How Do I Keep Going!

Your husband has to hire someone to watch the kids. You cannot do it, and it is an accident just waiting to happen.

Don't feel guilty -- it's not your fault. But you are so sick that you cannot stay awake -- and that means you are so sick that you cannot watch your children. He has to do something to help you.

Definitely follow the other posters advice and get someone else to help out with your kids. You could get in some serious trouble if something happened to those kids and you were sleeping, even if it was because of a medical condition! Get help soon! Hire a nanny for awhile or have your husband take some medical leave.

H.,
I was in your shoes 3 times (my youngest will be 2 in January.) I was extremely sick and diagnosed w/ Hyperemesis all 3 times. The second and third times around I took Zofran and I called it my miracle drug. I did not take anything else with it so maybe stop the Benadryl to see if you don't feel as sleepy. Zofran didn't stop my symptoms (still threw up a couple times a day) but at least I could somewhat function.
I agree w/ the previous posters in that you NEED to find a way to get some help. I was lucky cause my parents who are retired and live closeby came to help nearly everyday, bet it to help watch my other kids or just to bring me groceries, or make a meal (which as you know is nearly impossible when you have such horrid morning sickness.) Hire a part-time nanny if you can, or someone just to come for a couple hours every other day so you can nap and not have to worry about your kids.
I totally feel for you and hope you feel better soon. It is all worth it in the end, but getting there is so hard when you have Hyperemesis. Good luck and hang in there.

I have known many people with some form of morning sickness including myself just not to your extreme. This website helped me and I have recommended it to many and have had very good reviews that it helped them too. I have met the nutritionist who set up the site and she is wonderful and really knowledgeable. Read through the information and try some of it. Good Luck!
http://www.karenhurd.com/concern_morning_sickness.html

H.,
What city do you live in? Maybe some of the Mamas can help you out a little each week. Don't be afraid to accept help. You need it right now for your little ones, and the little one growing inside you. If you cannot afford to pay for help, just ask for it, you may be surprised at the response you get. We are all Mamas, and feel for you. I was on bedrest for a month with my daughter, and I know how helpless you can feel. She was my first, so I had no others to care for. If that happens to me on a future pregnancy we will need help too. Good luck.

I recently talked to a friend who had morning sickness so bad she couldn't get up from the couch. She went to a homeopathic specialist because nothing else worked. He said that it was because she was missing some key minerals essential to baby development. He said to try Miso Soup (Japanese, with seaweed and other mineral rich things) My fiend said that within a week she was MUCH better. She was actually starting to eat other things as well. She was also on a strict diet, but I don't know what the other things were. She just said that Miso soup was what made the difference. Good luck, I hope this helps.

Please get someone to come in and sit with you during the day or take your kids out for the day. Maybe you can find a friend that can take your kids now and then you can return the favor when you are feeling better. I went through something similar when my children were younger...I was put on some strong pain meds and had the same problems, one day the urse called to see how I was doing and my 4 year old answered the phone and told her she couldn't wake up her Mommy. When I found this out, I told my husband and we made arrangements. It scared me to death to think what could have happened to either my 4 or 2 year old or both!! Good Luck!! I have so much empathy for you!!

D.

Hang in there. Get as much support as you can find around you. Your local La Leche League or other mom's group might be able to offer support. Our LLL group here is full of moms who are more than happy to watch each others' kids and cook nutritious food for a mom in need.
I have also heard that severe morning sickness can be related to food allergies, especially wheat. I know the last thing you want to do is further restrict your diet, but it might be worth trying. As food allergies are becoming more widespread, thousands of products are springing up to fill the needs. I especially like Tinkyada brown rice pasta. You can cook it in home-made chicken broth to increase your nutrition and help sooth your tummy.

H., my daughter was born in May so I can look back and remember exactly where I was in October. Morning sickness is a hell I wouldn't wish on anybody. And I didn't have other kids at home to take care of. I did work at the time and it was awful.

That said, the Zofran and other drugs helped me keep food down even though I still had nausea. I also took a combination of unisom and b6 to help with the nausea. Again, it really just took the edge off. You get to a point where it's not the nausea and exhaustion; it's imperative that you keep food down. I had to eat (make that gag down food) every 90 minutes to keep my stomach full I didn't take pre natals, just flinstone viatamins.

I don't know if you can afford to hire a nanny or rope in a neighbor or church member to help you. I would take all the help you can get at this point and not feel like being a hero at all. The most important thing is the baby and that means you need to take care of the mom. Again, if you can afford it, I personally don't feel like it would harm your girls at this age at all to be put in an all day preschool or day care program.

I so strongly sympathize with you. You can do this. And of course you know that the end result is so worth all this discomfort. I hope your ms ebbs as you get more into your second trimester. Good luck!

