So Sick While Pregnant with Number 2

Hi J.! I was sick the last 5 1/2 months of my pregnancy. I did Zofran, the bands on the wrists etc. One thing that helped for a little while was water with lemon in it. I carried it with me everywhere. I also took a Women's One a Day vitamin combined with a Follic Acid pill in place of the regular prenatal vitamins. I also tried those Preggo-Pops. Everything worked but just for a little while but at least I had relief! :) Good luck.

Try acupuncture. I was sick all 9 months with my first, and about 7 with my second, tried acupuncture with my third, and aside from occasional queasiness, was pretty much okay and while I still had to be careful with particularly spicy things and tomatoes for some reason, I could eat almost whatever I wanted. I had to go for a while, starting with like 3 times a week and easing off over about 6 weeks or so, but it made a dramatic difference from the first treatment, and each time I'd feel better for a bit longer.

It would be very much worth your wild to see a Naturopathic Doctor that can suggest some good foods that will help. Google one in your area. It could be the best thing that you ever do for yourself and your baby.
Good Luck!
S.

Oh, J. I feel for you. I was sick the entire 9 months w/ my second. Have you tried those lollipops that they make? I can't remember the name of the liquid stuff I took but I want to say it was by mommys bliss and it is for morning sickness I used it in between the zofran and it made such a difference I was at least able to function and play with my 5 year old. I got it at a local small store so I'm not sure where you'll be able to find it. I hope you feel better soon.

Check your prenatal vitamin! I was sick the entire time with my first (no throwing up just this awful queasy feeling), then for the second I started out totally sick and someone suggested I change prenatals. I ended up feeling 100% perfect! I switched between some kind of prenatal designed to be easier on your stomach and just taking Flinstones. My third I did the same thing and it worked like a charm. It was such an easy fix - I hope yours will be too.

Hi J.,

Have you tried Sea Bands (http://www.sea-band.com/UK/uk_seaband.htm)? My husband bought me mine at Walgreens for about $10. They're tight and they're an ugly gray, but they work! I, like you, was very sick while I was pregnant with my second son. The doctor was basically ignoring me and I literally couldn't get up off the couch; these Sea Bands made it at least bearable to go about my daily life. Granted, I was still a little nauseated most of the time (even with the Zofran added in), but I wasn't puking my guts out anymore.

My husband even recently wore my Sea Bands on a fishing trip and it saved him the cost of Dramamine!

Good luck,

M.

I have great compassion for you because this was me last summer. I tried a lot of things and recommend trying all of them until you find a combination that helps. My doctor suggested Sea Bands, ginger steeped in hot water and also shredded on food if I could handle it, and even a smaller dose of unisom (but check with your doctor first). Oddly enough the thing that helped me most was drinking Gatorade. I cannot explain it- but it helped me! Also try not to beat yourself up over your 3 year old. Ask for help from those nearby who can take your 3 year old to the park for the afternoon and schedule some fun for him/her with trusted people he/she knows as much as you can and take care of yourself. Hopefully the naseau subsides within the next 7-9 weeks.

I'm sorry to say I don't have any particular advice. But, in a weird way, it's nice to know that others were sick the whole nine months. I have never found anyone else whose sickness lasted that long. I had a perpetual supply of oyster crackers at my work desk or at home. But it looks like other women are giving you some great ideas. I wish I'd had MamaSource 13 years ago when I was expecting our son!

I don't have any advice for making the sickness stop, but I want to offer some hope that things could be different this time. I was sick 24/7 for 7 months with my first baby, and with my second I was only sick for 5 months. I know, it's still longer than what I hear is the average of about 3 months, but I still felt awfully grateful! I'm now pregnant with my third and was only sick for the first 3 months, and not nearly as sick as I was with the other two. So every pregnancy is different. Just take it one day at a time.

I have heard from others that changing the time of day they take medication and/or prenatal vitamins can really help, so you could experiment with that. If you take a pill in the morning but could switch it to the night, for example, it might help. The combination of medication and vitamins can apparently also be important, so you might try switching one or the other of them (with your doctor's input, of course).

I feel for you - but hold out hope! I was also sick the whole nine months with my first. The dr. had me on Phenergan (which I think they use for chemo patients too) to ease the nausea. It helped a lot and gave me an appetite, but made me extremely sleepy - so perhaps not the best if you are trying to watch a 3-yr-old. I was just as sick intially with my second pregnancy, but I didn't want to take the Phenergan again and just tried to manage it better with what I ate (easy foods, frequently - and lots of saltines, sparkling water, sucking on hard candy, etc.). Miraculously - the nausea went away between the 4th and 5th month with my second! So hang on - it's possible your sickness won't last as long this time.

I am so sorry Jen, its hard to have morning sickness like that
Sounds like you may have a boy on board there..for some reason, boys tend to provoke MS much more than girs.
I am sure you know the standard methods for trying to avoid sickness already and I am sorry I do not know any more.
Eating a few dry saltines before rising for example. Sitting on the edge of the bed for a few minutes sometimes helps. Learning what foods set the sickness off and which ones help settle your stomache. Eating small amounts every few hours instead of loading up three times a day.
I would check out the health food stores, talk with the herbologist ( there is generally a resident one in those stores) or finding one to consult for sure. Ofttimes herbs are ever so much more effective than pills.
I seldom had morning sickness in the morning...it would come on in the afternoon and go into the evenings..AND...I had five sons so I put some time in you betcha !!!
It surely is not fun to look forward to but the end result is worth it , yes?
Best wishes and God bless
Grandmother Lowell

I had the same thing with #2 and my first was about the same age and we were packing to move. I'm so sorry for your misery!! I found sucking on Jolly Ranchers helped keep the nausea at bay and at least kept my blood sugar up. As far as the little one goes, I had a friend that would take her for me quite often, but when she was home I taught her how to run the VCR and we'd have movie days. I know it's not the best, or what you would ideally want for her, but you can only do so much. Don't beat yourself up over it. She'll be just fine!!

Hi J.:

I can sympathize with you because I was also sick for 9 months with my first. This is also my second pregnancy and I have been sick...not quite as bad. Currently, I'm 18 weeks.

This is what I did:
1). Like you used Zofran 2x a day
2). Ate every two hours (small amounts)
3). Took Phenergan (a supposatory at night) for nausea
4). Started on a vitamin B-6 supplement 4x a day and quit the prenatal vit.
5). Tried to get people to come over and watch my son for a few hours while I got extra rest

6). Went to ER for fluids a few times

This was of course, all under the guidance of doctors. I've been lucky because the nausea is starting to wear off right now, to the point that I don't need much medicine. My son is 2 and extremely active, so I've found it hard to keep up. Energy is starting to return now, though. Good luck! I hope some of this info will help you!