Miss Rebecca

mommyof1 · #1 (**permalink**) 07-13-2007, 04:46 PM

Hi - I noticed in your signature that you have hyperemesis. Did you have it with your first daughter as well? I had it pretty bad with mine and now I am ttc #2. I am a little scared as to how to deal with this with another child to take care of. She's 4 and pretty independent, but it still concerns me. How have you gotten through it and can you recommend any coping strategies? My husband is concerned as well, because he remembers how tough it was the first time and we didn't have a child. Any help would be appreciated! Thanks!

MissRebecca · #2 (**permalink**) 07-13-2007, 05:13 PM

HI there Jill

Yes mam - I am surviving it, slowly but surely. I did not have it with Kaiya, my first. I did have some bad m/s that lasted until about 17 weeks, but then I was pretty much ok. With my Cassie (due anyday) the sickness hit like a ton of bricks at 5 1/2 weeks and only let up a teeny bit in the middle (for about 6 weeks) and then it is back full on. It was very hard at first juggling a baby and constant N and V

! At first, I was terrified because I felt as if I could not take care of Kaiya. But I was very lucky to have my doctor. He was very aggressive with HG and had me coming in every week to see what he could do. He started me on Zofran and Phenergan pills at 6 weeks and by 8 weeks (after 3 trips to the ER for IVs), I was prescribed a sub-q Zofran pump that delivered meds directly to my body everyday and night via infusion. I stayed on the pump for about 17 weeks. My husband was a huge help through out the experience - but it was very hard for him, he would come home from work and I would just lay there, that was all I could do. My Mom and Sis helped a lot as well and I asked favors of friends a lot to watch Kaiya so I could rest. I prayed a lot and decided the only way I could get through it was to take it one day at a time - the though of battling it for 9 (well 10) months seemed unsurmountable! I also took antidepressents to get through as well. There was a point that I did not leave the house other then doc appointments for about 5 weeks. That will make anyone crazy!!!

I have almost gotten through the whole pregnancy with it and my DH and I are already considering a 3rd! And I assure you - I do not handle being sick very well!!!! It scares me that it can happen again - but we are ok with it.

My advice if you do have to deal with it again is to take help from anyone you can, be aggressive with medicine and IVs and dont wait until you are ready for the ER. I was terrified of all the meds they were giving me - but my OB assured me he would give me nothing that could hurt her (at one point I had the Zofran pump, and was taking Phenergan, Zantac and Reglan). There are a lot of great meds out there as well as home nursing companies that cater just to pregnant woman. The one I had was called Matria and they are a GOD SEND. They give great advice and are really good at telling you what to avoid and how to try and help your self at home. They are the reason I did not need home IVs.

Sorry to ramble on and on. HG is a subject near and dear to my heart and my prayers go out to any woman that has or is suffering with it, it is a very serious disease that effects all aspects of your body and mind. The best thing to do is discuss it with your doc before hand and see where he/she stands on medical intervention for HG.

I wish you loads of babydust sweetie and I am praying HG passes you by this time!!! If you have any other questions at all, please feel free to post here or IM me anytime.... if I take a while to get back to you it is because I have gone to L and D to have my baby

mieko25 · #3 (**permalink**) 07-13-2007, 06:48 PM

Wow Becky I didn't know that you have been that sick. So it hasn't up much even though your towards the end? Tha sounds awful but you sound like you are dealing with it with a postive attitude.

mommyof1 · #4 (**permalink**) 07-14-2007, 09:50 AM

Becky - Thank you so much for responding! I had HG pretty bad with my first. I was in the hospital 6 times from week 8-13 for rehydration/meds. I had home IV for hydration as well as the Zofran (I can't take Phenergan and Reglan did nothing for me) until week 16, then just the Zofran through IV until week 22 or so, then Zofran tablets every a.m. until the day I delivered! Once I got past the rough part I was mostly nauseous in the a.m. until the Zofran kicked in, but before I got to that point, I could keep nothing at all down. It was horrible, but here I am willing to go through it again a 2nd time. (if I ever get pregnant)

Although I go to the same place I did when I was pregnant before, I have a new doctor that I primarily see and we have already discussed ny HG and how we'll handle it. He seems to be pretty agressive as well. I agree with not waiting until I'm ready for the ER. I made that mistake too many times last time when I really should have just called my Dr.'s office.

I think (hope) this time will be easier in that I have a better sense as to what works and what doesn't and I will be more proactive. I just worry about handling things with my daughter. I guess it's important to take as much help as possible and really let everything go except just getting through each day.

Thank you for your support and encouragement! I don't know anyone else that's really gone through this, so it helps to have a sounding board. You give me much hope of surviving this again! Good luck with your delivery and congratulations on your little girl!