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

Original poster

Vomiting in public places

83 replies

Spockrates · 07/01/2023 18:56

Has anyone ever vomited in a public place during pregnancy? I'm 5 1/2 months and got sick in tesco about an hour ago most embarrassing experience of my life, I'm still crying about it, i tried to make it to the toilet but it was the other side of the store I had My hands over My mouth and the sick was coming out from between my fingers and getting all over my coat I had no choice but to drop to my knees and let it out and it just kept coming and coming and also came out through my nose even when there was nothing left I kept heaving and wouldn't stop I never been more embarrassed in my life 💔

OP posts:
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CarPoor · 07/01/2023 23:03

Marylou62 · 07/01/2023 21:41

Oh love.. don't be embarrassed... I'd have helped you if I'd been there..
I was on a bus with a 2yr old, pregnant with no2, I just knew that I was going to be sick.. so I got off in the pouring rain with buggy and bags holding my DS's hand and was violently sick in full view of all the passengers..(many who knew me as we all lived in the same village)..no one got off to help.. an upset woman vomitting, trying to detain a struggling upset 2 yr old, in the pouring rain.. I'll never forget that...
But like a lot of things it a distant memory now..
And it's worth it in the end!
Good luck..x

What are they going to do? I really don't want to deal with a strangers vomit in the pouring rain. I think that's a bit much to ask of someone you don't really know

FangedFrisbee · 07/01/2023 23:03

Yeah not telling anyone is disgusting

Rainydayparade · 07/01/2023 23:04

I had hyperemesis so was sick absolutely everywhere. I carried good quality zip lock bags at all times and stashed in every bag/car etc. Was still finding them for months after baby was born.

MrsMariaReynolds · 07/01/2023 23:18

It's been awhile, but, yes, I was also randomly sick all over the place until I was about 20 weeks into my pregnancy with my son. Worst was in a crowded carpark, right after an event ended. It seemed like the whole city was a witness to my public vomitous...ness...

Roll on almost 15 years later and said son gets awful travel sickness, cars, planes, you name it.
I carry a stash of drawstring plastic vomit bags (with a lovely absorbent pad at the bottom) with us whenever we travel. They definitely work. God knows we've tested them out many times...

ladygindiva · 07/01/2023 23:29

I was sick every day of my first pregnancy. In the street a couple of times. I felt better when I was visibly pregnant so people knew the reason!

alongtimeagoandfaraway · 08/01/2023 08:29

It’s over 30 years ago now but I could still point out all the spots on the way into work where we had to stop the car so I could throw up. Outside a church. Right in front of the Dorchester - so many places. Stuck in traffic the diesel fumes from the buses made everything worse.

Munches · 08/01/2023 08:38

This is awful and poor you, but witnessing this must have been horrific for people. Although before I get shouted at : not as horrific as it was for you, bless you.

I only say that as an emetephobe and I witnessed this a couple of times in public when I was a child. Unfortunately, I did develop severe emetephobia over it and became very unwell and refused to eat myself. I was 11 and required intensive treatment.

I think it’s obviously awful first and foremost for the sufferer but also for those witnessing it, but in pregnancy when suffering there is nothing one can do.

Bless you and I hope you are feeling okay OP.

GeorgeorRuth · 08/01/2023 08:46

I did 30 odd years ago when pregnant with DS2, it was embarrassing. I was pushing DS1 in hus buggy. I got terrible looks and comments about being 'drunk' with a baby. I ended up in hospital on a drip.

Mommabear20 · 08/01/2023 08:51

I carried (pre open ) doggy bags in my pocket through all my pregnancies! Thankfully I never had to use them (can thank lockdowns mostly for that 😂) but even just the comfort of knowing I had them helped.

Dystopiawarming · 08/01/2023 08:54

I was sick on the train once. The train guard I told was very nice but I was absolutely mortified. I had H.G. so always carried sick bags after that.

rainbowandglitter · 08/01/2023 08:55

Munches · 08/01/2023 08:38

This is awful and poor you, but witnessing this must have been horrific for people. Although before I get shouted at : not as horrific as it was for you, bless you.

