Hyperemesis and subsequent pregnancies

[BlackTreaclee]

I would love to hear peoples positive stories of what a pregnancy was like for them following a previous pregnancy with HG. I am utterly traumatised by my last pregnancy. My HG was severe. I was bed ridden for the whole pregnancy and it was the worst and darkest time of my life.

Ive read stats from PSS that state 89% are likely to get it again in subsequent pregnancies. I can’t tell you what I’d give to be in the other 11%.

Those of you who can relate - were your pregnancies planned? How was it the next time? I need to hear positive stories even though the chances are low of it not reoccurring.

I had HG during my first pregnancy, although not so severe that I was bedridden. My second pregnancy was planned and fortunately HG stayed away.

That’s amazing to hear. I wonder why this happens

I had HG in my first pregnancy and was medicated. I lost a lot of weight and struggled to function. I think I had 2 weeks out of the whole 9 months where I wasnt sick, then it all came back. It only stopped when my daughter was born.
I wasnt bed ridden or hospitalised but it was relentless.

Fast forward and I am pregnant again now.
I was told by so many people that I was unlikely to get HG again that I thought it was likely to be a straight forward pregnancy.
Unfortunatley, at 6 weeks pregnant it kicked in.
While I dont want to put you off as its just my story, its been a lot worse this time!
I started meds much earlier. Tried different types which didnt work. I was then admitted to hospital for IV meds and fluids as I was so unwell.
They prescribed me Xonvea which has really helped. Without it I would be bed ridden.
My sickness and nausea this time is all in the afternoon, evening and night. Complete opppsite to last time.
I have days where im still sick before bed and feel nauseaus for hours.

I guess I really hoped it would be better this time. Sadly it hasnt been in my case but I know of others who have been ok.

Not what you want to hear but for me I had HG with both pregnancies but I did ask for medication as soon as I found out the second time around, the doctors disappointingly made me go through the whole list of medications second time around even though I knew cyclizine etc are no good for me. However my sister managed to get a private prescription for xonovea early in pregnancy so if you can get a private GP or persuade your usual GP to skip to the effective medications it might help. I also learnt if you go to A&E for fluids and an anti sickness injection at 8am you get seen pretty quickly.

I just don’t get how some people get it again and others don’t. Sorry you’re suffering again. I started meds at 4 weeks. I tried all 7 of the anti sickness tablets and steroids. Was on the highest dose of steroids for 8 months. Constant admissions to hospital. I really don’t know how people do it again especially with children! Hopefully it doesn’t last long for you

Yeah it’s frustrating because we know our bodies and what works. I was medicated from week 4 in my pregnancy. Xonvea did nothing, IV fluid and injections did nothing, the only thing that helped was steroids, reduced my vomiting from 100 times a day to about 20. From experience my a&e are not quick with anything! I just know in my heart I couldn’t go through it again, but want more than anything to have a second child

I'm on pregnancy 4, with my daughter and two miscarriages last year I had hyperemesis. Going through it twice in 4 months apart was tough and almost made me want to not try again. I knew I had 1 more in me so we agreed to try again, this time around I've had barely any sickness! I was nearly 8 weeks when I found out I was expecting by which point I'm usually chained to the sofa. I'm now nearly 22 weeks and barely felt pregnant!

Things have been really hard this time around with a 3 year old in tow I wont lie. There are days where I could barely do anything and she just wanted my attention which has been near impossible.
Im lucky to say I have a very helpful husband who has honestly taken the brunt of everything for me.
It hasnt been a walk in the park and it has been worse than the first time in so many ways.
If someone told me I would be more sick this time and have hospital admissions I would have had a very serious think about whether I could manage it or not.
But I didnt feel our family was complete. As an inly child myself, I wanted my daughter to have a sibling. I know they may not get on but from my perspective, its been a lonely and difficult journey navigating illness of both my parents and the death of one.
I dont want my daughter to have that burden on her own.
I know the HG wont last forever, thats what im hanging on to!

That sounds really awful, it’s definitely something you have to think about if you can manage it again because there really is every chance it could happen.
With my second pregnancy I thought I had miscarried on a couple of occasions and I told my husband if that was the case we will have to stick to a one child family because I couldn’t do it again.
How was Ordansetron for you? That one really helped with my sickness but gave awful migraines and constipation (which I had to take medication for that made me projectile vomit).