H., I am sorry you are not feeling well (understatement, I know). Know that you are not alone. I had hyperemesis with all of my pregnancies (5 out of 6, that one I miscarried). Each pregnancy got worse. With my last pregnancy (my dd is 6 1/2 now), I spent almost the entire pregnancy in bed, I ate/drank almost nothing, and had a toddle to care for. The biggest suggestion I have is ASK FOR HELP. Right now, the baby growing inside you has to be priority #1 and you can't take care of the baby if you don't take care of yourself. You NEED help with your other children. If you have family/friends nearby, make a schedule for someone to have time with the kids every day - either at your house, at their house, or out and about. If that is not a possibility, you need to consider hiring a nanny or having them go to daycare. You need a break, they need someone who is well enough to tend to their needs. Remember, it is temporary. The other thing is, don't be afraid to ask your doc for more help. I ended up with home health care. I was put on IV fluids/meds 24/7 and had a nurse coming to check on me. I ended up with a PICC line (instead of an IV start in the wrist that is short term, it was in my elbow and lasted long term). Deciding to get the PICC was hard, but the best thing for me. If you feel like you need more fluids, tell your doc. If you feel like you cannot make it to the doc every other day, ask them to come to your house. IV meds work SO much better. Are you taking oral or sub q? Are you on meds around the clock? Honestly, I would ask for 24 hour fluids and IV meds, that will help A LOT. My doc was WONDERFUL in helping treat my hyperemesis. The other thing is support. You need good mental support. I joined an online support group for pregnant moms suffering with this. Although I wasn't able to sit up or be on the computer for very long at a time, it was wonderful to be able to chat with other moms dealing with the same thing. I know it can be very isolating and seem endless. Please, feel free to email me at ____@____.com if you want to chat more. I totally understand where you are coming from and feel for you. Hugs and get well wishes.
S.

There used to be something called a "homemaker health aide." You could check with your doctor to see if there are still such people--someone to come in and do some housework and watch the kids while you take a nap. If you lived just around the corner from me I'd be happy to pop in and help. (Send me a message!)

So sorry you are feeling this way H., I did not have morning sickness with my son, but I did have a friend who had extreme morning sickness. But anyway, not sure where you are located, but I just wanted to let you know if you need help I would be happy to do what I can on nights and weekends, feel free to send me a message, I have a 3 year old boy who would be happy to play with your kids. I am in Windsor, WI. You have to do what is best for taking care of yourself and your kids, you wouldn’t want to put them in harms way.

I hope you feel better soon or at least get a little relief.

I feel for you as well. I had Hyperemesis and used Zofran, which only took a slight edge off. I was on the Reglan, but the side effects were just to much for me so I stopped taking it. I would deffinelty try so stop the Benedryl at least during the day because it will help you stay awake. Try and get some help from family or friends or a daycare during the week or whenever your husband is at work. Even if its just a few days a week. Also it sounds like you have the symptoms of Hyperemesis, has your doctor diagnosed you with it? Has the option to have a PICC line put in been brought up? If you are having to go in every few days for hydration, than you could really benefit from a PICC line and constant hydration at home, which really helped me from constantly hitting the bottom. Also I could do a majority of my hydration treatments at night when I was sleeping and disconnect from the line during the day (which would be great for you since you have younger kids). Talk to your doctor more about other options and if he/she is not willing to help more try to seek a different doctor. Check out www.helpher.org (its a great site). I wish you the best and that you will feel better soon! I wish I lived closer because although I do not know you... I know what your going through and I'd help you in a heartbeat! Have the best day that you can: ) ~E.

There is a website www.helpher.org that offers help and support to women that have hyperemesis. I had it with both my pregancies. With the first, I was ok because I could sleep all the time. With the 2nd, I had a 3 year old son to take care of. We moved in with my mother and she took care of him and I slept all the time. You will have to find someone to watch the kids, either daycare for awhile or someone that comes to your house.

Good luck!

I had terrible morning sickness with my 2nd pregnancy. Reglan knocked me out too which wouldn't do since I had my toddler son to look after. Zofran didn't even touch mine. Finally I took the scopalamine patch. they usually give it to people with motion sickness or to help with nausea for chemo patients/anesthesia during surgeries. It worked really well. the downside though is after wearing it for the third day it was difficult to tell if I was over my morning sickness or if the medicine still in my body was keeping it at bay. By the time I found out it was just the meds still in my body I would lose almost a whole day being sick because it takes a good 4 hours at least to get the medicine back into my system. I also took anti-vert. It seemed to help too, but I was about the 5 month mark so it is possible my morning sickness was finally subsiding.
At any rate, I would inform your doctor how drowsy your current meds make you. I was like a zombie when I took reglan
Hope this helps!
A.

Aww, you poor thing. I had to stop taking my prenatal vitamins because they made so sick ALL the time (not that recommend stopping those but it helped me). If at all possible try only taking the Zofran and not the Benadryl because that is the worst for drowsiness. Good Luck!