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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Hyperemesis Support

989 replies

LucindaE · 14/08/2021 09:39

I hope everyone suffering from the Horrors of Hyperemesis will find this thread useful as a source of support and information.
There's no TMI on here - can't be by definition - and nobody should feel ashamed of moaning as much as they feel the need to.
MOH's wonderful website is full of useful information on this illness:
sites.google.com/site/pregnancysicknesssos
Another invaluable website is:
www.pregnancysicknesssupport.org.uk
If you need help in obtaining medication, phone them on:
024 7638 2020
Lastly, the NICE guidelines on treatment are useful:
cks.nice.org.uk/topics/nausea-vomiting-in-pregnancy
I would like to thank everyone who has given such invaluable support and advice on this and on previous threads.
It has been suggested that I add some practical tooth cleaning advice: a lot of sufferers find using a child's small toothbrush and strawberry toothpaste far less nauseating.
On my image of a pink castle: that is an image I use because when I was little, my family had a Snakes and Ladders board with an image on the last square of a pink castle in the clouds. As Hyperemesis is so like a grotesque version of Snakes and Ladders - eat a meal, go up a ladder, first thing in the morning bile run, down a snake - I have used the image of that pink castle on the last square of that Snakes and Ladders board as a metaphor for the happy end of Hyperemesis.
Remember when you are at your worst, 'This Too Shall Pass'. It really will.
So many women on this thread have thought they couldn't get through this, but they did.

Hyperemesis Support
Hyperemesis Support
OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Pleasedontworry · 19/11/2021 00:13

I suggest if he doesn’t come in time you do birthday + a month and make people wait on you with pate (or whatever it is you’re missing 😝) @Melleebacca

Melleebacca · 19/11/2021 00:27

@Pleasedontworry Haha! I miss lasagna and chocolate most are the moment. They both taste horrific to me when pregnant but are my favorite foods normally. Im hoping to be able to stomach berry ice creams and pizza sometime soon. The vomiting has calmed down but the food aversions and weird taste buds are still there!

FateHasRedesignedMost · 19/11/2021 04:51

Hi everyone, and congratulations to @Melleebacca on results!

My due date is 22nd May. I have a feeling I won’t get that far though as last time I delivered at 37 weeks (he was 7lb2 so quite big for an early baby). Midwife said to expect 2nd to be early like first. But official date is 22nd.

I had a few better days then a horrible night. I woke up at midnight to be violently sick multiple times (that horrible feeling of not being able to breathe due to vomiting acid/bile non stop!) Took some more omeprazole and some Rennies but hardly slept, then woke for the day at 3am. I think it’s because I’ve got a cold and sore throat, always seems to make HG flare up. My throat feels like sandpaper this morning.

FateHasRedesignedMost · 19/11/2021 04:57

Does anyone else have sore dry lips? Mine are so painful, especially the top one, and have been for weeks. I can’t figure out if I’ve got tiny cold sores (they’re swollen and numb in places but no blisters) but it’s more like the skin is stretched so tightly they keep peeling then swelling again. I’ve been applying Vaseline, 8-hour cream, lanolin and vitamin A cream but nothing seems to stop the cycle 🤔 Any ideas?

Pleasedontworry · 19/11/2021 07:23

Mine were like that @FateHasRedesignedMost - my skin came off them in sheets. My only tip is ride it out, as I’ve hydrated more it has improved. Sorry you have that!

BuffyFanForever · 19/11/2021 14:39

Lovely to see some good news from people! So pleased for you guys!

Due dates - how exciting!! Mines 19th June but my first two came 7 weeks early so I’m thinking May this time.

Managed to make it to my appointments today, thank goodness for cafe toilets though as at least it’s some where to vomit!

Melleebacca · 19/11/2021 15:36

@FateHasRedesignedMost Same here! I use a plain lip balm, but they’re so dry and peeling. I know I’m only slightly dehydrated, so it’s annoying that I’ve had cracked lips for weeks. Hoping they eventually recover.
I keep waking at 4ish with stomach cramps. I’m pretty sure it’s trapped gas/constipation. But it’s frustrating to be trapped in the early to bed, early to wake cycle.

