When will I start to feel better?

[lovesanimalsmorethanhumans]

Hi all,

I’m currently 10+1 weeks pregnant and really desperate to know an end is in sight with feeling this terrible. I’ve basically felt severely hungover 24/7 since 5.5 weeks, with all day nausea, headaches and exhaustion (except for a few days at around 7.5-8 weeks where I felt a lot better and worried I’d lost the baby, only for all symptoms to come back with a vengeance LOL - lesson learned).

despite feeling constantly nauseous and gagging a lot, I wasn’t physically sick until week 9+1. I woke up feeling particularly bad, and then suddenly found myself sprinting to the bathroom to be violently sick. The same thing happened to me just now while in a taxi home from the hospital - I came her hot, watery mouthed and couldn’t stop gagging. Thankfully I managed to keep it in until I got through my front door.

firstly, did anyone else get these random throwing up episodes in the latter stages of the first trimester? I know weeks 9-10 are often the worst as your hormones are peaking, so maybe it is that?

secondly, when did you start to feel better? Please only share your stories if you did indeed feel better around the 12 week mark as I just need some positivity to focus on 🥲

thanks!

I started feeling nauseous around 6 weeks ago the vomiting started around 8-10 weeks. My midwife told me the placenta starts taking over 10-11 weeks so symptoms should get better. I was still vomiting until 14 weeks and then it stopped. Am now 24 weeks.

The placenta starts to take over from around 9 weeks so really you should start to feel better soon. Think with both of mine the worst sickness has stopped around 11 weeks. Kept feeling a bit iffy until around 14 or 15 weeks but generally fine

I felt worse at 9/10 weeks and then felt much better between 12-13 weeks

Research has found that weeks 9-10 are the worst.

Obviously some people find that nausea and vomiting last throughout the pregnancy, but the chances are that you are at the worst part right now, and it will start to decrease soon.

My nausea and vomiting kept returning unfortunately I had it until 13ish weeks, another week around 15-16 weeks then 26-36 weeks, baby arrived at 38 weeks.

Honestly, I felt worse between weeks 9-12. I'm 14 weeks now and only just starting to see an ease to the sickness (even tho it's still there, with medication aswell, it's not AS bad) and feeling rubbish. All I can say is it'll all be worth it in the end, hey? 🥲

In my NCT class we were asked what we were most looking forward too when babies were here. Everyone else gushed about who's eyes they would have and what colour hair. I was most looking forward to not being pregnant.
Not being pregnant is wonderful the baby is pretty good too! It took a while to feel equipped to brave pregnancy and newborn period again. I have a 50% chance of severe mental illness post partum but I'm TTC number 2. For me the rush of hormones post birth didn't wipe away the pain immediately and it did take time to process everything. My child brings so much joy to myself and close relatives. I'll take the 9 months hugging porcelain if that's what it takes! Pregnancy can well and truly suck though and that's ok, you can be glad you are pregnant and really hate the day to day. X

Honestly it is so refreshing to hear people talk about it like that. There’s still plenty of time to go but so far I do not enjoy being pregnant lol. But right now all I have are the negative symptoms and none of the positives + hardly anyone knows so it’s quite isolating suffering in silence. I’ve already told my husband I hope he’s ok having an only child haha. Right now I’m in that “I’m never drinking again” stage of the hangover. But of course, the hangover lifts, the memories of the suffering fade and you want to do it all over again in no time - I’m sure pregnancy is the same. What us women go through, honestly! But truly, thank you for adding this angle anyway as I don’t hear enough women talk about it which makes you feel like you’re broken!

also the mental health aspect I’m terrified of. I get awful PMS (almost certain it is PMDD) so I just have a bad feeling I’ll be impacted. But gotta keep positive!

@lovesanimalsmorethanhumans
My mum hated pregnancy too she had 3! So I at least I had someone close to me that had voiced it before.
I had another pregnancy earlier this year. I very quickly remembered how much I hated being pregnant. Unfortunately I had a miscarriage at 10 weeks. I was glad to not be pregnant but heartbroken that the pregnancy had ended. We are capable of holding complex and opposing emotions about the same thing!
I'm trying again, but making ensure I enjoy all my favourite foods in the meantime! For the first 2 years after having my daughter a second was so far off our radar. Things got better between 2 and 3. We have been discussing it since my daughter was 3 but it took 8 months to change my meds to ones safe to conceive on. My high risk for mental illness comes because I'm bipolar and I had post partum psychosis with my daughter.
The best advice I can give is to ask for help, if the sickness is too much, there are safe antiemetics, omperazole can be prescribed for reflux/heartburn. There are safe antidepressants for pregnancy and beyond if you do experience perinatal depression. You don't have to be perfect, you don't have to be overjoyed. You might be pregnant but you are still human and we are messy and complicated people!
Do other women a favour too and don't be afraid to say you aren't finding it all sunshine and roses. You will probably find they have bits they are finding difficult too but don't feel able to voice it.

The days may feel long but the months will fly by x

If you don't start feeling better then try the GP as there are drugs these days that can help with the nausea and vomiting.

Oh I’m so sorry that sounds really rough. But you’re so right. I think there’s this heavy expectation to love being pregnant. But I reckon more women would resonate with the way we feel if they felt comfortable enough to admit it. Thanks so much for your kind and reassuring words. Wishing you the best of luck on your journey xx