Morning Sickness Hell

[Amby99]

I know there are so many threads about morning sickness and I’m sure mine isn’t worse than anyone else’s but this is really hell. It gets me down to the point where I can’t enjoy being pregnant because I feel like hell all the time. My MIL said to me the other day not to stress about anything (she was referring to family, work etc) because we should be enjoying the pregnancy and then I realised I’m not because all of the sickness. I hate it! And no one ever complains in real life about how rough you feel in the first trimester. Everyone seems to just crack on?!

I feel sick when I wake up, and really bad in the afternoon / evenings. I’m eating well, sometimes fruit actually makes me throw up and there are smells that make me GAG.

I can’t even stay hydrated just from water because if I drink water that also makes me gag. So I’ve been sticking to pineapple juice or tropical juice.

I know there’s medication for people who are constantly physically sick but I wonder if there’s anything I can take just for the nausea? The few times I have physically been sick I’ve actually felt better afterwards… it’s like when you’re drunk and you have a tactical chunder because you know you’ll feel better after.

i actually threw up in a car park the other day…. (Not tactical) but it’s so embarrassing because you don’t want to tell strangers that you’re pregnant (they might not care!)

in addition to, I have such a strong reversion to my SO, and also have an aversion to any sort of housework. Thankfully he is so supportive and is doing it ALL but this isn’t my usual self and I just want to be back to normal. I’m nearly 11 weeks… is it going to end soon?

You can take medication for the nausea, I’m on Zonvea and it’s been a life saver. Still taking it at 15 weeks.

it’s does get better with time (I’m 15 weeks and some days are better than others) but you don’t have to enjoy pregnancy, that doesn’t make you a bad person. I complain, a lot. Because it’s unfair how the world expects you to get on with it whilst feeling at deaths door.

If men got pregnant, maternity leave would start from the second they had that positive test.

People are really reluctant to take medication for this, and some doctors are reluctant too, I don’t really understand it as there are lots of different meds available and most of them have been used in pregnancy for decades now with no problems at all. Go get yourself some meds!! But also fingers crossed it does improve soon, for most people it’ll lift somewhere between now and 16 weeks or so

I was in your shoes a few weeks ago (17w now) and can completely relate. I took cyclizine in the end (prescribed by GP) and while it didn’t make it go away I felt so much better and could function and eat normally while on it. Definitely look into medication it can make such a difference. All the best

Just to add that the nausea is almost gone at 17w and haven’t been sick for over a week (now off the meds). My experience has been that about 16w is the end of the really rough stage.

Pregnancy Sickness Support | UK Charity https://pregnancysicknesssupport.org.uk/ please use this site to help you

I absolutely hated pregnancy. I have never been so miserable in all my life. I was sick for all of them, first I miscarried at the end of first trimester, so I was petrified during second pregnancy, which was successful but I was sick throughout. Indigestion tablets helped a bit. The relief when I gave birth was incredible, I was more delighted with not being pregnant than I was with the baby.
Last pregnancy was okay after 17 weeks, but I was very ill before then. Actually considered termination because I was so miserable and unwell, thankfully it did become manageable. Never ever again.

I think while some people obviously enjoy being pregnant, lots of people don’t.

I am incredibly sorry to hear - that is just horrendous and I’m glad to hear you felt loads better after giving birth.

can I ask - how on earth do you deal with feeling this sick when you have another toddler / baby / child to take care of? I keep thinking it’s bad enough now but when / if we have another how am I going to cope with a toddler wanting attention all the time :(

The women I’ve seen in my office previously seemed to be in every single day in their first trimesters (not that I knew that they were pregnant at the time) but they never seemed to wfh or look sick. I actually feel that I LOOK sick in the office with the strong facial expressions if I feel sick and I’ve had to wfh a bunch of times

Thank you, that’s really useful to know. I’m going to book a GP appointment and hope they can prescribe the same - even just feeling a little bit better would do the world of good

Interesting to know, thank you. I will go to the GP.

Totally agree, I complain a lot too and then get stressed about how sick I feel / how much I’m complaining and how much of a negative Nancy I must look now compared to before pregnancy. And yes men would totally not last a day like this…

I’m sorry OP, I was similar to the point it actually affected my mental health quite badly. I am now 30 weeks and still on Xonvea, albeit a much smaller dose. It really took the edge off the nausea - but didn’t completely cure it. My nausea got significantly better at 20 weeks. Worth saying that for me, cyclizine actually made the nausea worse.

I didn’t cope brilliantly. We moved house early in the pregnancy and dd kept asking to move back, turns out she associated me being miserable with the move! I had time off work, I narrowly escaped being hospitalised, I did get some support from my parents and in laws and DH was fantastic. Lots of CBeebies was watched. I just got through each day and thankfully by about 17 weeks I was much better. DCs are older teens now, and I’m really glad I did go through it again! But it was awful and I was very adamant that DC2 was going to be my last.

I totally sympathise! My DD is 6 now but I had sickness and nausea for my whole pregnancy with her and it was horrible. Don't suffer in silence though, I took cyclizine for my entire pregnancy and it saved me. It didn't totally stop it, I felt the odd wave of nausea and sometimes still threw up, but it reduced it so much and I was able to look after my son and work and eat and otherwise function like a human being! As soon as she was born, the sickness and nausea stopped instantly 😊

It’s awful isn’t it!
I was sick every day from 6-20 weeks, then had a bit of a break from 20-30ish (I say a “break” I was still sick once a week or so in this time) and then back to every day from 30-39 weeks (currently 39).

