First Pregnancy - every symptom under the sun!

[SWeller93]

Hi all!

I am ten weeks into my first pregnancy, and MY WORD do I know about it, I seem to have every pregnancy symptom under the sun. I just wanted to get it out there and see if anyone has any hints or tricks or words of encouragement to help a a bedridden mum to be out 😂

The worst is the lack of energy, I'm usually a marathon runner but I now can't hoover a room without needing a lay down. There's about two or three days a week where I'm just too exhausted to leave my bed. I have had anaemia on and off my whole life, and I'm adamant it's that, but the doctor has told me that I'm not anaemic🫤

The next is the sickness and food aversions, I probably throw up about 4 times a day, and can only eat cheese strings or salt and vinegar Pringles... everything else makes me gag, I can't remember the last time I ate a vegetable or a proper meal! My poor partner keeps trying to get me all my favourite food, thinking he is doing the right thing, but the smell of it just sends me straight to the toilet. I have been prescribed tablets for the sickness, but they are known to cause drowsiness, and considering I'm already mostly bedridden, I have had to give them a miss!

A weeeeird one is the itching, not just on the belly, but EVERYWHERE, my arms, back thighs, even my nipples! Has anyone else had this? I can't seem to find any info on it, and I feel like I've tried every coconut butter under the sun.

Now I massively respect the NHS and usually cannot stand any kind of criticism against our doctors and nurses, but I'm feeling incredibly let down as a pregnant women by them. I've not yet had my initial doctors appointment or seen a midwife, telling them I was pregnant 5 weeks ago. I had to go to an emergency clinic in the middle of the night because my energy levels kept dropping to a worrying level for days on end, and was made to feel like a nuisance and told that this is normal. I don't feel like I can drive myself to work because I might fall asleep at the wheel, I don't think it's normal for that to happen most days up to ten weeks.

Sorry, this turned a bit ranty!! I'm just so keen to hear everyone's experiences and see if/how you managed the debilitating 1st trimester!

I look forward to chatting with you all 🥰

Get some iron tablets from the supermarket, make sure you're taking your supplements and I promise it gets easier.

By 20 weeks you'll feel much more human.

Congratulations!

Definitely iron, vitamin D, folic. Also tell midwife when you see them about the itching as it can be normal but can be a symptom of other things.

Not eating will lower your energy too, so given you are already in bed all the time I'd take the tablets. Plain nairn crackers are good. There are long running threads on here about hyperemesis help.

Ginger food/drink/tablets for nausea & sickness

Cold foods to avoid the smell triggering a toilet dash

Water, water, water

Fresh air, yes drag yourself to your doorstep at a minimum

Eat (very) little & often

And what I thought was the worst one, but worked well for me... eat through the nausea till you find the balance between sick because you're empty and sick because you're full... awful, I know, but you need calories in.

And yeah, the NHS is great, but they really just leave you to it till your 12 week scan and it feels very daunting that 1st trimester. Annoying, but call them for advice if you're struggling, they are usually lovely people witha thousand hints, tips and drugs if needed.

Good luck & congrats on the pregnancy!

I am so sorry you’re feeling so totally rubbish at the moment. I’m always on/offf anaemic with low vit D/B but I’m so much more fatigued than usual.

The one I really really empathise with you in is the itching everywhere!! It’s driving me up the wall. I’m covered in itchy hives on my entire back, belly, chest, nipples, inner thighs and arms. It’s stopping me sleeping and is so so so so uncomfortable I’m thinking about it 24/7. I understand being let down by doctors. I sent photos to my gp, got a phone consult and he asked me what I expected him to do for me. I was so upset I cried after that call. I have a history of eczema so I feel palmed off that they think it’s just a flare up, but I’ve never in my life had it this badly. I can’t use any of my go to steroid creams so feel utterly helpless with what to do!
Please keep me posted if you get some useful advice. I have my midwife booking appointment on the 28th so I’ll ask there for some advice too.

Sorry for the long rant too! I feel like it’s a disgrace that just because we’re pregnant we’re expect to physically fall to absolute pieces and the healthcare system is incredibly reluctant to step in and intervene.

Thank you all so so much for your kind responses! I am taking iron supplements at the moment but I'm not noticing a difference, I guess I just have to keep it up and hope for the best!