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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

Vomit phobia and pregnancy

15 replies

JKDcot · 14/09/2023 21:51

I really need help. I want to get pregnant but I’m so scared. My emetophobia is really debilitating. Has been for decades since I was 12 years old. If I feel nauseous I panic, cry, pace, can’t cope basically.

what do people do if you get pregnancy sickness?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

BackOfTheMum5net · 14/09/2023 22:05

That sound like a horrible combination. Not everybody who gets pregnant gets morning sickness, and it doesn’t always involve actual vomiting - in my case I just felt queasy. I found eating regularly helped keep the nausea at bay.

I know some people with severe sickness are given tablets, so know that is possible. Perhaps it would reassure you to speak to a doctor before you get pregnant?

RoomTetris · 14/09/2023 22:08

From the time I was little, I used to get very panicky when I thought I was going to get sick, very similar to what you describe. I ended up with HG while pregnant. It was brutal but (and sorry if this sounds flippant) I didn't have a choice but to get over it, I was ill multiple times a day and I just had to get used to it. It got easier after a while.

In some ways im glad as even though i still find it a bit distressing to get sick, its nowhere near the same level I felt before. You also may not get sick at all, many women don't.

Tablets aren't a guaranteed cure, I was on them all the way through, it took the edge off but didn't stop it.

Hiddenvoice · 14/09/2023 22:08

I have the same phobia and for years it put me off wanting to try for a baby. I was desperate to start a family but was actually considering other options.
When I did fall pregnant I majorly panicked about the sickness feeling but over the whole space of the pregnancy I was sick 4 times- that’s all. It was also a totally different feeling. I didn’t feel very nauseous, or shaky etc, it was quick and once it was over I didn’t feel sick again.

There were foods I went off and certain foods and smells that would make my stomach turn but I didn’t feel sick, just suddenly felt different.

A colleague has the same phobia but had terrible sickness. She also agreed that she felt rubbish but didn’t feel as panicky as she normal did. She was also well looked after by her gp and midwife and was given different sickness tablets to try ease it.

Original poster

JKDcot · 14/09/2023 22:11

Thank you all for your advice x

OP posts:

wanttokickoffbutcant · 14/09/2023 22:47

I know it’s not much help but I escaped morning sickness completely - did not vomit once. I avoided acidic things like orange juice as they can upset me when I am not pregnant. Not trying to minimise your fear as I have my daughter who has severe emotophobia too. Hope it works out for you.

Ispiltmytea · 14/09/2023 22:52

I can totally relate. But actually (and just being honest) the morning sickness fear is nothing compared to when they catch sickness bugs and the fear of you catching it from them.

justasking111 · 14/09/2023 22:52

You come to terms with it quite well. It helped me to think every time that this little miracle growing inside me was the cause of it not illness. I used to cuss him out during episodes saying that I hope you're worth it. 😂

ASGIRC · 14/09/2023 22:53

Im 11 weeks now and have not had any sickness yet.
Some very very very mild nausea (of the kind you know you will not be throwing up form it).
So you may get lucky as well!
If not, there are anti sickness tablets you can take!

NoKandoo · 14/09/2023 22:58

I almost didn't TTC because of this phobia. In the end, I didn't have pregnancy sickness at all (lucky me). I felt a bit queasy, but it was nowhere near as bad as I'd feared - my mum had HG with all her pregnancies, so I thought I'd be the same.

I did spend a lot of time worrying about the DC catching v bugs when they were little (and going into absolute overdrive panic when they actually caught them). What helped me was being prepared - complete change of bedding ready etc, 'just in case'. I used to throw away anything that had been contaminated.

You do just get through it, somehow. If it helps to reassure you a bit, I never caught a vomiting bug from my DC when they were little, though I did end up with very sore hands from over-washing on some bad occasions.

EwwSprouts · 14/09/2023 22:59

Another here who wasn't sick once during pregnancy. You might be lucky too.

Tailfeather · 14/09/2023 22:59

I am also terrified of being sick (and people bring sick near me). I was also terrified of morning sickness. However I wasn't sick once. I felt queasy, but was never sick.

As a side note I've also had cancer and almost turned down chemo for the same reason, but they gave me strong anti-sickness meds and I was never sick then either.

I think you're more likely to get morning sickness if you're quite a sicky person. Have you ever taken the morning after pill?

TTCJJB · 15/09/2023 06:16

30 weeks pregnant and I haven't been sick once. You could be the same!

WeWereInParis · 15/09/2023 06:41

I wasn't sick in either of my pregnancies. I also have severe emetophobia and pretty much had a mental breakdown both times though - I didn't leave the house for the first trimester of either pregnancy. The constancy of the nausea was too much for me to deal with.

But the majority of women do not actually vomit in pregnancy. And a third of women don't even feel nauseated.

Princesspeach31 · 15/09/2023 07:31

I have this phobia too and was terrified of morning sickness. I just ended up feeling queasy though and never vomited…it was a different sort of nausea to that sickness bug feeling, somehow more manageable and also reassuring in some ways, as it reminded me that things were (hopefully) going ok with the pregnancy.

andyourpointiswhat · 15/09/2023 07:57

I had the same and managed two pregnancies without being sick once. My third (unplanned) I vomited every day from the day I tested to the day she was born. Sounds bizarre but it was like some kind of aversion therapy. DH was working away Mon-Fri for most of that pregnancy and I still feel awful about the fact that 9yo DS1 used to hold my hair back while I cried and vomited into the toilet at the beginning so I really just had to get a grip. I still vomit if I smell anyone else being sick but I would say I no longer have a phobia.

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