I had hg with my first pregnancy coupled with motion sickness, hg stopped at 16 wks. I didn't have morning sickness with my second just felt nauseous and had reflux until 36 weeks

I was hospitalised with my first pregnancy and the anti sickness did nothing. It was the most horrific experience of my life. I had a pregnancy 3 years later, and it was the same. I had a MMC at 13 weeks and stuck to the one child. I couldn’t go through that again. I hope you are one of the lucky ones, although it worked out for the best for me in the end.

So nice to hear some positives. Yeah mine wasn't! HG 6-18 weeks with number 1. 4-23 weeks with number 2. Absolutely no more. However number 2 I could manage better - food small and constant. Ondansetron and cyclizine alternate so every 2-3 hours and 50ml fluid every hour. Metoclopramide breakthrough. Lots of docusate to poo. And for gods sake stay still. Someone would sit on the bed and I'd vomit. And keep any smell away!!! Urgh I shudder to think. But it is worth it! Eventually. Wishing luck and shit loads of meds., xx

I had a joyous first pregnancy. Very mild nausea treated with ginger biscuit crackers.

Second time was horrendous. Lost a lot of weight. My thyroid was borderline overactive too so I had to have blood tests a lot. I predominantly ate white bead and plain pasta for 16 weeks plus. Just felt sick constantly and kept smelling this smell ... crazy. Ended up really anxious and unwell. Got put on Sertaline in my mid second trimester . Thankfully the third trimester was better . So I know how awful it is. For me the old myth was true. My first was a boy. The second was a girl!

Wishing you all the best whatever happens.

HG for first pregnancy, just bad but normal sickness for second, third and fourth.

I had HG in both of my pregnancies , 6 yrs apart , but it was slightly different the second time . First one I was sick multiple times every day and fainted a lot from about week 4 to week 41 when I had him , I could only eat jacket potatoes and cheesy wotsits as they were tolerable to vomit up again . With the second I spent much of the first 20 weeks in and out of hospital or in bed at home as I was completely wiped out / dehydrated and then I had about 5 weeks where it stopped completely and then it started again culminating in me vomiting throughout my ELCS . Again not what you want to hear but good luck whatever you decide .

Dreadful first pregnancy, hyperemesis, anaemia, kidney problems, in and out of hospital, it was just horrendous. I knew I was going to go into labour the day I wasn’t puking within a minute of waking up.

Second time around, I didn’t even have morning sickness. So there’s hope.

Wow it’s so nice to hear the positive stories! Thank you.

@Downbadatthegym ondansetron did nothing for my HG. It was pushed on me multiple times by my consultant so I would take it, no difference in vomiting, and just not go to the loo for weeks even when taking ducosate and lactolose! I declined ondansetron IV during labour and have declined it for other surgeries I’ve had since. I got told that constipation was not a side effect 🙄

I wish I was responsive to medication, I know a lot of women swear by xonvea and ondansetron but it did nothing for me unfortunately. It’s strange because I get cyclical vomiting and nausea each month and Cyclizine works just fine and the symptoms I get aren’t far off HG, just short-lived.

People don’t understand HG. It’s not just a bit of sickness and vomiting. For me, it was nausea 24/7 for 9 months straight. I had to cut a lot of my hair off because I couldn’t brush it as it made me sick. My teeth are ruined as I didnt brush them. I couldn’t watch tv due to the motion sickness. I didn’t see anyone but my husband or people at the hospital. Even then he couldn’t come near me due him moving or his smell. He washed me and was my carer for the whole time. I watched the world and life go on without me as I lay horizontal through 3 spring, summer and autumn. The list goes on. I’m so traumatised by it all and getting therapy. I wish that A) people understood and B) there was a cure!!

I had HG with my first pregnancy but not my second. My second was twins too, which is supposed to be worse, but it wasn't.

I had HG in pregnancy 1 and 2 but not in No.3 the difference was I wasn’t working by no.3 and was able to rest ( within reason with 2 dc under 4 !) when I needed too…

Very bad HG in first pregnancy, in and out of hospital, off sick from work for months. Was told it was psychological! (this was in the nineties). 2nd pregnancy, bad sickness but stopped about 4 months.