Preventing Complications During Second Pregnancy

First, if you can, try to have hope and not pre-suppose! I had a terrible first pregnancy, on bed rest off and on afgter 26 weeks for spotting and in hospital once, then on bedrest at end for BP, was induced, failed, BP spiked post partum. Had Csection. I hated it. second pregnancy totally different but I think part of it was because i was determined to be healthy- i was so happy to be pregnant and just told myself I was going to have a totally different experience- and the reality was that my son kept me so busy i didn't have time to think about being pregnant very much! I did have awful digestion/constipation/diarrehead etc. through week 16 but then it was significantly better until the end. BP did go up at the end but didn't warrant bedrest, just taking it easy. no spotting and only one stress test for eweird pains which turned out to be gas! I really do think it could be a totally different experience... I hope so for you, but start by willing yourself to have a better time of it. and CONGRATS. very happy news and no matter what you WILL get through it.

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L., during both of my pregnancies I had hyperemisis, the first time I ended up in the ER once and then a week later admitted for dehyration. The second time, I got the medication Zofran as soon as I began to get sick. Although it didn't totally stop me from being sick, it did keep me functional (full time job and a 2 year) and it kept me out of the hospital.
Other than that just accept that the house may not be as clean as you want, your son may watch a little more tv than usually and you may have to ask for help. Just keep in mind that this too will pass and in the end you'll have another bundle of joy to enjoy.

Nicki
mom of 2 beautiful daughters ages 5 and 2.

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Hi L.
My friend Stephanie had great results with Reliv nutrition during her last pregnancy.
She saw a dramatic difference from her first two pregnancies and the last one (her Reliv PRegnancy)
It is safe and effective and is extremely helpful with dehydration.
I would love to connect you with Steph
J. H

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I am currently on my 2nd pregnancy 22 weeks - my first was a piece of cake, but this time around has not been as easy at all. I was suffering from migraines and not really feeling that well. I tried several things - Chiropractic care, Yoga, even went to a Neurologist, but of course all they want to do is prescribe meds. and I am not a big medicine person. So then my chiropractor suggested I try a Reiki Energy Specialist. She worked wonders and no more migraines. Still have minor headaches, but I can live with those over the migraines. As far as the sickness I heard there are different vitamins and herbs you can take to help with that, but not sure which ones as thankfully I didn't have all the sickness. Good luck to you and hope this time around is easier for you.

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Dear L.,
My thoughts go out with you and I am so sorry you had to endure hyperemesis. I have much to say, so feel free to write me with any questions. It would have really helped me to have someone who had been through it, so i can also pass along my phone number. (I had many people think I was "just" having morning sickness!!!!)

I had hyperemesis with both of my pregnancies and wrote this exact same e-mail last year asking for help/advice from people who really had 'been there.' My second daughter was born 10 weeks ago and I was sick or in the hospital for the first 16 weeks of the pregnancy. My oldest daughter was almost two at the time.

I wish I could tell you it won't happen this time, but most likely it will. Statistically, it is 80%, but I will pray that you are okay. I don't say that to worry you, but I think it helped me to know so I could prepare. These are the things I would do:

1) Ask anyone in your families if they could come stay with you to take care of the daily duties/child care if you get ill again. I was a stay-at-home mom with an toddler and bedridden or in the hospital! :-< My mom flew to Maine for a month to care for my daughter (almost two at the time). When she left, we had friends and babysitters help out. Have numbers to a nanny service or child care provider, too, just in case.

2) Begin eating now. Gain a little weight if you can and stay hydrated so when/if it starts you and the baby will be okay.

3) When you meet with your doctor, have your records from your previous hyperemesis treatment and see if you can start meds right away at the FIRST sign of morning sickness. I have heard it keeps the worse of it at bay. It didn't work for me, but I think I waited to see if this was really "It." I used suppositories.

4) Talk to your doctor right away about hyperemesis and make sure they would be willing to admit you when needed. Get numbers and directions for how to call the hospital and put on the fridge for your husband or family. (If you were like me, I was unable to do the simplest things.) Go to the doctor as often as possible. They can make you feel better and get you hydrated. Don't be shy for asking for help!!

5) Stock your kitchen full of those foods that would be edible. Crackers, gatorade, peanut butter, etc.

