Feeling so sick at 13 weeks

[CD1987]

Hi everyone,

Im here to offload more than anything. I’m 13 weeks pregnant with our rainbow baby. We had our 12 week scan earlier this week and everything looks normal so far so we’re so relieved and have been told to start enjoying the pregnancy but I still feel so horrendously ill.

I was in hospital at 9ish weeks on a drip due to severe dehydration and since then I’ve been on strong anti sickness meds. They mentioned it’s hyperemesis but I’ve had some good days in between and some days where I haven’t vomited at all so assumed I probably don’t have HG. But then some days it comes back with a vengeance to the point where I feel like I’m going to pass out and can’t keep anything down. I’ve recently taken on a promotion at work and it has been so full on so I don’t think this is helping me recover. I’m so tempted to speak to my gp and ask to be signed off for a week just so I can get some bed rest. I have a toddler too so it has been full on. Am I overreacting or do you think the gp would see this as a valid reason to sign me off sick? Any similar experiences?

Thanks in advance.

I think they will sign you off if you ask them to, especially if you’ve been in hospital.

it sounds like Hyperemesis to me. I had it with both of my pregnancies. It’s usually a sign of a good strong pregnancy, I was told.

I was signed off regularly throughout my pregnancy for this. In the end the gp gave me a phased return letter which went down like a lead balloon. They did honour it though but apparently that is the decision of their own Occupational Health and not my GP. All in all I probably worked around less than half my pregnancy. As a teacher this isn’t as bad as it sounds as I was pregnant over summer. At the end of the day you and baby come first and if you aren’t fit you aren’t fit. Someone more clued up can tell you the time frames to watch out for that determine them starting your mat leave early etc.

Also as @BucksOxonMum I was told the same a good, strong pregnancy. My pregnancy was ivf so I always felt it was my body saying I didn’t want this 🤣 It’s really tough and hard on your mental well-being so be good to yourself

Hope you're okay OP!
I had HG with my son, was horrific so I really feel for you! I was on ondansetron with no luck!

I think I was signed off for 12 weeks in today - sickness ended 26 weeks and then off and off (not all day like 6-26 weeks!)

Definitely speak to your GP; absolutely a valid reason to be off. Hope it soon eases off for you!

Also told the pregnancy's that have sickness go onto have a healthy full term pregnancy!

Thanks so much for you replies. I think it’s deinfir

Whoops not sure what happened there. I was going to say I definitely think it’s one of those things that unless you’ve been through it, you don’t know how bad it is. I’ve told a couple of colleagues at work I’m pregnant and how sick Ive been and have received comments like “oh dear” then changed the subject 🤣🤣. I’m not after attention but maybe a little empathy. Like you @confusedmum2023 I’m a teacher. The guilt that comes with calling in sick is awful. I’m going to see how tomorrow goes but at the end of the day you’re all right the baby and me are a priority right now. Thanks for all of your support.

Anytime! Please don’t stress yourself out about it, you’re already going through enough.

On another note, I managed to pick at plain Hula Hoops and Mint Imperials lol

@CD1987 It really is so hard calling in to school I hate it and it makes the pressure worse. Then worrying about upcoming parents evenings etc and what that will mean if you are off. It means you are never fully switched off when off. All I can say is that in hindsight I should have went off sooner. I should have listened to my body and my family! Teaching is full on and you need to be 100% on the ball. My brain was so foggy during this time and I wasn’t able to do the job. I was lucky that I found out in June so was right before the summer break which gave me time. Not one person will judge you for this, except you! Take a little time, relax and try again. If it’s still too much then so be it, you and your baby’s health come first. Congratulations, I really hope it eases soon for you x

Don't know what advice you've been given but I was hospitalised with hyperemesis a couple of weeks ago, I'm now also 13 weeks and the last couple of weeks have been getting gradually better (obviously could just be hormones but might be partly the management I've been on). I was put on prochlorperazine (2 tablets 3 times daily) with ondansetron to take if needed (which I did need in the mornings for about a week). I've been eating about 8 small meals a day, avoiding fried food, fatty food, spicy food and fizzy drinks. I've definitely noticed it if I've deviated off that regime even slightly.

Fully aware that everyone's different and that might not help, but equally I know not everyone sees a doctor who knows how to help and that's the advice my consultant, who seemed very knowledgeable, gave.

But definitely ask to be signed off as well. There's no way I could have been at work the last few weeks.