Can we talk about how hard the first trimester really is

[MrsAMrsB]

I’m 7 weeks pregnant and ever so grateful to be in this position. However, I’m finding this pregnancy so much harder than my first. I haven’t washed my hair in over a week because I physically can’t stand long enough in the shower without vomiting. My morning sickness is lasting all day and I am just so exhausted, my last pregnancy was a breeze compared to this 😂

Oooh that sounds really rough, have you asked about hyperemesis medication? It could help with the vomiting.

I’m on prochlorperazine which is an anti-sickness but it doesn’t always work

I find it interesting when people talk about not telling work they are pregnant until the 12w scan. By which I mean I am entirely jealous of anyone who is vaguely ok in the first trimester! I puked non-stop and looked and felt like death, I had to tell work both times as I was so ill.

I was very sick in the first tri too, in both my pregnancies. As a result, I had to tell work at nine weeks. In the final tri now and I've vomited twice in the last week which is annoying. This is my last baby!

Get to the doctor and see if they can help

I hear you OP. Im almost 9 weeks and this feels much harder than my first pregnancy. I managed a hair wash today after 5 days of no washing!

I don't fancy any food and feel sick whether or not I eat. I'm also so tired and lacking motivation, which is killing my salary given I work freelance.

I also feel sorry for poor DS who has played lots of playdoh and dolls houses alone today while I lay on the sofa. Bleurgh.

Added to that, I'm so anxious something will go wrong as my last pregnant was a MMC.

Roll on 2nd trimester!

Yea, it’s awful. You feel quite alone because it’s not ‘public’ yet. For me, chuck in severe anxiety as well before 12 week scan due to previous miscarriages

I found the first trimester hardest with all my pregnancies. You get much more sympathy with a big belly though.

I remember a thread on here started by a mum to be complaining that a women refused to give up her seat on the tube for her saying she was pregnant as well. Complaint was that the other woman must have only been a few weeks. When I was pregnant, I could much more easily have stood at nine months (despite SPD) than at a few weeks when I might have been in danger of fainting.

I’ve also had previous miscarriage prior to this pregnancy so me emotions are all over the place. I have had an early scan and seen a heartbeat though so trying to take that as a positive

It's so variable. I didn't know I was pregnant until 10.5 weeks (I'd been diagnosed as infertile). I'd felt a bit light headed once or twice and noticed I had woken up a couple of times during those weeks to pee overnight. No other symptoms, I was travelling nationally for work, still going to the gym etc. Late pregnancy on the other hand was awful tore the tendons in my pelvis, and my muscles supporting my sacroiliac joint, I ended up on crutches, had gestational diabetes and felt like a wreck.
On the other hand my mother had hyperemesis when pregnant with me, lost almost two stone during pregnancy and vomitted so frequently it destroyed her teeth, costing an awful lot in dental work, post six months looked and felt great, traditionally 'blooming'.

@MrsAMrsB go back to the doc & ask for diff medication. There is more options & it's trial & error to what works
I'm had hg in my 2nd pregnancy & now almost 8wks on my 3rd, starting taking the medication early this time & it's really helped me. Washed my hair on Thursday , which like you was a week before. A shower now means I need to rest for 10mins after but the nausea & vomiting have settled thankfully

I’m on my third pregnancy. My first was pretty easy, second was an absolute breeze, but this time I’m absolutely exhausted beyond anything I’ve felt before plus I have low blood pressure so getting dizzy spells and some nausea. I feel like my DH thinks I’m just being lazy but I’m genuinely struggling to do much at all. I’m 11+2 and it seems to be getting worse not better

@MrsAMrsB For me it's very hard but in a different way. I am 5+6 weeks and have barely any symptoms so I am constantly worried that something isn't right, that it won't stick. We haven't told anyone until I have some reassurance that the pregnancy is viable so it feels very lonely. I know it's not nice feeling rough and I am sorry that it's been tough for you but somehow I would welcome it. The anxiety is unbearable.

i just feel like crying today. I haven’t been able to keep anything down all day. DH has been out at work all day and my dd has been scared due to my vomiting. I feel like such a bad mum at the minute because it’s been a case of sitting dd down in front of the tv or giving her her tablet and a snack

Have a cry if you need to. I feel awful my LO has been glued to the TV all day. Its fatigue for me not nausea but I'm sure that will arrive soon enough!

Can you not even keep water down? I think if you've been a full 24 hours not keeping anything down I'd seek medical advice.

I remember last time cold water hitting my stomach used to make me throw up it was weird. I think I lived off Greek yoghurt for weeks on end. Hope you are feeling better soon.

@MrsAMrsB i completely feel where you are. Also 7 weeks pregnant, already got a little boy and had a miscarriage last year. I can barely keep anything down and the all day nausea means I don’t want to eat or drink anyway. Almost passed out in the shower today, first one id attempted in a few days. Was on my own so have to be careful not to do that again. Just gone to bed and almost fainted walking up the stairs, my little boy is shouting for me I feel so guilty being a rubbish mum. Waiting on GP to call on Thursday, first appointment they had. Had to tell work today as I can barely work, even if I’m literally working from my bed. My boss just said ‘oh’ at first. I do feel that unless you’ve gone through severe nausea and vomiting in first trimester, people just think you’re being over the top.

So completely there in solidarity with you. Def speak to GP again and try not to feel too guilty. Your little girl won’t remember you being this poorly, she’ll remember all the good times!

My DM was bed bound when pregnant with Dsis I was about 2, I have very found memories of looking out of the window with her, she taught me all the names of the garden birds.

Thats lovely @Dyslexicwonder I've tried thinking of creative things I can do with my toddler from the comfort of the couch.

A good one yesterday was just blowing bubbles for him to chase and pop!

OP - it really sounds like you have hyperemesis, you poor thing! Please call your GP again and explain your circumstances. How old is your DD - could she go to nursery?

I found the first 12 weeks of both my pregnancies very hard as I was constantly nauseous and very tired (my dh was away with work for 6 weeks at the start of my first pregnancy and I remember I didn't have the energy to change my sheets in that whole time! and I didn't eat anything other than toast and apples), but nothing like what you are experiencing.

I think what I'm trying to say is that you don't just have to accept this is normal in early pregnancy .

Dd is 3 and is normally in nursery school however it’s closed for Easter but she should be back next week which will give me a much needed break

@MrsAMrsB
Call the gp tomo, if your not even keeping water down you will be dehydrated & need fluids. You also need additional or different medication. Look up the her foundation website, it outlines different treatment options.
When speaking to your gp tell them how many times you heave too without being sick as well as actual vomits, as that also is counted.
Hyperemesis is so hard, my last pregnancy I was worst than this one but managed to get on top of the meds quickly this time.

https://www.hyperemesis.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/HERAlgorithmm_2023-2-sided-v1-web-1.pdf

UPDATE: I have ketones in my urine and have been diagnosed with Hg. I have asked my go if I can try bring my ketones down at home over the next 24 hours due to the doctor strike which he has agreed to on the basis of I have to give another sample tomorrow and if there’s still ketones I go to hospital.

@MrsAMrsB good to get official diagnosis, did they try & change your meds?

I needed 5 bags of fluid to get my ketones down when they were darkest level.

Is your GP able to refer you to ward instead of through a&e? A GP letter previously shortened my stint in a&e for me, they also called gynae ward & let them know to expect me. I still had to be admitted via a&e but was far shorter wait than time I went to a&e myself.

Good luck in next 24hours! I eating as well as fluids is the key in getting the ketones down