Nausea and sickness unbearable week 7, considering termination, please help

[Confusedmum20223]

I’m 7 weeks pregnant and feel so nauseous constantly, my self care has basically disappeared and I feel awful constantly. I feel too sick to bath or shower and I’m forcing myself to every couple days but it’s affecting my mental health.

I keep putting off brushing my teeth because every time I do I’m sick - does anyone have any advice please? I’m getting so fed up of mustering up the strength to brush my teeth only to spew up everywhere.

I feel like an absolute shell of myself at the moment and I’m struggling with the idea of continuing the pregnancy. It’s not my first I already have a 5 year old, but feeling this terrible all the time is making me seriously consider a termination along with some other things. Like for some reason with this pregnancy I am so scared of giving birth - I’m just terrified for the pain and the risk of complications - this didn’t even cross my mind with the first. My anxiety is just insane with this pregnancy (I’m personally against using pharmaceuticals so I can’t just go to the doctor and get anxiety meds in case anyone is going to suggest that) and I just don’t really know how to get myself under control.

Everything about this pregnancy is so scary and overwhelming and I’m really struggling to cope. I’ve already spoken to the nurse and am due to receive abortion pills in the post tomorrow but I’m not 100% on the idea - I wanted another baby so bad so whilst this was unplanned and sooner than expected, I didn’t expect to feel like this. I don’t want to get a termination and regret it but I just don’t know what to do anymore

any advice welcome :(

Have you spoken to any docs about how bad your nausea and morning sickness is - it sounds very extreme? Good luck whatever you decide x

Go to your GP and get medication.

I haven’t spoke to them because the sickness itself isn’t so bad, I’m managing to avoid being sick most of the time except when I brush my teeth. I just feel like doctor will just prescribe something that I won’t want to take if I’m continuing with the pregnancy, I’m worried that I’m considering termination for the wrong reasons because if I could take all this in the middle part out and just have baby at the end I’d be very happy but I don’t know if I can manage all this in between bit :( x

Not sure if you’re trolling me here as I’ve specifically said I won’t take medication or whether you just didn’t read the post properly.

Please do not make any rash decisions. For me, the first 12 weeks where absolutely horrific. Morning sickness, nausea, lack of sleep and I honestly felt so depressed. I cried myself to sleep most nights as I literally couldn't stomach anything and to be honest, I was scared to death.

I promise you, it does get better. You could maybe have HG. Speak to your GP/midwife and a family member. I spoke to my partner about all my worries and fears, and the weight was lifted.

I also couldn't shower some days and brush my teeth. But when I saw that little baby on the screen it was so worth it.

She's now 4 months old lying in her cot next to me. I wouldn't change it for the world.

But PLEASE speak up. What your feeling is normal as your hormones are all over the place.

I also lived on ginger tablets from Holland barret. They helped my sickness so much. But you could need a tablet from the doctor.

Always here if you need a chat or more advice x

Ondansetron - this is the best for HG

also you can take others alongside it for a few days but ondansetron is brilliant I took it for all my pregnancies 6w - full term - no issues with babies at all.
you may need iv fluids if dehydrated

Honestly this has been me for a month now, and it did enter my head a couple of times to terminate. I stayed in bed for a week, didn't get dressed, brush my hair, nothing. I was so sick and I actually think I had a bit of depression just from not being able to do anything. I wasn't even excited about the pregnancy. But I just took it a day at a time, and if I needed to be ill for a while then so be it. Work, chores etc can wait and I stopped putting pressure on myself to feel better. I'm still not feeling great now but I'm coping better with it. Speak to your doctor, they can give you medication, sign you off sick etc. Termination isn't the only option. I hope you have support from loved ones because that makes a big difference too.

Also try laying in a dark room, put headphones on and listen to meditation music. Take deep breaths. Download the app Headspace. That honestly saved me. But again, this is normal. Your scared because you've been through it. You know what to expect and what the pain is like.

But look at you now. A 5 year old! You've done so well I bet raising your DC. You can and will do it again amazingly if it's what you want xxx

Are you saying you won't take any medication at all? Even to start off an abortion? Because I don't see how you are going to get an abortion without taking some form of medicine to enable that.

I agree go and speak to your midwife or GP about how you are feeling & take it from there.

I had a termination because of the sickness a month ago. I regret it so much. I'd rather have dealt with the sickness than the complications of an abortion. I'd do anything to have my baby back. It's your choice what you want to do. But the guilt is horrific for me. there's a thread on here for hyperemesis and it's helpful. There are other ladies on there too with the same sickness. I hope you're okay. I wish there was someone there to help me and tell me this too shall pass because it will. I go back everyday and wish someone had stopped me.

