Nausea at 5 weeks - advice please!

[OneBlueBiscuit]

Hi all,

I'm 5 weeks pregnant with my first and found out a week ago at around 4 weeks. I have pcos and we were waiting for our fertility appointment so we are so surprised but so happy!

The first couple of days I started to lose my appetite, but felt okayish. Since Tuesday I've felt really sick but not actually vomited. It's never as bad when I stay perfectly still, but moving at all usually makes it so much stronger. Struggling to eat, generally managed 500-900kcal per day and it's been hard work, often having to stop because I'm retching, but managing to drink fine. I had to take Thursday and Friday off work because of it (work in the NHS with patients so not really manageable when the nausea is that bad). It's been better this weekend, but I'm not sure if that's just because I have purely rested and focused on trying to eat little and often. I want to try to go back go work tomorrow as I hate being off, but not sure how it'll go. Also starting to wonder about sickness medication. It is really impacting me but since it's not even been a week of nausea yet, I'm not sure if I should wait longer or if inevitably it's only going to get worse and I should start trying the meds now?

Does anyone have any advice on what to do? Feeling so conflicted!

Start trying the meds !!!

Yes go to your GP and try some meds now. It's easy to get dehydrated with the vomiting even if you feel you are drinking okay and that makes you feel even worse. Loss of electrolytes too. Don't suffer in silence, it's easy to get into the mind set of managing it because it's pregnancy related, but if you were being this sick for any other reason you wouldn't let it slide.

Most of the anti sickness options are anti histamines, you might need to try a couple before you find one that works for you. Something like cyclizine or promethazine is normally first line. They can make you feel sleepy. It might be worth taking a week or so off work until you know how any medication affects you. Remember that any pregnancy related sickness is not treated as a normal absence, you are protected by law. Don't feel you need to be at work out of obligation (hard working in an NHS role I know), you and your baby are the priority.

I'm pregnant with my second and this pregnancy have been given an anti sickness medication called Xonvea which is specifically licenced to try sickness in pregnancy. I don't know if it is chance, but it is working really well for me, compared with my previous pregnancy when none of the others were helping much.

Good luck I hope you find something that helps. Sickness bands help some people too. I also stopped eating anything acidic as that aggravated my sickness. For me nausea and vomiting is always worse in the evening so I try to eat more in the day. You will find some tac tics that work for you with a bit of trial and error and be kind to yourself. Rest! Xx

Get in medication ASAP, the sooner you take it the better it is. Bit like pain medication, the earlier the take it the better affect it has.

Because it’s started so early rather than 6 weeks plus you might be heading down a severe sickness or HG route.

If you can get Xonvea ask for this first. I would also get some ketone pee sticks for home and keep an eye on these. While it shouldn’t be a measurement for hospital admissions they can also make you feel worse. It was a good indicator for me when I was starting to struggle if they increase.

Pregnancy sickness support charity is amazing and has lots of tips / resources.

As my consultant says any fluid or food is a bonus. So eat and drink what you fancy. Do not focus on nutrition. I think my children are grown off full sugar coke (esp McDonalds) and chips. Right not surviving is the key.

Watch out for some pregnancy vitamins they can make it worse, work out if time of day helps or swap to a folic acid only tablet.

Replinish is a new electrolyte sachet mafe my mums who had HG which might be worth trying too.

I didn't take an medication for my morning sickness/nausea but I did manage to cope with it just by eating constantly. I found that whenever I felt hungry I felt really sick so I just ate something every 1-2 hours and was only actually sick a handful of times before it went at 16 weeks.

I'd have a cereal bar the second I'd wake up, before getting out of bed if possible. Then a bowl of cereal shortly after. Then some toast mid morning. Then lunch. Then oatcakes with philidelphia or peanut butter. Then a biscuit. Then dinner. Then more cereal. Honestly I ate so much but it really worked. I'm 22 weeks now and it's gone now thankfully.

Just if you want something to try before the medication :)

I’m 8 weeks a like you OP mine started at 5 weeks. I’ve just been trying to manage it with grazing throughout the day. Try and stop yourself getting too hungry. Mine seem to be constantly dull in the background then can flare. Thankfully I’ve not been physically sick. I had similar with my first pregnancy but so hard to remember (she’s only 3) but I somehow think it’s worse this time / definitely started earlier