worried about coping with work - morning sickness

[anaconda1831]

Hi everyone! Im 11 weeks pregnant and over last 3 weeks have been really struggling with nausea, vomiting on average twice a day and generally feeling really knackered! I had morning sickness since week six but its really kicked up a notch. Its been great having tome off work for xmas but also tiring as weve had our son with us all the time and I normally work 4 days a week. DH has really had to take the lead with our nearly 2 year old as I’m wiped out. My last pregnancy was no where near as full on as this.

Im really worried about keeping up with work when I go back on Tuesday - Im lucky that I have an office which allows me to work from home, but Im so fatigued Im worried about keeping on top of everything.

Does anyone have any tips for boosting energy or any adjustments you made to your work to help?

Have you spoken to your GP or midwife? There may be something they can give you to help. Make your boss aware, if you can. That might help you to feel more relaxed, which could ease the symptoms. At the moment you have the sickness and the anxiety about how to cope.

@2Hot2Handle thank you, I spoke to a midwife who said to contact GP but haven’t been able to het through with holiday closures yet but will try again tomorrow. She kept saying GP can sign me off and au can self certify for 7 days but tbh I don't not want to go to work, Im hoping they can give me something or I can find some strategies to help ease the symptoms a bit

I was sick every single day of my 2nd pregnancy and until 5 months with the first.

It's not the same as being "ill". You just get used to it and it becomes something you have to do like going to the loo. In the same way , your body seems to know when it just wouldn't be OK. For example, I had an hour commute by train, I was never sick on the train, but often as soon as I arrived at work or at home. Similarly I never had to rush out of a meeting, despite being sick multiple times during the working day.

@LittleDisaster that sounds like my first pregnancy - I was sick a lot but able to keep going quite well, didnt have much fatigue or many food aversions etc. but i think we are all different, because this time the nausea is all the time and the tiredness and brain fog is quite full on and that’s what’s making me worried about work 🤷‍♀️ hopefully I’ll style it out like you did!

@anaconda1831 I struggled really badly with 24 hour nausea from weeks 6-16 and was fortunate to be able to wfh throughout. I tried Omeprazole and it did nothing for me. Midwife and GP didn't seem to think there was anything else I could try. I didn't go off sick as I could technically work, but there were many days that I sat and cried, I couldn't stand to go in the kitchen because of the "smells" and had to force myself to eat anything.

I hope yours doesn't last long, it is horrid but to sign yourself off could mean quite a few weeks off

In terms of managing fatigue it comes down to pacing - be realistic about what's achievable, lower expectations if necessary, rest frequently, don't overexert yourself.

So for work, take regular breaks, spread your work over a longer period or split your lunch break up into smaller slots across the day.

There's lots of guidance online about using pacing to manage chronic fatigue if you want more ideas on adjustments and strategies. Likewise nausea as both are things lots of people have to live and work with long term.

Carbs are better for sickness/nausea. Eating little and often rather than 3 big meals. If it's more the sensation of nausea, sometimes heat packs can bring some comfort. Lots of little strategies and tweaks taken together are what get you through.

My GP prescribed anti sickness tablets as I was determined not to suffer the same way as in my first pregnancy (vomiting 6-10 times daily). They made a massive difference and I was able to cope with work and life so much better.

Funnily enough the male GP I spoke to was a lot more sympathetic and willing to sort me a prescription than the midwife was- guess as they hear women say they have nausea pretty much every day they get blasé about it.

I had HG both times and managed to work I never had a day sick. I was medicated with prochloperazine. I was still sick a lot and constant nausea lost about 1.5 atone the frst 16 or so weeks. As pp said you just learn to live with it. I used to have to jump out the car on the way to work to be sick.

@Summergarden I had the complete opposite. I practically begged my GP for something to take the nausea away and he said no because of "risks to the baby".

My midwife was livid at my booking in apt and said they give them out like sweets at the hospital. She called a doctor in to sign my prescription there and then 😂 I just wish rheyd worked for me.

I second changing your expectations for work if you can. I was eating little and often so used my lunch hour to nap instead of eat

I have HG and currently on a cocktail of meds that seem to be doing the trick. I was vomiting 20 times a day.

I'm lucky that I can wfh but my GP said she could give me a letter stating that I couldn't work in the office if it was an issue. I've a flexible employer so never was a problem.

I'm a manager so delegated a lot!

Thanks for the advice everyone and solidarity to everyone going through this, especially those of you with HG!