You do need to speak to a medical professional. If you see your gp they cannot force you to take medication.
Also, and I say this with kindness you say you don’t want medication but you are considering taking medication to end your pregnancy. Maybe you are in a bit of confusion? You could also talk to your health visitor if you want someone who can’t prescribe.
@nbrown2022x has some excellent advice

For some reason in my 2nd hg pregnancy I let myself eat what I want for the first 14 weeks...crisps and fizzy drinks, dry sandwiches whatever..this 3rd time I forgot about all that..wish I did try all that!! Don't be scared of eating or vomiting...you'll feel worse if your stomachs empty...I'm so sorry you're going through this...it will pass...it's just the anxiety and all the mental stress that makes us think we can't cope..have you been sleeping okay? I know this time I felt extra rubbish because I found it hard sleeping with my 1 year old and both my kids had a stomach bug...the more work I did the worse I felt the next day...

Also I found that I felt much better sitting outside rather than being stuck in the house...the fresh air helped me a lot...

Contact Pregnancy Sickness Support, and then the GP. You need help.

It is ok to take certain antiemetics in pregnancy - if this is a wanted baby, the medication can get you through.

Brushing my teeth was a trigger for vomit for me and I found using kids toothpaste helped massively. I used colgate 7-12 total protection (but not the sugar protection one) which has a much milder taste. It's lower in fluoride than adult paste I believe but I figured it was better to clean my teeth properly with something than push the 'proper' stuff and coat them in stomach acid every time I cleaned them.

During all 3 of my pregnancies I felt terrible for 8-9 weeks then it eased off. You have got so close to the worst being over, I would just take one day at a time but see GP for meds to stop sickness and sip peppermint tea and ginger biscuits.

I’ve felt the same way in all of my pregnancies. It’s unbearable. I couldn’t inhale without wanting to keel over. Each time I’ve regretted conceiving.

Then one day it’s slightly better, just enough to notice & then a little better a few days later & eventually the haze lifts and I’m feeling something close to normal. I know some feel horrendous throughout but the chances are you won’t. You’re likely over half way through the worst of it.
Usually it peaks at around 8 or 9 weeks and then starts to lessen & then stop once the placenta takes over at 12 weeks.

if you can’t wash don’t. Don’t eat if you can’t. Don’t do anything other than keep hydrated.

Take it one day at a time. Think of your warm little bundle in 7 months.

@heartbroken22 so sorry for you.

You can get flavourless toothpaste from amazon. Call pregnancy sickness support they are really good. Try to drink as much water as you can it helps flush out the pregnancy hormone that makes you feel sick. Eat small sugary things often such as haribo sweets or sweet and salty popcorn. These are just a few things that helped me.

Hyperemesis really is devastating, I had it both pregnancies and like you in the first pregnancy I was scared to take medication. Second pregnancy I had another child to look after and I had to take it just to cope - it really did make life a bit more bearable but I was still signed off work for nearly five months and I would have been risking dehydration had I not taken them.
Look at the pregnancy sickness support site - lots of anti sickness medication is safe in pregnancy. Good luck x

I am 9 weeks and on medication. My first pregnancy I developed depression I’m sure I had hyperemesis but I was completely against medication and suffered for months. I ended up taking medication at around 5 months as I was dehydrated but I didn’t need to take it for long. I then waited years before I got pregnant again and then when I did I went straight onto meds as I didn’t want to suffer. I researched the meds and decided if I’m keeping the baby the benefits outweigh any risks. I switched medication this time round. I wasn’t happy with what I had read about ondanesteron so swapped between the antihistamines. Not saying you should take medication but women have died from dehydration so I don’t think it’s worth ignoring medicine just as we take medication for other things. Ofcourse a termination is an option but if you want a baby I would consider medication before a termination unless you are sure of your decision.

Do you mean you won’t take any medication or just anxiety meds? Anti sickness meds are safe and will help massively. Then you can think clearly about what you want to do.

I had horrendous HG the 1st time and took Ondansetron. I tried lots of different ones but that was the best by far.
My 2 nd pregnancy I couldn't deal. Along with the HG I had vertigo symptoms among many others and was completely bedridden. Turned out I had a very bad UTI that needed attention. However I had a termination in the end as the HG was so bad, looking back though I think deep down I didn't want the pregnancy so I didn't persevere, I think if you really want this try your best to get some anti sickness meds like ondanstron - I know you said you don't take meds but this might be your only way to get through it other than time.
Good luck OP. Only you know the right decision for yourself at this moment in time.

yeah I know what you’re saying about medication - I’m saying in terms of anxiety mainly and taking things whilst pregnant as no matter how safe they say things are to take when pregnant there are always risks x

You have had some good advice about contacting pregnancy sickness support. There are many drugs that have a good safety record in pregnancy. It is safer to take them than to face the risks associated with hyperemersis. Would you accept fluids if you were dehydrated?

Can you help us understand your views on medication? Is the primary goal to take no drugs even if they were completely safe? Is this a belief you have normally (for example did you refuse the Covid vaccine). If it is them having a abortion ( even though that also involves drugs) may be the best thing for you. However if this is not your usual goal and your main goal is to have a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby then the best thing is to accept the safe treatments that can help you continue your pregnancy.

There is also mental health support in pregnancy that is non pharmaceutical based such as talking therapy. It does sound that this would help you.

Sorry, but did you just say if I refused the covid vaccine I should be getting an abortion anyway? What an odd thing to say to someone asking about pregnancy sickness and termination.