The Nausea Blues

The first trimester of my pregnancy went a little something like this... I’m staaaaarving, nausea, eat, nausea, sleep, wake up, nausea, I’m going to die of starvation, eat, nausea, repeat...

My appetite went through the roof. I felt like I needed to eat constantly. But eating was a challenge because I was always nauseous. Foods that I usually loved to eat became a disgusting sight. I had followed a vegan diet for about one year prior to pregnancy. But I was certainly still in a learning, growing, discovering period. This added to the challenge. Most of the vegan dishes I had grown to love made me want to barf, including once yummy cheeze sauces. I had no energy or desire to experiment with new recipes. I lacked the desire to cook period. I had worked so hard to dramatically change my diet to improve my digestive health. I had been successful. But all of that was unraveling. I found myself in places I thought I would never be again. From standing in the freezer section stocking up on processed food to waiting in line at Burger King for an original chicken sandwich with cheese. Not only was I on the struggle bus with nausea and a roaring appetite but I was mentally & emotionally hurt by my food choices. I would think about how those items could be impacting my baby’s development. I was stunned that I worked so hard to get myself in an overall healthier state. Then I get pregnant and bam bye bye healthy, healing diet. I share all of this to paint the picture of how nausea grew into a huge, torturous symptom for me.

According to the American College of Obstetrics & Gynecology (ACOG) about 70% of pregnant women experience nausea & vomiting. About 3% experience a severe case known as hyperemesis gravidarum. This condition involves weight loss, loss of body fluids, and other signs of dehydration. Hospitalization may be needed to stop vomiting and restore fluids. Nausea & vomiting usually improve after the first trimester. However, for some women it continues throughout the entire pregnancy.

Road to relief

I first reached for natural remedies. I sucked on ginger candy, used chewable ginger tablets, and attempted ginger tea but I was unfortunately not too thrilled about drinking tea anymore (Sigh). Ginger would lower the level of nausea or bring temporary relief. I diffused peppermint oil & dabbed it on my wrist. The peppermint was wonderful in masking whatever aromas were currently exasperating nausea. Still the nausea was constant. I realized certain foods that had been reintroduced into my diet were a part of the problem. But each day I never knew what would seem appetizing and what would lead to nausea. Diet control could not save me. No matter what I ate the lingering after taste was horrible. I brushed my teeth or chewed gum when not able to brush, after every meal. Movement, simply walking, increased nausea as well. I never vomited but constant nausea was no walk in the park. I just wanted to feel like a functional human being.

The point of desperation was reached. I avoid medications but the nausea had grown into a life altering problem. I began taking Diclegis. It was an absolute life saver! The active ingredients of Diclegis are doxylamine (an antihistamine) & vitamin B6 in extended release tablets. Yes these are ingredients you can get over the counter but not combined and not in the same dosage. I took Diclegis twice a day until around 16 weeks, a couple weeks into second trimester. I was nervous about stopping the medication. I first went down to once daily for a week or so. Thankfully I discovered the nausea nightmare was over! There are still some scents that bother me. But I can thrive each day without the persistent worry of how to cope with nausea. The nausea blues feels like a distant memory.

Pregnancy is a beautiful, natural experience. But discomforts are real. Many mamas will experience nausea and vomiting in pregnancy. The way it’s experienced varies but none of us are alone. Most will discover relief in the second trimester. Speak up to your provider to discover all your options for treatment. Share every bit of your emotional experience with your partner and others in your support team. Stay encouraged mama, there is hope.

For more extensive information related to treatment options please visit the sources listed below. Thank you for journeying with me.

Peace & Love From Your Hippie Nurse

Sources:

https://www.acog.org/patient-resources/faqs/pregnancy/morning-sickness-nausea-and-vomiting-of-pregnancy

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/morning-sickness/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20375260 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3560544/#sec2205title