I only say that as an emetephobe and I witnessed this a couple of times in public when I was a child. Unfortunately, I did develop severe emetephobia over it and became very unwell and refused to eat myself. I was 11 and required intensive treatment.

I think it’s obviously awful first and foremost for the sufferer but also for those witnessing it, but in pregnancy when suffering there is nothing one can do.

Bless you and I hope you are feeling okay OP.

Exactly the same for me.

Also op I really think you should have told someone. You shouldn't vomit in a shop and just walk out and leave it there Confused

PaperBagsAreUselessInRain · 08/01/2023 08:56

You can get sick bags that convert the liquid to crystals. I carry them around as me and the dc get really bad travel sickness. You can seal them afterwards too so they are easy to dispose of! You can buy them online. Like these

Medi Grade Absorbent Sick Bags for Car Travel, Boat or Plane - Pack of 22 Leakproof Travel Sickness Vomit Bags with Zero Odour – Sealable Travel Sick Bags, Turns Vomit to Gel, Holds Up to 1 Litre amzn.eu/d/1hAL9CB

BarbourandWellies · 08/01/2023 08:59

Oh you poor soul. Don’t beat yourself up, it’s not like you could do anything to stop it happening! Sure, in an ideal world you’d have mentioned it to a member of staff but let’s be real, in an ideal world, you’d not be covered in vomit!!
I was so so sick my entire pregnancy and became somewhat immune to the embarrassment of throwing up here there and everywhere. It can’t be helped.

Original poster
Spockrates · 08/01/2023 11:32

@BarbourandWellies tbh it still makes me cry when I think about it I have social anxiety I struggle going places alone because I feel like everyone is thinking negative thoughts about me so the fact that I vomited infront of everyone was really traumatic for me, I just couldn't tell a member of staff I had to go before I had a panic attack, if I had my friends with me then I would've asked one of them to tell a staff member generally if I need to speak to staff of any establishment or strangers in general I usually ask my friends to talk for me because I really struggle with speaking to people i dont know face to face as it is and this time I was alone and covered in vomit, sorry for the unnecessarily long reply I just felt the need to explain myself some more because I've seen a few people now say how I didn't tell staff, hopefully the next person who comes on this thread will see this reply and hopefully understand I physically could not of brought to tell a member of staff the mental barrier inside was just too strong

OP posts:
astronewt · 08/01/2023 12:19

Munches · 08/01/2023 08:38

This is awful and poor you, but witnessing this must have been horrific for people. Although before I get shouted at : not as horrific as it was for you, bless you.

I only say that as an emetephobe and I witnessed this a couple of times in public when I was a child. Unfortunately, I did develop severe emetephobia over it and became very unwell and refused to eat myself. I was 11 and required intensive treatment.

I think it’s obviously awful first and foremost for the sufferer but also for those witnessing it, but in pregnancy when suffering there is nothing one can do.

Bless you and I hope you are feeling okay OP.

That's your emetophobia talking. For the vast majority of people, seeing someone throw up isn't exactly fun, but it's not in any way traumatic. At most it's mildly unpleasant.

People have bodies. People get sick. It happens. It's really not on to project your own issues on other people and try and guilt trip them for vomiting in public. I have a friend who is having chemo right now and as a consequence sometimes throws up in public, and if you laid this guilt trip on her... I would not be kind to you.

Mamette · 08/01/2023 12:30

I did once, standing waiting at a pedestrian crossing on my way to work. It took me by surprise.

It was early, about 7.30am on a weekend so thankfully not too many people about. I’ll never forget an older lady beside me at the crossing. She was so kind to me and asked me if I was ok.

Munches · 08/01/2023 16:55

astronewt · 08/01/2023 12:19

That's your emetophobia talking. For the vast majority of people, seeing someone throw up isn't exactly fun, but it's not in any way traumatic. At most it's mildly unpleasant.

People have bodies. People get sick. It happens. It's really not on to project your own issues on other people and try and guilt trip them for vomiting in public. I have a friend who is having chemo right now and as a consequence sometimes throws up in public, and if you laid this guilt trip on her... I would not be kind to you.