Holskey · 19/11/2021 15:48

Hi everyone. I'm 7+3 and feel utterly awful. My gp prescribed prochlorperazine yesterday which enables me to eat and drink small amounts of crap food, but I still feel sick 100% of the time. And drowsy now too.

I'm starting to get slightly annoyed when people complain about not having nausea to reassure them. Does anyone else find that being sick isn't actually reassuring in the early stages? Not only am I anxious about my pregnancy, I'm also worried I'm starving my baby of nutrients etc 😔

Really hoping I see some improvements sooner rather than later 🤞

Melleebacca · 19/11/2021 16:49

@Holskey sorry you’re here too. It may help to know that babies are very effective parasites. Your body will work extremely hard to make sure baby gets all the nutrients it requires, at the expense of yourself. My second daughter was 8lb when born at 39wks, and after giving birth I weighed less than before I was pregnant due to how much my body lost with HG. It was a long journey to get healthy again postpartum.
It is incredibly hard to bond to a pregnancy when you feel so rotten. That doesn’t mean you don’t love your baby, it just means that the focus during pregnancy tends to be on survival more than the baby. I tend to be able to feel more joy about pregnancy in the 3rd trimester, when I can eat more and I know it’s going to be over soon.
You’re doing the best you can. Eat boring foods, work hard on hydration and try not to feel guilty.

Holskey · 19/11/2021 17:28

@Melleebacca thanks for the reassurance ❤

Can I ask how you summoned the courage to have another baby after having it so badly last time?! This is baby 2 for us, both via IVF. I was sick last time and it was horrible, but not this bad. We haven't ruled out a third but I already don't think I can do this again. Doesn't help that I had obstetric cholestasis with my first (as well as gestational diabetes) both of which I'm likely to get again. Together with the fact I needed IVF to begin with, it's like my body hates pregnancy!

Melleebacca · 19/11/2021 18:51

@Holskey hahaha. Every pregnancy I have vowed it to be my last. This is my 4th HG pregnancy, after losing my 3rd at 17wks due to severe genetic malformations. It takes at least a year for me to even consider doing it again. But ultimately, I get so much joy from our children that the 9 months of sickness is just a blip. My eldest was a delight, my second was more of a challenge, but the two of them are inseparable best friends. After we lost our 3rd, we tried very hard to ignore the gap that we felt, but the pandemic made us more aware that we wanted one more bundle of joy.
It’s extremely hard while living through the illness, but it’s just a season, and eventually it’s all over.

Holskey · 19/11/2021 19:41

@Melleebacca I'm so sorry for your loss 💔 I'm not surprised you've had another in those circumstances.

I know you're right: I never really think of the complications I had with my first (had to be induced at 34+3). I'll probably not think too much of this period later on either. Just got to get through this bit! 💪

Melleebacca · 19/11/2021 20:27

@Holskey exactly! It’s hard seeing other people have such easy pregnancies. It’s also hard when my midwife says my pregnancies are easy when I’ve got nausea till the end. With your second you know a bit more of what to expect and prepare for. It is so worth the horrendous struggle. We’re all here, cheering you on!

LucindaE · 19/11/2021 21:50

Holskey Welcome. I''ll just post the long overdue Due Dates list and then my usual spiel.

Due Dates
JessicaM2021 22 November
hporter10 25 December
LilmissCa 13 January
nomeslice 2 February
thingymaboob 13 February
abbs1 10 March
Pleasedon'tworry 25 March
Derbee 26 March
theconfused 29 March
Catconfusion 3 April
FateHasRedesignedMost 26 May
Melleebacca 5 June
HopefulJ2018 14 June
BuffyFanForever 19 June

I hope that's everyone!

