Pregnancy Sickness and HG Support Thread

[Hotchocolate4]

Many years ago there was a lovely lady that had an ongoing pregnancy sickness and HG support thread which was amazing. It really helped me through some of my darkest months.

I wanted to start this thread incase there is anyone who needs support or help with any level of pregnancy sickness to horrible HG level.

An amazing UK charity is: https://pregnancysicknesssupport.org.uk

Medication
If you go to the GP you should be offered a first line medication (there are then second and third line moving up the ladder if other medications aren’t helping). Medications can be combined and if you aren’t feeling better in 4/5 days go back to the GP and ask for something different.

Urine / Ketones
Most hospitals use to only admit when your ketones are 4+ (severe dehydration) but luckily most have now changed to how you feel as a patient.

General Tips

• pick foods that are easy on the stomach
• don’t worry about nutrition - any fluids / food are winner (words from my consultant)
• ice lollys are your friend
• rest as much as possible, tiredness makes sickness worse

Disclaimer
There are lots of women who terminate a wanted baby due to HG, there is no shame or judgement here, if an additional support thread is needed for this I am happy to set this up.

Anyone struggling mentally or physically please join for support and knowing you aren’t alone 🥰

Ahh this is amazing as going through this for a second time now!

Thanks for creating this thread! Sickness is the worst and we’re so often just expected to continue as normal whilst feeling so terrible!

Thank you for starting this thread - currently 6 weeks and just started prochlorperazine today to see if it helps. Surviving day by day at the moment 😭

Have you had previous pregnancies were prochlorperazine was your preference?

I know a lot of people have had success with first line Xonvea but seems it’s a postcode lottery.

Hope you are having a better day 🥰

How are you doing today? How’s the sickness / nausea?

Useful information as we tend to gas light ourselves (and various medical professionals) its normal and expected, these are the PUQE score and difference between pregnancy sickness and HG. If it’s affecting your daily life / work it’s not mild.

Does anyone have any tips for getting fluids in? In general any liquid makes me extremely nauseous. I’m trying to sip squash but I don’t feel like I’m getting near enough in. Have tried ice cubes but the taste made me sick and also ice lollies but they make the horrid taste in my mouth so bad. Bought all these lemon and ginger teas when I first found out I was pregnant but now just the thought of them makes me retch. Any tips welcome!

@gardenflowerposterhave you tried different fluids? I find sparkling or soda water I tolerate better and if that fails lucozade sport I didn’t hate throwing up last pregnancy 🤦🏻‍♀️

thanks for replying! ☺️ I’ve tried sparkling water but it make my reflux so bad- I’ve just been put on omeprazole though so might give it a go again! Will try and pick up some lucazade as at least it’s got electrolytes in- good idea!

@gardenflowerposter I loved full fat coke but specifically from a soda fountain like McDonald’s. Bottled coke just tasted wrong.

My consultant said any fluids is a winner, so if you fancy lemonade / coke drink it. There was something specific about ice cold drinks I loved too!

Thank you! Yes Coke is one of the things I can tolerate too and I know what you mean about from a soda fountain over a bottle! Currently trying a fizzy elderflower and apple from Tesco so fingers crossed it doesn’t come back up. Does anyone else find they have a horrible taste in their mouth that sort of adds to the nausea?

@gardenflowerposter I don’t but I’ve heard people complain of a metal taste. I think I would gag at my own salvia if that was the case, sounds really rough!

Eating melon can be a good way of taking on fluid if you can't face liquids .

Im currently nearly 34 weeks and honestly, I cant cope anymore

Yes! Exactly like this it’s awful!

This is a good idea, I love watermelon so might try this thanks! Not been great at stomaching sweet food but anything is worth trying at this point

So sorry you are still suffering so much at 34 weeks. Have you found any relief from meds at all?

Hi, no I’ve only tried cyclizine and one other before (both useless) so tried prochlorperazine yesterday - also useless and made me sick 😷 The GP said only the hospital can prescribe Xonvea in our area so I’d need to be admitted to get any 😔

I’m just about managing to eat, but like others, fluids are a challenge. Trying lots of melon and grapes to help.

also have the horrible taste in my mouth which doesn’t help!

so grim and so debilitating 😭

There's lots of raw fruit and veg that have really high water content. Cucumber, lettuce, tomatoes and peppers are all great. Might help if you're struggling with sweet food :)

For the awful taste I've never experienced but I heard that chewing gum or sprite/7up can help with that.

I’ve managed to find a good balance with xonvea and prochloperizine. It means I can eat and drink most of the day, I still vomit and heave in the evenings but I’m no longer losing weight.

I am really struggling I’m on cyclizine and metoclopramide, still throwing up and dry heaving if I’m not throwing up 🤦🏻‍♀️ have an 18 month old to try to look after too! Had a good cry about it all this morning 😞 feeling so defeated and I’m not even 8 weeks yet!

@Salix26 have they checked your urine recently? If you aren’t feeling great go back to the GP and ask to be referred to the gyne ward so IV fluids and injections might help tip you back into feeling alright. Sometimes being dehydrated can make you feel worse and more sick.

Anyone found anything to help excess saliva? It’s the worst for me at the moment.

@sellthebigissue the longest I went was 24hrs with my lad without puking. It got better for me after 18/20 weeks to being more manageable.

Do you feel sick or being sick every day? What meds are you taking? I have heard of some people being induced 38/39 weeks due to sickness as it’s just intolerable. Sending you a massive hug it’s so rough and people don’t understand!

Tips I gathered for coping with other kids are:

• get your partner to make them a pack lunch and put it in the fridge so it’s a grab and go situation.
• again ask family or partner to set up some activities they can do independently an easily accessible.
• don’t feel guilty about screen time, sometimes it’s just needed and won’t be forever

If the medication isn’t working ask for a review. Again if you can try Xonvea this is a good first line med. You could try second line meds like onsansetron, there’s a minor increase of cleft pallet. I believe the base line is 11 in 1000 chance when ondansetron it increases to 14 in 1000 I believe.

It’s awful, and I don’t think people understand unless you have lived it. Set yourself a milestone marker, could be 9 weeks then you just need to make it to 10 weeks. Sometimes focusing on the marathon of pregnancy made me feel worse