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Original poster

How do you look after a toddler with morning sickness?

17 replies

MrsTittleMouse · 18/02/2008 11:18

DD is 16 months and I'm in the very early stages of my next pregnancy. My parents don't live close but are willing to travel - except that they're both busy this week, so no help. DH is great, but obviously is at work most of the time. I'm snacking regularly, but I feel so sick and tired all the time. I also can't let DD see me snacking, as she wants to eat what I eat, and everything that doesn't make me feel grim is either packed with salt or sugar!
I'm sure that lots of people go through this, am I just being a wimp?

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moodlumthehoodlum · 18/02/2008 11:23

No - you're not being a wimp. I vividly remember vomiting into the sink at 3 months pregnant whilst trying to wean dd who was 9 months at the time.

Its hard, but you get through, and my advice is take the path of least resistance, and if your dd has the occasional biscuit with you, then that's fine. It was around this time that I discovered that a little CBeebies whilst you lie on the sofa feeling dreadful, goes a long way.

Don't worry, it passes and you get round it. Just do whatever is easiest.

claraquitetirednow · 18/02/2008 11:24

Big sympathies - this was me a year ago (dd1 is now 2.5, dd2 is 10 weeks) and it's bloody hard! I felt terrible for about 14 weeks, totally knackered and nauseous all the time. I lay on the sofa a lot and let her watch a lot of tv, I slept when she had her afternoon nap and I made dh take her out so I could have another lie-down when he came home from work.

She also went to the childminders twice a week, which saved me. But on the days I had her, I found it easier having other people around as that distracted me, so I got her out and about as much as possible.

If it is any comfort, the first 12 weeks were harder (for me) than the last few weeks of pregnancy, despite the fact I went to nearly 42 weeks and had terrible back trouble.

Good luck, keep sneaking in those snacks and keep counting the days until you hopefully feel better.

Original poster
MrsTittleMouse · 18/02/2008 11:26

Oh good, DD is watching CBeebies as I type. I do worry that the television will end up being her babysitter for this pregnancy. Poor little thing; last time I had morning sickness for 6 months, and was hardly a bundle of laughs for the last trimester, due to the normal exhaustion with fainting spells on top. So it doesn't look good for fun activities with Mummy.

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MrsDandOllie · 18/02/2008 11:26

Oh I do sympathise with you.. I felt exactly the same at the beginning of this pregnancy..
The only things that got me through were lots of tv (for toddler!). I found that if I sat on the sofa with him then he was happy to sit and watch cartoons whenever i was feeling at my worst. When you are completely exhausted can you try and get lo to lie down with you and nap? My lo doesnt really nap during the day any more but he is happy to have a lie down in 'mummy's bed'! with me and some milk! also leave all the housework for dh when he gets home and ask him to get home as early as he can on the evenings you feel terrible.
It will pass!!

MrsDandOllie · 18/02/2008 11:27

and dont feel guilty!

moodlumthehoodlum · 18/02/2008 11:58

Deffo second vote for the success of a toddler lying on the bed with mummy and milk. Everyone is a winner. Especially if you have a TV in the bedroom.

My children do now do more than just watch tv, so don't worry about it becoming a long term thing!!

LeonieD · 18/02/2008 12:02

This reply has been deleted

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MorrocoMole · 18/02/2008 12:12

Oh Lord - this sounds just like me, and today especially as Dr has just told me I have viral gastroenteritis (pathetic sniffle). Thankfully lovely DH has stayed at home to work today, so I can hear DD (16 mo) chattering upstairs. God knows how he's getting any work done, but I'm very grateful. TV not an option as she refuses to show any interest. Even at Blue Cow, ffs! What's not to like? No, it's books all the way, and "Mummy, up. Peeeese?" Ah, well...

Minkus · 18/02/2008 12:36

Por you, I can sympathise as had dreadful morning sickness to at the start of this pregnancy (now 20 weeks). Deffo get the tv fired up wthout feeling guilty, if you're having trouble getting her interested though I'd suggest putting something on that might be a little bit too old for her, that worked with ds! Might have fried his brain a tad maybe but I needed him to be occupied for a while so I could puke/laze in peace.

Re: the snacking, you could try getting less-naughty versions of your snacks for your dd maybe, won't be as good as normal food but might ease your conscience a bit (eg yoghurt coated fruit for her instead of your sweets, bran muffins instead of the triple choc chip ones etc etc).

Having said that I think ds lived on snacks rather than proper meals at the start of this pg, as long as they are fairly balanced snacks then a number of small "meals" during the day instead of 3 large ones won't hurt just to see you through this period. (And if I'm honest ds's weren't even that balanced some of the time, hope it won't cause too much long lasting damage otherwise ds is in for some future trauma )

Treat yourself kindly, don't feel guilty about anything that helps you through this bit and make sure dh does the housework! Congratulations and good luck xx

Original poster
MrsTittleMouse · 18/02/2008 12:38

Oh yes, I get that all the time too - "book, book!" as she thrusts one into my face! Luckily television is working, as there is no way that I can get my DD to snuggle up on the bed, she's just too much of a fidget.

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merryberry · 18/02/2008 13:15

i got by on TV in the pm and constant, slow motion in fresh sir int he pm. Think being out a) helped keep nausea down a bit and b) distracted me. But I'm talking 3-4 hours at a time. It was summer then, we'd walk to London zoo from 3 miles away. Slowly.

merryberry · 18/02/2008 13:16

sorry constant slow motion in the fresh air in the am. that should read.

purpleturtle · 18/02/2008 13:19

CBeebies, IIRC!

greedygreedyguzzler · 18/02/2008 13:40

i was starting to feel broody again, but you have just brought all the memories flooding back!!!!! thanks............dont think i could realistically cope with another baby!

rmadley · 19/02/2008 09:31

Hi, I am now 37 weeks pregnant and I have to say CBeebies has played a much bigger part in mine and my toddler's life than I would have liked since July. When I had morning sickness which lasted until wk16-17, I'm afraid I would just doze off on the sofa with my arm around ds whilst he watched the telly. Fortunately he's at nursery 3.5 days a week so he has been getting some other stimulation for part of the week. The worst thing was being sick in the sink with him wrapping his arms around my legs asking what was wrong. I think you just have to do what you can to get by, and if that means the telly, then so be it!

Good Luck
Rachel

PutThatInYourPipeandSmokeIt · 19/02/2008 10:01

Oh god it's awful isn't it? I felt foul to 17 weeks and every morning when she started chirping, my heart would sink, swiftly followed by a wave of panic about how on earth I was going to get through the day. It went on for som long plus a couple of bouts of tonsilitis and I couldn't imagine feeling any differently BUT - it absolutely does pass and now I have a spring in my step and am looking forward to summer.

Just do the bare basics to get through the day and definitely go to play group thingies / meet up with friends and their little ones in the afternoon as it really helps - particularly with the guilt!

potoroo · 19/02/2008 10:03

Cbeebies and lots of meals of toast and marmite (all I could stomach). It was only for a short while and he was fine

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