OP posts:
LucindaE · 19/11/2021 21:56

Holskey Hopefully the sleepiness will wear off. Are you taking an anti acid? That can help. There's lots of support on here.
Here is my normal spiel, in case you haven't seen it on the thread. Most sufferers find that they improve a lot at some point between weeks 14 and 20, or sometimes later. Even those who are unlucky enough to suffer throughout generally are not as ill later on as they are in the first part. A good anti acid can make a surprising difference to the sickness. Kesostix are worth buying online or from a chemists, as while they aren't they best test of dehydration, hospitals take them seriously. When reporting on the vomiting to doctors, remember to emphasize the number of heaves in each vomiting session, as doctors tend to count these as 'vomits' and this can lead to their underestimating the severity of your symptoms. Besides drinking through a straw, here are some drinks that have helped others: full sugar flat coke (if you don't find it too acid), ice lollies, the juice of tinned fruit, Lucozade, apple juice, Ribina, Dr Pepper, soda water, Elderflower water, tonic water, ice cubes, Iron Bru, lemonade, lemon squash, orange squash, orange juice (if not too acid), fizzy orange, 7Up, isotonic drinks, sips of chocolate milkshake (maybe soya), fizzy water, apple juice, Robinson's fruit drinks, Rubicon sparkling mango drink , raspberry Lucozade sport and frozen ice cubes of flat Lucozade sport. Also, pink lemonade , cloudy lemonade and Sprite. Foods of a sort include tinned fruit, cuppa soup, nibbles of crisps and chips, cheap ice cream, Scotch pancakes, bagels and biscuits, potato smileys, minature salty Yorkshire Puddings and slices of melon and mango. Protein drinks have also been mentioned.
FateHasRedesignedMost and others, what do people think about BioOil? I use it for dry lips generally.

OP posts:
nubbie · 20/11/2021 11:42

Hello everyone. I hope you're all somehow coping.

I've been on Ondasetron since last Friday. It was working well. Can it just stop working suddenly ?

I am starting to throw up and feel sick again after I eat. After a week of peace. I did cut down a bit, as I was feeling quite OK. I cut down a little on Thursday and Friday as I'm also extremely constipated. Does it take time to build back up in your system ? Or can it just stop working ? Feeling really sick again.

kalidasa · 20/11/2021 14:57

Hello @nubbie yes it can take a while to build back up again. Also depending on how far along you are, your hormones may still be rising rapidly and that's why it's "broken through" the medicine. Most women find the hormonal peak is somewhere about 8-11 weeks.

Re peeling skin, I haven't had it in this better pregnancy but in my severe HG pregnancies especially the second all my skin was peeling at one point. I think it's dehydration but also vitamin deficiency of some kind. For me it resolved once I was capable of retaining a bit of nutrition.

@LucindaE I think you missed me off the due date list -- it's about May 5th. Sadly both my previous DC's were dead on time so I think chances of delivering a week or two early not very high!

Bit fed up this week as pelvis is really starting to bother me already. Have booked osteopath again for next week and also acupuncture - the midwife here recommended acupuncture for the pelvic pain as well as the sickness so i thought worth a try.

Hope everyone is surviving.

Melleebacca · 20/11/2021 16:19

@nubbie the side effect of constipation can make the sickness worse (food has nowhere to go but back up). There are treatments you can take for that - I have lactulose.
Also, I don’t recommend reducing meds until you’ve had a few weeks of good days. I’m on day 5 of no vomiting, and don’t expect to reduce meds for a couple more weeks. It can flare up again so easily, and set you back.

@kalidasa my DD’s also came almost exactly on time, one a day early, the other 2 days early. But since this is a boy, I have no idea. I’m hoping for a few days early so I can eat again.
Sorry to hear about your pelvis. I’m starting to have sore joints from the lack of movement. I used a chiropractor in my previous pregnancies and that helped, but I hear they are an anti-vax crowd during the pandemic so I’m hoping not to need them this time.

LucindaE · 20/11/2021 16:57

nubbie I can't improve on what others have said about not cutting down on meds too early, and on getting a laxative.
kalidasa Sorry abut that! I've added your 5 May date.

Due Dates
JessicaM2021 22 November
hporter10 25 December
LilmissCa 13 January
nomeslice 2 February
thingymaboob 13 February
abbs1 10 March
Pleasedon'tworry 25 March
Derbee 26 March
theconfused 29 March
Catconfusion 3 April
kalidasa 5 May
FateHasRedesignedMost 26 May
Melleebacca 5 June
HopefulJ2018 14 June
BuffyFanForever 19 Jun

OP posts:
LucindaE · 20/11/2021 17:07

Pleasedon'tworry I forgot to say: I'm so glad that you are feeling a lot better.
Waves to Mellebacca and everyone. Apologies again to kalidasa about that missed date.

