If you took ondansetron was baby ok ?

[hyperemesishelp]

I’m severely unwell with HG at 5 weeks and on ondansetron but I’m worried about cleft defects , if you took ondansetron was your baby ok ?

I really feel for you! :( I had awful sickness with my first, and it's just unbearable isn't it. I can't comment on that particular medicine, but it's definitely very important to keep you comfortable, hydrated and healthy, so if the doctors have prescribed it for you, I'd hope everything will be okay for you. Look after yourself and hope you manage to feel a bit better soon!! xxx <3

I’m so sorry you’re suffering, I had HG with both of my children and it truly was the most horrific time.
I took ondansetron with both pregnancies (along with a couple of other meds) and I can honestly say it saved me - I know it can be a scary decision to make and all pregnancies are different, but for me I was so poorly that the risks were totally outweighed by the fact it made me feel slightly human and able to continue with the pregnancies. I have 2 healthy children with absolutely no issues.

Sending you love

I feel awful to say it and this was and is a much longed for pregnancy that has taken years but I’ve been having such dark thoughts that I can’t carry on simply due to the sickness. That’s why I’m going to start the ondansetron and they’ve added xonvea as well because if I can’t get this under control I feel like I can’t do it which makes me feel awful.
I can hardly leave my bed and I keep getting these awful intense waves of nausea and shivering and palpitations. It’s absolutely horrendous. They have said to me so many times about the small risk of cleft defects and it’s really worried me but I can’t do this unless something makes me feel better . I’ve cried so much the last few days

My starting dose of ondansetron was 4mg but today they’ve said up it to 8mg x3 a day so I’m going to start it but I’m just anxious about increasing already

Yes, I had no choice. My OB said to hold off until 10 weeks if possible or take the smaller dose but it wasn’t possible. I’ve had the last three pregnancies on it including one until the bitter end and all three were fine from that standpoint. The newest one is 5 days old and perfect.

Take the medicine, your baby will be fine. I heard new data had come out that it wasn’t actually a risk but doctors are still cautious because of the history of thalidomide.

more importantly please know that dark thoughts are normal but don’t let them make you do anything. Keep the baby, too many women abort babies they desperately want because of HG and end up severely depressed because once well it’s all they can think about.

https://pregnancysicknesssupport.org.uk/

get support, take the meds and also contact midwives to see if you can have prenatal therapy, they can offer you counselling to help with the dark thoughts.

I took ondansetron for HG through three pregnancies and all three children are healthy (now primary school age to tween). My biggest issue with ondansetron was that it didn't take away my nausea so I felt miserable even though it kept me from vomiting so much. I imagine there are better medications available now. But if this one works for you, know it's been used for many years and many pregnancies.

This is why I’ve got so so upset I think , I don’t want to have the thoughts but when I can’t stop being sick and I’m shaking and feel awful my mind goes to just thinking it’s the only way to stop it but then I know like you say I’d be devastated afterwards because it’s not that I don’t want my baby I just am struggling with constant severe nausea and hardly able to keep things down I’m just praying the higher dose plus the xonvea as well will help

Yes I’ve found it has stopped me actually physically being sick as much but the nausea is still there so they said increase the dose and add xonvea 🤞

Wishing you and your baby all the best. I had HG in both my pregnancies and it was so terrible it’s hard to convey to people who haven’t experienced it. I took a different medication for the whole 9 months both times and have 2 healthy children. Take care

I took it throughout my pregnancy with DC2. My little girl is absolutely perfect in every single way! Please try not to worry, you just deserve to feel ok 💕

I have three kids, hg and ondanstetron with all three, all fine. I took it alongside various other medications, it was either that or be hooked up to a drip my entire pregnancy.

Sending lots of love your way, HG is horrific, but would second previous posters suggestion of pregnancy sickness support.. they were brilliant.

Yes she was absolutely fine! I was on a very high dose too and permanently in hospital.

I took it in both my pregnancies and have two healthy teenagers. I did still have IV's as and when needed for fluids but it was the only thing that worked. In my first pregnancy it wasn't offered straight away but made a huge difference. HG is very different for everyone but if they can give you your first dose via IV or injection I found it made a big difference.