Show quote history

I am not guilt tripping at all. I was just stating how seeing someone be sick in public has affected me and not once have I been unkind.
I recognise how awful it is for the person who is sick and I said that.

Please do not be nasty to me and say “ you would be unkind to me” as your friend is going through chemo and is regularly sick in public.

A loved one went through chemo too, who sadly passed away. I saw her be sick as well and never ever once was I unkind to her or said a word, so please do not be mean to me or judge me.

You know absolutely nothing about me.

astronewt · 08/01/2023 17:03

"It would have been really traumatic for other people to see you be sick" was not a thing that needed to be said on this thread. At all.

Munches · 08/01/2023 17:08

astronewt · 08/01/2023 17:03

"It would have been really traumatic for other people to see you be sick" was not a thing that needed to be said on this thread. At all.

But it can be. It was for me. Am I not allowed to say that? I was a child. I became really unwell ( still am).

Sickness in pregnancy is absolutely horrendous it really is and I don’t doubt that for one second as I too have been pregnant myself and have children.

I cannot reiterate enough on this. Not once have I been unkind.

Oher · 08/01/2023 17:11

Yes, it happens. I puked all over a beach (baby did not want fish and chips it seems) and also on the street outside work (baby did not want fruit juice).

Mumoffairy · 08/01/2023 17:12

I threw up everywhere at all hours in my first pregnancy. After a bus and work incident i learnt my lesson and started carrying doggie bags with me. I threw up many more times in public, but luckily always managed to get it all in the bag!

Oher · 08/01/2023 17:13

PaperBagsAreUselessInRain · 08/01/2023 08:56

You can get sick bags that convert the liquid to crystals. I carry them around as me and the dc get really bad travel sickness. You can seal them afterwards too so they are easy to dispose of! You can buy them online. Like these

Medi Grade Absorbent Sick Bags for Car Travel, Boat or Plane - Pack of 22 Leakproof Travel Sickness Vomit Bags with Zero Odour – Sealable Travel Sick Bags, Turns Vomit to Gel, Holds Up to 1 Litre amzn.eu/d/1hAL9CB

This is genius, I never knew these existed and I’ve had travel sickness for 49 years! They should advertise!!!

Oher · 08/01/2023 17:16

Munches · 08/01/2023 17:08

But it can be. It was for me. Am I not allowed to say that? I was a child. I became really unwell ( still am).

Sickness in pregnancy is absolutely horrendous it really is and I don’t doubt that for one second as I too have been pregnant myself and have children.

I cannot reiterate enough on this. Not once have I been unkind.

Show quote history

If you became “seriously unwell” from seeing a bit of vomit as a child, then your mental health was already so fragile that problems were unavoidable.

It’s not ok for you to come on the OP’s thread, who is pregnant and unwell and seeking support, and make her feel worse. This ain’t about you. Buzz off and start your own thread. Perhaps someone may be interested in it.

Scotabroad24 · 08/01/2023 17:41

Oh you poor love. Please try and stop stressing about it - the majority of people will have assumed you were pregnant or had a bug, they will have felt sorry for you not be judging you. I know its so hard when you have anxiety but honestly no one will recognise you, but if it makes you feel better maybe get an online delivery this week?
I was sick the entire 9 months I was pg, embarrassed myself vomiting in car parks, into a plastic bag in the supermarket, and my best one was into my own handbag whilst I was driving because I had nothing else to hand! It can strike anytime, make sure you have some plastic or sick bags to hand!

Scotabroad24 · 08/01/2023 17:43

Munches · 08/01/2023 17:08

But it can be. It was for me. Am I not allowed to say that? I was a child. I became really unwell ( still am).

Sickness in pregnancy is absolutely horrendous it really is and I don’t doubt that for one second as I too have been pregnant myself and have children.

I cannot reiterate enough on this. Not once have I been unkind.

Show quote history

You haven't been unkind per se, however I don't think the OP needs to hear this just now. She's already stressed and worried about what happened, something like this will just make her feel worse about something that was outwith her control.