OP posts:
HopefulJ2018 · 20/11/2021 18:11

I was all worried this morning as my symptoms seemed to have gone after no sickness but nausea since Wednesday. Cue puking at 4pm today and now feeling rotten. HG is a sneaky monkey, I’m 10 weeks+3 so hopefully things are settling abit

FateHasRedesignedMost · 21/11/2021 06:00

Thanks for all the reassurance about peeling lips, didn’t realise it’s so common.

I’ll try Bio-oil, I’m already using it to prevent stretch marks (it worked like magic like time) but didn’t think of trying it on my lips. Thanks @LucindaE! BTW my due date is 22nd May not 26th (sorry to be a pain, I think it was originally 26th then changed after the dating scan).

FateHasRedesignedMost · 21/11/2021 06:09

@nubbie I found ondansetron became less effective for me when I was taking 8mg every 6 hours, I don’t know if it was due to an HG peak or the slowed digestive transit it causes. As others have said, do take a laxative with it, I think Miralax and Lactualose are both pregnancy safe (avoid stimulant laxatives like senna, cascara, biscadyl as they can cause uterine cramps). Now I’m over 13 weeks the HG has settled a bit, so I keep the ondansetron for really bad days or when I have to go out and feel terrible. I’m on metaclopramide 3x day (which speeds up stomach emptying and digestion) omeprazole (anti acid that also protects stomach lining) and cyclizine (mostly for the sleepy effect).

FateHasRedesignedMost · 21/11/2021 06:24

@kalidasa hope your pelvic pain isn’t too bad. Is it SPD (?supra-pubic-dysfunction/pelvic girdle pain)? I had SPD in my last pregnancy, from about 20weeks until a few months post partum. It was so bad towards the end I could barely hobble. I had to hang onto DH’s arm and stairs were impossible. I remember going shopping for a travel system in Mamas&Papas, the nice shop lady brought out 3 and I was in so much pain I just said ‘we’ll take that one’. She asked didn’t I want to try pushing it, folding it, try clipping the car seat on etc. I was feeling sick as well so just said ‘we’ll take it all, and the bassinet, adapters, Isofix, cosy toes and whatever else we need’ much to DH’s horror (he wanted to test them all out). Luckily it was a good travel system and we can use it again this time, so I feel slightly better about splashing so much money on impulse.

I can feel SPD kicking in again (mostly in my lower back and hips, sacroiliac joint etc). I’ve asked for Physio but it’s a year’s wait on the NHS 🤔
We’ve just switched our healthcare insurance from Vitality to Bupa as DH changed his job (we get it discounted through his work) so I need to see if the Bupa package offers physio. Most are a bit funny about anything pregnancy related though.

FateHasRedesignedMost · 21/11/2021 06:43

@Holskey

I vowed never to go through HG again after our first (more than 6 years ago). The first time my HG wasn’t diagnosed or medicated effectively early enough, so I threw up multiple times a day the whole way through (and during labour!) No doctor thought to try omeprazole either, which I was given after the birth and still on now, I think that’s helped a lot this time.

Ironically it was this thread that prompted me to have another, I was directing a friend to it and noticed one of the ladies from 2015 was having her second (?Ellison). We’d both suffered badly on the first thread and when I realised she was doing it again I thought maybe I can get through it again. I’d always wanted another baby and a sibling for my son. Then in July I had a lap&dye to treat endometriosis and the consultant advised getting pregnant straight away if we wanted another, so we did.

And so far it hasn’t been as horrendous as last time. Partly due to ondansetron and metaclopramide early on, but also I think because of less stress. With our first we were living in a rental in a new city, didn’t know anyone, I was in the process of changing jobs, DH had a long commute. We lived on a main road with nowhere that felt ‘safe’ to walk alone.
This time we’re settled in our own house, I’ve been in my job for 4 years, DH is mostly wfh, it’s a nice rural area on the edge of a town with school and shops a short walk away. We have a garden so I can get fresh air without having to go outside (we were in a top floor flat last time). I feel more relaxed, work are understanding about HG and I don’t feel under pressure to do anything beyond housework and school runs.