I was so sick the other day that I got blurred vision I think I must have burst some blood vessels or something. It’s just totally debilitating me. Even in the night I wake up feeling sick. I tried some peppermint and b6 morning sickness sweet type things and they made it worse, also the travel sickness bands made me feel worse as they felt too tight ? I can’t even wear clothes that feel tight as it triggers the sickness 😭

I’m so sorry you’re suffering so much OP, it’s a dreadful illness. I have been on ondansetron throughout both my pregnancies. In my first I got it at 12 weeks but this time I’ve had it since 6 weeks. Both babies are fine and no cleft palate.

The study that highlighted the ‘risk’ of cleft palate is not very robust - it compared women with HG who took ondansetron with women without HG who didn’t take ondansetron, so it’s not clear whether ondansetron was the cause of the very very small increase in background risk or not. It is worth remembering there is a general risk of cleft palate anyway, which can’t be avoided, and that cleft palate is a very treatable condition and lots of support is offered to any families who do have babies with cleft palate (I have a relative whose baby has cleft palate despite her not having had HG or taken any medications).

I know medications in pregnancy can be scary, but it’s important to weigh up any small risks of medication against the effects of being so poorly due to the severe sickness. Hopefully you can find a combination of medication that works for you - ondansetron, xonvea and prochlorperazine helped me loads during my second pregnancy.

Take it one day at a time. The meds and time will help. Most women (not all) with HG do find it get easier after 12 weeks and usually by 20 weeks they are HG free or at least living a more normal life. One day at a time, get support, you can have this much wanted baby. You are in my prayers

Yes - take the ondansetron as early as possible. Both babies fine, much better for having a mum much less severely ill than otherwise would have been. Starting it at 5 weeks rather than 8 made a whole world of difference second time round.

There is something like a 0.4% increase in cleft lip and palate. Cleft lip and palate already has a 2-4% chance. So the increased risk solely due to ondansetron is so small as to be negligible. CLP you will know at the 20 week scan. It's also very very treatable so don't panic anyway.
I work in CLP services and I had HG. The first time I listened to the scaremongering and was very ill. The second time I put my foot down and managed much better. Alternate it with cyclizine and get the ondansetron down first thing with a cracker and 50ml and go back to sleep if you can. 50ml fluid every hour and try to keep something in your stomach to stop the roiling. Also docusate as gentler that the others to keep your bowels moving.
And remember it's ok to feel rage at the women who have lovely pregnancies.
Humph. P

Yup HG as well and it definitely didn’t help with nausea. But baby was happy and completely healthy.

Took it in 2 of my pregnancies. Both babies fine. Hyperemisis is awful. It's impossible not to be depressed when every day is like the worst sick bug ever :-( def take the medicine and rest as much as you can.

I took it with my youngest while pregnant in the US. Perfectly healthy 10lb 6oz baby. I took cyclizine with my 2nd baby in the UK, also a healthy 9lb baby. (No meds with my first, but nothing offered with him 21 years ago on the NHS, I just had to suffer. Also healthy.)

Thankyou so much I feel very reassured hearing that so many have taken it and their babies didn’t have cleft lip / palate it’s been worrying me so much at least now I don’t have the guilt as well as I was feeling bad for taking it so early on.
This is just the worst thing I’ve ever experienced I’ve had sickness bugs before but it’s actually worse than that sort of sickness it’s really shocked me how bad it is .

HG as well - ended up on drip in ER for the first ondansetron dose and then maximum tablets dose right up to morning of birth - saved me from similar dark thoughts (for me it took the edge off the nausea and stopped the vomiting) and have a beautiful, healthy little baby. Only regret is not taking it sooner and not ending up in hospital. The nausea stopped within minutes of birth. Good luck and be gentle with yourself.

oh, also echo getting something to help the constipation from ondansetron!

I had HG and was on ondansetron until into my thirst semester. Baby is currently downstairs preparing for his end of primary school play. All ok ❤️