How did you cope with pregnancy nausea

[Tryingtosurvive26]

It’s been around 2 weeks of 24/7 nausea and headaches. Trying to force myself to eat even half a cracker is extremely difficult due to the sicky feeling. I’ve tried some medication from the GP but so far not seen any changes. Mentally how did you guys cope? I haven’t even been sick yet, the nausea just will not ease off. I can’t work, I haven’t left my house for weeks let alone got up from the sofa.

This was me until about 13 weeks when I'd have the odd half hour of feeling a bit better before it came back. Disappeared at around 18 weeks. Also wasn't sick. Just have to keep nibbling, it's worse if your stomach is empty. It's brutal, but I just focused on it having an end, even if it was weeks away. Much worse with my second as lying around wasn't an option with a 15 month old to chase after.

Ginger biscuits. I would nibble on one before getting out of bed in the morning.

I don’t find that eating helps… I genuinely feel like nothing is helping and I am not coping at all. Been signed off work and not looking like I will be able to return.

Sorry to hear this, but at least you don’t have to work and can be in the comfort of your home.
by the way how did you get sign off from work? Did you ask GP for a note or something and how hard/easy was that to obtain? I have similar situation as you yet keeping on working and ut is really tough. Any advice appreciated

I found greasy food like pasties really helped. I didn’t feel like eating as I felt sick but once I started to eat it made the feeling go away so kind of had to push past it. I also found working a good distraction as it gave me something else to focus on that took my mind off the sickness feeling. I wished I would just be sick. The constant nausea feeling is awful. I hope it passes soon for you. It sounds like yours is pretty severe though so can you go back to GP?

@cinnamonda I just explained to the GP but I only asked for 2 weeks off. I am then going to reassess each time it runs out. It depends how you are feeling… if it could be somewhat controlled then that is different or if I was vomiting in the mornings I could make arrangements to go in later. Unfortunately it’s 24/7, I have done nothing around the house my husband has had to do everything when he returns from work which I feel awful about. See how you feel, do you find work is a helpful distraction in a way?

@NatalieH2220 yes I have been speaking with them I have another med to try, no change so far but only started taking it today! I didn’t even realise before getting pregnant that nausea could last all day and was so common. I genuinely just thought I might throw up in the mornings or if I didn’t eat etc… the headaches are another level too, paracetamol doesn’t touch it. 🤦🏻‍♀️

@Tryingtosurvive26I really feel for you, I had HG with my daughter and it was hell on earth, day and night I was being sick, sleep didn’t give me any relief because I’d actually feel sick in my dreams and wake up to vomit! The only thing that helped in the end was ondansetron, my doctor called it the Rolls Royce of anti sickness. However, when I preemptively asked for it for my second baby, they said no as there are some risks. I think because with first baby I lost over a stone they weighed up the risk, but luckily with second baby I was never actually sick, just the nausea. They gave me something slightly less strong and it did help!

i would say keep an eye on your weight, hydration etc and if you need more help keep pushing - I suffered for 20 weeks with nothing because I didn’t know I could ask for something, but it honestly saved my life when they gave me the meds!

I had HG in both pregnancies, and was in hospital being rehydrated on a drip for several weeks both times. If nothing else, stay hydrated. If you can’t drink, melt ice lollies or ice cubes in your mouth.

You do know that pregnancy related sick leave must be recorded separately and can’t be used against you?

Are you vomiting or just feeling queasy?

If vomiting: I wish someone had warned me to really watch out for the damage to my teeth. I had to have a root canal filling on a front incisor which is now discoloured thanks to pregnancy sickness. If you can stand mouthwash, use it after bouts of sickness. (I was only rinsing with water.)

For the queasy feeling, I did find eating near constantly helped. If you can find a "safe" food that works for you, go for it. For me it was those small Melton Mowbray pork pies. I could always manage to eat one, even shortly after vomiting. Ready salted crisps and nuts also seemed to be more bearable. Crackers and other biscuits didn't cut it for me.

The headaches sound like they may be dehydration, but they can also just bring "pregnancy". I know you probably won't want to, but you can take paracetamol.

Most of all, you'll have to rest. For many people it does get better in trimester 2... so fingers crossed.

Specifically requested Xonvea after trying 5 other different medications that didn’t help me. I was on a drip, couldn’t sip water lost over a stone by 12 weeks and within days I was back to eating and feeling normal. Look into it, there’s so many women who it’s been amazing for

I found that working really was a helpful distraction. I felt horrible constantly, and even threw up on the pavement a few times walking from the train to the office I was working in while pg with DC1. I used to buy a sandwich at lunchtime, so no food prep was needed for at least that meal. I could keep it all at the back of my mind, just about, during the workday, and it came right back as soon as I got off the train and began walking to my home.

For DC2 I was a sahm and I think it was worse because I had a fridge to open (boak) if I wanted food, and I had to think about what to eat too, which was torture. I remember eating a lot of cheetos (cheesy, crunchy American snack) as they really helped, though horribly unhealthy. One of my SILs used to sip some full sugar Coke before she got up, just to be able to get to the kitchen and eat a bowl of Fruit Loops.

Experiment with whatever works, food and drink-wise. Try to get out of the house. You'll feel more like a human.

Hopefully you'll wake up one morning at about the 16-18 week mark and it will be over.

I had the constant queasy feeling with both of mine. With ds, eating frequently helped so it was an all snack a thon, starting with something in bed before I got up. Nairns ginger biscuits helped. With dd, nothing helped. I had to commute to work with both which was fun. I was never actually sick so just had to push through it, I felt better after about 14-16 weeks.

Xonvea . I would have not been able to function without it.

Get some other anti sickness medications OP. There are lots of different ones and different ones work best for different women. Many women find they need a combination to effectively manage symptoms. Pregnancy sickness support is a charity with support WhatsApp chats/ phone lines and lots of helpful info on the website. If you’re struggling to get a GP to prescribe the next medication they can help you advocate for yourself.

Its so debilitating but rest as much as you can and get some better medications and hopefully things will improve for you when you’re further alone.

Sip a sugary drink (apple juice?) to temporarily raise your blood sugar. Hopefully this means you are able to eat something safe (crisps?). If that goes ok you could try something more substantial (pasty? Noodles with butter and salt?) but don’t over do it or you will vom. Although actually throwing up can help you feel better. Empty stomach makes it worse.

it really is horrible, by far the worst I’ve ever felt in my life. Sympathies.

I honestly found working took my mind off it. Are you able to work from home, on a laptop on the sofa?