6) Talk to your son (if he understands) that mommy may get sick, but she will be okay. This sickness really scared my daughter this summer and my mom and I always had to talk with her about why I was always throwing up and in the hospital, etc... Even now, she will ask me, "Mommy's tummy all better?" It's remarkable how much she comprehended.

7) Have a SERIOUS talk with your husband. Is he supportive? Helpful? Make him know it probably will happen again and how much more work it will be this time with a child to take care of, too. Also, talk with him about the dangers and how to handle emergencies. (I passed out in the kitchen one evening and he had to call 911. We knew exactly which neighbor to call for my daughter, etc. It possibly saved my life that he called 911.)

8) Talk with your job, friends, family etc. Let them know what it is and give them the website http://www.hyperemesis.org/
They need to take it seriously.

9) Possibly ask really good friends and family to be available with casseroles when you are not well. Your husband and son have to eat.

Just reach out when you can and please feel free to call/write if you need any support. I know 14-16 weeks doesn't sound like a lot on the outside, but when you feel that ill it seems so scary. You are not alone. Good luck and thinking of you, D.

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This pregnancy could be totally different and I pray it will be for you! My friend had such bad hyperemesis with her first two babies, she was on bedrest with an IV the whole pregnancy - never kept anything down. But with her third, she didn't get sick once! Totally normal pregnancy. Hope for the best!

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I also highly recommend acupuncture to help with the morning sickness in particular. I had morning sickness all 9 months of my first two pregnancies, but started acupuncture early in the third, and although I still had occasional nausea and vomitting, it was only every now and then and very easily dealt with (like maybe once every week or two instead of all day every day.) There is also a good book called Managing Morning Sickness by Miriam Erick that I recommend to my clients and students who have similar issues (I'm a doula and childbirth educator.) Please don't be afraid to ask for help. We tend not to do that enough in modern society.

Good luck and Congratulations!!!

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Other than asking for advice from your doctor and trying to line up help and support from family and friends I don't have anything else to offer. But every pregnancy is different and this one may be much easier this time a round. Try to keep positive and hope for the best. I really hope this one goes smoother for you!

Best wishes and good luck!

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You may want to focus on what you are eating. Many people discount what extremely good nutrition can change. Start with a food diary.

I experienced the exact same hyper-emesis with all 3 of my pregnancies. I am currently 24 weeks along with my third and have stopped the constant vomiting and have moved onto the occasional daily nausea and morning sickness only. I have lost 26 lbs. It's tough. I have just started to experience round ligament pains that often mean I have to put my legs up. It's scary to think that I still have a ways to go!
With my first pregnancy, almost 7 years ago, I had to quit my job. I was just to ill to work. I did continue to stay at home with my daughter and with my second pregnancy my first daughter was only 14 months old while I was dealing with the emesis.
This third pregnancy has been the most difficult, in managing my older two children (4 and 6) They are busy girls, in school and preschool with other activities. I hated to be away from them. I am lucky that my husband owns his own business. He has flexibility to re-arrange his schedule. I also have great friends who take my girls to school and help with cooking and cleaning. My mom would come by every day to check in. My good friend set up a schedule for friends to drop off meals and planned play dates for my girls.
I can only recommend that you set up a support system now, before the emesis sets in. Your husband may be able to take paternity leave now instead of after the new baby comes. In my experience, the sickness in pregnancy (especially the care of your other child) is more difficult to deal with than the care of the new baby. You may decide you need him more now than later.
I know I needed help just getting to the bathroom and having someone there to clean up when I threw up. I could not be alone for long. Not to mention having to go in to the hospital often for IV fluids. I was just too weak, there was no way I could take care of my older children.
I am sure you will get many wonderful opinions on how to relieve the nausea.... I know I did. I can also sympathize with you that none of those suggestions will work!!
Hyper-emesis is just a beast all it's own. It's not like morning sickness that many moms deal with. My doctor says less than 2% of pregnant women experience it.
Hang in there, I have done it 3 times and can honestly say it's still worth it each time! Good luck.
-S.

Every pregnancy is different you may not even experience any morning sickness this time around. I had a great first pregnancy but was sick the entire nine months w/ my second but I was prescribed medication that helped w/ the nausea allowing me to at least eat a little and keep it down. I didn't have any blood pressure probems w/ either but one of my friends did w/ her first but was healthy and energetic w/ her second.