I was first prescribe cyclizine but it didn’t work for me. I went on xonvea around 10 weeks and it did help LOADS. Even though I was still being sick it was much better and I think I would’ve been sick a lot MORE if I wasn’t taking it. i couldn’t have got through this pregnancy without it. I’d notice when I was due to take it I’d feel so sick, then I’d have it, and feel much better.

I also was sick in B&Q car park a couple of weeks ago, a woman walked past and gave me such a dirty look. The joys!!!

I've suffered badly with nausea and sickness. It did start getting better at 13 weeks! 11 weeks was really bad for me. I'm nearly 16 now and definitely feeling better but still had a vomit last night out of nowhere 😂 once the nausea subsided it was much easier to cope with. The anti sickness tablets can work for some people for nausea too. Worth going to the GP, but you need to throw in some key words like struggling to eat and drink, dark urine, feeling dehydrated etc.

I'm also just over 11 weeks and feel exactly the same. As soon as I hit 6 weeks my symptoms started. I'm constantly nauseous from waking up in the morning, always gagging, sick a little bit probably a couple of times a day atm, I'm sooo tired all the time and I've had a headache for about 2 weeks constantly ... roll on 2nd trimester 😅
I have 2 boys already, and I do not remember feeling this rubbish with either of them!

Firstly congratulations 🥰

1st trimester is GRIM!!! I was the same so badly neasuated 24/7 my dr wouldn't prescribe me anything because I wasnt vomiting enough. But he did sign me off work for 2 weeks, which was very much needed. I felt like mine got worse from 11 weeks but I must say im so much better now at nearly 20 weeks and the 1st trimester is starting to feel like a distant time.

Pregnancy is hard and for some not enjoyable, but thats perfectly fine and your right its not spoken enough in real life! Iv certainly not enjoyed mine. It was alot easier first time round. But im so so excited to meet this little miracle we have growing and he/she is very loved xxx

@Amby99 No advice really, just wanted to say it is worth it in the end and I wouldn’t put pressure on yourself to enjoy it at this stage. First trimester is gross.

This is my third baby, currently sat here trying to keep my dinner down whilst poor 2yo & 4yo are watching bing on repeat. I feel so bad, luckily we have the garden but other than that they haven’t been out much because I am just feeling so sick all the time.

I definitely find having a complete empty stomach is the worst thing I could do but then again eating is easier said than done!

I hope you get some relief soon!

I found that sipping, not drinking, ice cold Diet Coke helped me. Every time I felt the nausea starting I had a sip.

Oh interesting! Yes I was in America during my 6th week and there was this great lemon and ginger fizzy drink from whole foods which was so great but unfortunately don’t think we can get it here. Maybe I’ll try something cold and fizzy with no sugar

Gosh I’m so sorry you’re feeling like that! Yes agree which is also why I probably always feel bloated. Before pregnancy I wouldn’t eat until 2pm for a big lunch (I just wasn’t hungry) and now I really do have to eat something pretty much every 2 hours on the dot! And what is more annoying is if I have a healthy salad… I feel like throwing up but if it’s a carbs sandwich I’m fine ….so usually I’m opting for carbs

Sorry you're feeling so rough. First trimesters are rough for me too - I've been on Cyclizine this pregnancy that has allowed me to keep functioning. The sickness eased off around 14 weeks and I'm now 18+4 and still have some small bouts of retching but not having bad enough nausea to take the tablets every day, just as and when. I was thankfully full time working from home and same as you can't believe some women are absolutely fine going into work every day! I think a lot of women hide it very well but feel rough.

I also couldn't drink water, or anything at room temperature! I ended up having a lot of caffeine free tea (for the hot side) and ate a lot of ice pops as I found I enjoyed those and they helped me with hydration! Might be worth a try, eating your water rather than drinking it 😅

I found that ginger tea and ginger biscuits really helped me, and my morning sickness started to ease off when I got to about 20 weeks. I threw up for the first time outside the hospital when I went to have my pregnancy confirmed at four weeks and was physically sick multiple times every day for the next 16 weeks and then occasionally until I gave birth. I hated every second of being pregnant in terms of how awful I felt and looking like a whale and was so relieved when my daughter was born. 😆. I hope your sickness eases soon .

Morning sickness is bloody awful. This is my 2nd pregnancy and it is worse than my 1st.
Ive had Hyperemesis both times and been medicated.
Pregnancy 1 I was told the all day sickness was normal and got to 20 weeks. It was the lovely lady doing my 20 week scan who told me to get medicated as I looked awful and I did. It made a huge difference!
2nd pregnancy has been worse since the start. Started meds at 6 weeks.
Admitted to EPU at 8 weeks and then prescribed Xonvea.
Absolute game changer!
The all day nausea has gone and the sickness reduced from 10+ times a day to nothing.
Im still taking the meds now at 33 weeks and I wont stop it until baby is out!
Not all meds work for everyone so it can be trial and error.
Generally the GP wont prescribe Xonvea as its still relatively new in the UK and expensive but maternity triage if over 16 weeks or early pregnancy csn prescribe if you go in and be seen.
Take the meds and dont suffer.

Ahhhh yes that is such a good idea- now I fancy an ice pop and can totally see how that’s less nauseating X

is it pathetic if I get my doctor to write me off sick so I can wfh the next couple weeks? It would make me feel so much more comfortable knowing if I need to be sick I can do so in my own bathroom. And I’m feeling lethargic and horrible in the office. It’s also August so super, super quiet at work (it’s office based) and I think it could really help me but not sure if I sound dramatic because I’m sure the women in the office that had kids 20 years ago didn’t ask to wfh