the next day shift which would have been today. I think maybe that’s why I feel so awful today coz it’s my first shift going from nights back to days which is usually pretty rough under normal circumstances. I feel terrible letting my team down coz we are already short staffed due to covid but at the same time I know there is no way I could of done my shift safely today.
My manager was actually very nice about it as like I said I have been sick at work a lot the last few weeks but just somehow managed to power through. I just feel so guilty. I’m never off sick x

Don't feel guilty, most women do struggle with nausea to a greater or lesser degree. You may find strategies for dealing with it (avoid caffeine and try sipping ginger tea and nibbling ginger biscuits, I had ginger thins beside the bed even) and if it persists call your gp

Had 4 weeks off in this pregnancy for sickness. It is impossible to work when feeling that bad.

I had some days off the pregnancy sickness in the first trimester but there were as many days when I worked when I shouldn't have. I got the train to work and whilst when I got up I felt OK to work by the time I had got the train in I felt dreadful but couldn't face getting back on the train to go home.

My sickness returned in the third trimester by which point I was working from home due to covid and I learnt my lessons from the first trimester and took time off. I felt less guilty as I knew if I felt a better it was easier to get back to work although I only managed to do that once!

I got anti sickness meds from the gp due to weight loss and the effects it was having on my mental health. It's something to consider

I understand the guilt but you have to do what you have to do. The sickness and nausea can be completely debilitating and you need time for your body to rest.

If it makes you feel better, i hadnt take a sick day since 2017, before Christmas I had taken 7 days and have used 2 days annual leave this year!

Luckily I’ve been working from home so I am able to do what I need to do ie be sick if needed. With my first pregnancy I had terrible sickness and took time off and had meds. You just need to do to get through it. I’m 11 weeks now and am being super careful with what I’m eating and drinking to avoid all triggers etc as there are definitely foods that make it worse!

Hi everyone. Thanks for the replies. I think I need to contact my GP as I’m really struggling and just don’t feel well enough to work. But I’m just not sure what to say, I feel like I’m being soft and I’m just expected to push through but I can hardly get out of bed. Had another sleepless night again last night, nausea from about 2am again and only managed to nod off at 8am. I’m not back in work til weekend but I’m already panicking that I’m not going to be well enough and it’s harder to find cover at the weekend short notice x

I'm sorry you feel like this, serious hug and handhold because I was there in the summer and would not wish it on anyone!

Your GP will take you seriously if you explain that you are struggling to eat / drink and it is affecting everything in your life. They will tell you to sign yourself off first (that is the law) and then they can sign you off next week after 5 working days.

I recommend medication though don't feel pressured. I tried cyclizine first but it didn't help so went to prochlorperazine which did wonders and made me feel like a human again. My best friend works in EPU so was letting me know next medication steps etc. Took about 4 weeks off in total. Pregnancy related sickness does not go against your record I.e you cannot be penalised for it in the future.

Hope you feel better soon x good luck xx

Also I was grateful that it was covid because if someone told me to my face to try chewing on ginger I would have possibly hit them 🙈