I am about 7 weeks pregnant with my fourth child and I feel wretched. I honestly struggle to go on. My first two pregnancies I didn't feel too bad my last pregnancy was absolutely horrible. I was so sick I was vomiting almost constantly without medication. I was completely debilitated the entire pregnancy. The sickness was so bad it scared me a thousand times more than the birth. I didn't want to have another child because I could not risk being sick again. Well God had other plans and here I am again. I am starting to feel sick constantly again, vomiting around the clock only now i am also feeding my 14 month old which is a fresh new horror show. Before my milk let's down I get a hormone rush that makes me vomit. I can't wean him he is super attached and dispute my best continued efforts he won't give up the boob. I can't get him to sleep without feeding and he wakes up 6+ times a night which is so hard to deal with. It doesn't matter how much I feed him during the day he still is obsessed with boob. He will not settle for my husband he is extremely stubborn and his endurance is adorable. I am an embarrassingly loud vomitter, I can't not wake the baby or the neighbours for that matter. I can't tell my family because they will all tell me to abort like they did with my last pregnancy. My husband is pretty good with picking up the slack without fuss. I dislike having to go to hospital all the time to be hydrated etc and now with 3 kids and no family support it is going to be craptastic.
I am hoping for some encouragement and advice on how to mentally survive hyperemesis gravidarum. My husband says just look at the kids see its worth it, but when you are in the throws of constant nausea and exhaustion it's not that easy. I am just starting to get past postnatal depression from my last pregnancy and am now struggling again.
Ps I have tried every morning sickness trick to little or no avail. This sickness is a whole different beast that can withstand any amount of crackers, Gingernut she, ice water, special teas, lollipops, vitamins and dry toast.
8 Replies
Praying for you mumma, god will get you through this it’s his will and his plan for you to have another child.
I can’t give you any tips as I haven’t been through what your going through,
Don’t listen to fsmily meme era telling you to abort, remember your baby is a blessing and that this trial will end, things will get better in gods timing
I'm going to sound mean and tough (but as you have a great supportive husband I reckon he can do this) - check yourself into hospital for as long as they'll have you. Leave the toddler with dad and don't come back till bubs is using a sippy cup or bottle. Not sure ages of your older 2 but for this time could they each go to a special friend so dad can concentrate on the toddler and they get some sleep too (they'll see it as an extended sleep over). Poor dad is going to go through hell, but a week of bed rest for hydration for you will help you tremendously both physically and mentally. And your toddler will continue to black mail you while you are available. He does not need 6 feeds at night at 14 months. One boob feed a day either wake up or good night time only. 90% of his nutrition will be coming from sources other than you by now. Good luck mumma and dadda! You've got this. Hugs
Vinegar. It’s a natural stomach settler. Most women have salt n vinegar chips to get the effect.
Buy some hydrolyte icypoles and go get a shot to stop the vomit.
🙄 Yeah, salt and vinegar chips aren't going to help with HG. If it was that easy, women wouldn't be hospitalised with the condition!
OP.
Mentally, you just take it day by day. Try not to look too far ahead as looking down the barrel of 9 months of tortuous sickness is almost unbearable. I had many days where I thought I wouldn't make it through my pregnancy, I honestly felt like I was dying! But you can take some comfort in knowing this living hell isn't forever.
I assume you saw a psych or a counsellor when you were dealing with PND, perhaps you need to get that ball rolling again to help you through the next few months and help you become proactive to recognise the symptoms of PND to be prepared this time around.
Physically, you need to get that baby weaned asap. Would you have someone you could stay with for a few days or even check yourself in to a cheap motel for a few nights just for some respite?
You're going going to need to lean on your partner A LOT, don't feel bad about it.
Out source as much as you can, hire a cleaner for once a fortnight if you can afford, pop the baby into daycare once a week etc. Even ask for help on your local mum's page, you'd be amazed at the wonderful women who would be willing!
Lastly, don't be stubborn and avoid going into hospital. If you need the fluids, go! Speak to your prenatal care team about it too, there are medications you can try.
Hang in there sweetheart, I know how hard it is. You've just got to let people help you mainly!
Actually - it does. I work in a hospital and it’s whats offered in the maternity ward. They get the shot to stop vomiting, then given salt and vinegar chips as vinegar NATURALLY calms the stomach.
There is no need to wean the baby.
Women become hospitalised because of exhaustion, fatigue, dehydration. These can all be fixed.
And see a dr for metoclopramide if they think it’s necessary.
You’ll get through it, day by day!
Have you tried all the natural remedies? I can see you’ve tried so much.
Try and follow this guide, it helped my sister.
Good luck and if your on anti depressants speak to your dr, as they could be adding to the nausea and fatigue.
https://theculturedhomeeconomist.com/tag/cure-hyperemesis-gravidarum/
My cousin just recently went through a pregnancy with this condition and she was able to get silver chain nursing to come and administer IV fluids at home periodically. This could be something you could check to see if it’s available in your area also . She did also have to go to hospital overnight or for a day to get fluids at certain points when she became really bad but I thought the iv at home was good because it meant she could stay at home which would be good for you having other children to care for . Mentally I would also suggest taking it a day at a time or hour by hour if you have to . Don’t think about the whole pregnancy. You never know it may ease at some point and you won’t be suffering the whole time . Can you try some form of meditation to
try and quiet your mind and give you a break from the worry and depression . If you can achieve some form of calm and detachment even for a short period it may give you something to look forward to or some sense of peace . A little bit of respite mentally maybe ? Best of luck with it all x