Sickness- what is normal?

[catgamerlady]

Hi,
I'm 8 weeks pregnant with my first baby and I'm really struggling with sickness. I don't know what's normal and can wait for my first midwife appointment on the 3rd, compared to what I should be seeing my GP about sooner.

Sickness started 2 and a half weeks ago. Nausea is constant and impacting my ability to do anything round the house and my work is suffering. I'm sick every day- usually multiple times. At weekends it's only once per day but I basically do nothing.

This morning I had a few sips of water and that was enough to trigger vomiting. I'm exhausted, not always managing to stay well hydrated and frequently shakey. I don't think I've lost weight but my DH does. Heartburn is severe (I got this even before pregnancy).

Guess I'm just looking for someone to tell if it's supposed to be this bad? I feel terrible saying it because this baby is very much longed for but I'm finding being pregnant really difficult...

Any advice?

Contact your GP. Midwives can't prescribe meds so would just signpost to them. The GP can prescribe something to help.

Any level of sickness is 'normal' but doesn't mean you just have to tolerate it. Definitely speak with your GP, and also consider 111 or your midwifery hub if you can't keep anything down at all as you may need IV fluids

You sound like you have it pretty bad. I got signed off work and ended up on medication (cyclizine which only helped a little so got prescribed prochlorperazine which made me a whole lot better - like I was almost a normal person again!) I pretty much spent a month in bed and wouldn't wish it on an enemy! It's impossible to do anything when you feel that bad. If you aren't managing to keep down fluids you should let your GP know asap as that is the main concern. Don’t suffer just because people say to you 'oh I had it bad too, you just have to get through it - eat ginger'. I'm sorry but with the sickness I had ginger would have done nothing and the thought made me worse. I tried antisickness bands, ginger biscuits, crystals, crackers at 3am on the stairs; pretty much everything they advise you to do before medication and it was miserable. Hugs to you x

If it's really impacting on your day to day life and your unable to hold down water you should call the gp.

I had a similar experience, I found some ways to cope because I didn't want to be hospitalised and put on a drip.

-ginger helps with reducing sickness feeling, this worked for me until the smell of ginger then made me sick!
-arrow root, my aunt told me about this. You buy it in powder form from the bakery section and mix a table spoon with a little water ad down it. Stopped the sickness for about 30/60 mins.
-I couldn't keep flat water down, I drank sparkling water my entire pregnancy.

Fingers crossed it dies down into your second trimester xx

P.s this was my second pregnancy, now 30 weeks and started to feel better at 16 weeks. Peaked between 8 - 10 weeks then had the medication which helped me a lot.

My first pregnancy I had sickness but was able to start a new role, keep up with exercise and eat food! So had something to compare it too. Every pregnancy is different.

If you are struggling to stay hydrated then it is something you need to discuss with the GP. They should be able to offer you something to help.

People get sickness at different levels so it’s hard to say what’s normal- what’s important that you’re not getting dehydrated.

I wouldn’t wait for your midwife appointment- call the Drs, explain it’s debilitating, that you’re struggling to keep down water and that you’ve lost weight. They should prescribe you medication- you might need to try a few or take a combo- I found mine helped with the vomiting but not the nausea.

It’s important that you keep an eye how much fluid you are retaining, if you can’t keep water down for 24 hours you must tell your GP. Also if you’re not peeing much.

In the meantime if you can’t keep water down, try ice lollies or ice cubes. I’d avoid ginger if I was you, I’ve said it before but it’s like vomiting fire.

Really hope it passes for you, I know how horrid it is!

As mentioned before, GP can prescribe anti-sickness medicine for you if you're struggling to keep food down.
I was the same with drinks - even water made me run for the bathroom and in my case it helped using bottled water only (I found tap water stinky at the time) with a small splash of orange juice and drinking it 2 sips at a time not to trigger being sick. Foodwise I ate toast + butter and potatoes for a few weeks.
In terms of nausea, I got sea bands and I think they did make a bit of a difference, no miracles, but whenever I took them off I had a bout of vomitting. Also, almonds helped a bit.
Anything else, including ginger - no. Just no.
Good luck surviving, OP. Fingers crossed it will ease off after week 12 for you!

Thank you everyone for your advice and sympathy!
I went to the GP this morning and I've to try some meds at home and if they don't work I've to go to hospital so fingers crossed 🤞

From what she said I'm borderline about needing to go to hospital but if the meds work hopefully other things like a high blood pressure will ease off as well and I'll be good to stay home!

Thanks again for the reassurance that I wasn't just being a wimp!

Glad to hear your GP has taken you seriously, the last thing you need is to try and convince them how you are feeling!

I hope the meds work and you can stay at home. So easy for me to say but it won't last forever and you will be feeling better soon x