Trying to stay healthy with sickness

[Daffodil99]

Hi everyone, hope you're all enjoying the jubilee weekend. I was wondering how all the ladies suffering with the dreaded nausea managed to stay healthy? I'm feeling a bit gross at the moment - I feel too awful to exercise and the only food I'm ever up for eating isn't the healthiest -- toast and butter, cheese, and lots of crisps. I'm 14 weeks and expected to feel better by now but it's not happening. If i could hide in bed all day I would. I've never been a gym bunny but I was quite active before this. I also feel very guilty I'm not giving the right start and the right nutrients to the little bubs. Should I just be getting a grip and forcing myself out for a walk?

Thanks! Dx

[Hidden]

Hi Daffodil99. Try not to stress too much and just go with what your body's telling (or allowing!) you. Bubs will be getting what it needs. I felt pretty nauseous in the first trimester and beyond when I was pregnant (with my perfectly healthy, well nourished now-2 year old). I had a sinus infection for a couple of weeks around week 8/9 and was terrified about the health of the baby. I could barely stomach anything apart from the occasional boiled potato or dry toast - and I couldn't even keep water down - I could only suck on ice cubes to get some hydration!!

I'm sure you're taking them anyway, but pregnancy vitamins could put your mind at ease. And don't force yourself to exercise more than your body wants - but maybe just get yourself out for some fresh air and vitamin D, even if it's just sitting on your doorstep!

Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy

[Daffodil99 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks LilacLady, thanks for all the words of reassurance. I had covid during my 2 week wait to see if IVF had been successful so think I've been concerned more about health since. Yes i've been trying to do my pregnancy vitamins in spray form but even that's a tricky one for the sickness. How did you manage to take your vits when you were that sick?

[Hidden in reply to Daffodil99]

I don't remember how I took my vitamins (good idea havig them in spray form!). I must have managed it somehow - and I think I was still taking progynova tablets too. Ironically, I think I felt less sick in the mornings so took them then...

[Fudge1980]

💗 the advice I have is you have to let go and give in to what your body wants or doesn’t want. You and baby will be just fine till it eases up and I promise you it will ease up. I “had” HG very bad till 16wks and couldn’t even lift my head off the pillow till I got the right medication. I still struggle but I can totally function.

Till about 16-18wks I survived off ice lollies and the odd spoonful of ice cream then when I started to eat omg I never stopped eating lol I totally made up for it!

I really don’t know how I did the it at the beginning but you just do and it does get better 💗

[Daffodil99 in reply to Fudge1980]

Ah Fudge it's good to hear you got to a place where you could function. You're right about ice lollies - not sure what i'd do without them!

I've tried to give into it by my OH is more of a 'get up and out and you'll feel better'. The sentiment is a good one but it's just not what you want to hear and feels a bit like you're failing. I can't wait for it to get better! x

[Positivechangeplease]

Don’t worry too much about the food I was the same and the baby is fine at this point and getting all it needs. However it does sound sucky that you still have this at 14 weeks. You could go to the GP and get some anti sickness tablets

[Daffodil99 in reply to Positivechangeplease]

Hi yes i did get some pills from the doc but they don't seem to do much so i'm not sure if worth taking them. Maybe they take a while to work? It's definitely sucky but i know some have it a lot worse than mine with HG....i have periods of not puking so that's something (she says hopefully) x

[Positivechangeplease in reply to Daffodil99]

Mine dropped off around 13 weeks so hopefully not much longer for you

[sun-and-rain]

I'm now past 16w pregnant with our second child, and all that I can say is that even if I've never been that bad with nausea that I couldn't actually eat anything or vomited, I have some of the same worries due to general food aversion. The beige food is OK, but dinner type food is a (mental?) struggle every day. I eat only because I need to and to keep the vague nausea I still struggle with at times away. And I don't even remember if it actually got better... And now the heartburn is slowly making its entrance. Happy to have prescribed Omeprazol to prevent it this time.

[Daffodil99 in reply to sun-and-rain]

It does make mealtimes quite stressful doesn't it - i guess because it's no longer any fun at all to make something or eat it. I tend to disappear to my room at dinner time!

[laffy]

Daffodil99 go back to the docs there is quite a few medications they can give you. Most didn't work for me 38 weeks now and still on ondansetron I can't not take medication otherwise I'm sick again x

[Daffodil99 in reply to laffy]

I'll do that thanks Laffy. I stupidly assumed if these meds don't work then that's it x

[JoyfulStar]

Like you I lived on ice lollies and I also chomped on ice throughout the day.

If ice lollies relieve the nausea why not make your own smoothies with lots of ice and frozen fruit. I did this whenever I was really hungry after being violently sick in the mornings. You can also include vegetables like spinach and avocado.

I had little energy in my first trimester to exercise although I was really active before. Towards the end of my second trimester and in the thirds, I had more energy and exercised then. I obviously had to modify my exercise routines as I am quite fond of high impact exercises.

Hope your nausea eases. Mine did gradually in my second trimester. I also was still occasionally sick in my third.

[Daffodil99 in reply to JoyfulStar]

Sorry I've only just spotted this JoyfulStar! The smoothies is a great idea as i can drink the yoghurt and fruit ones....i'll try to hide a little veg in there and see if my stomach notices. I'm actually starting to feel a bit brighter this week so more positive about cutting down on monster munch and getting healthier. Even managed a dog walk earlier x

[Redsequin]

Hi lovely. I'm so sorry you're suffering from nausea and thus not being able to eat much except beige foods: it can feel endless and so demoralising!

I found experimenting helpful: i.e. I'd buy a bunch of stuff and just try a little to see if it went down okay. That way, I discovered some fruits were fine like sharp green apples or anything juicy and watery like oranges or melons. I also learned I could at least eat cucumber and lettuce if no other veg. If you buy an ice lolly tray you can make your own greek yogurt and pureed fruit ice lollies which should give you some nutrients? Or like someone else suggested, ask the doctor to try you on a new anti-sickness med.

Also, there are some yoga for morning sickness videos on youtube so you do a little gentle stretching at home if unable to get outside.

Hugs! xxx