You know when you're sick for a long time, and you forget what it ever felt like to not be sick? I'm there. I'll never be well again. I've accepted it. This is who I am now. Couch-ridden vomit girl. Who's already showing, despite being 8 weeks along. That's embarrassing. I've had morning sickness pretty much from the moment of conception, and I'm slowly figuring out how to "deal with it." However, the constant stomach ache, dizziness, and fatigue never actually stop. I'm just learning my limits.
My relationship with food has DRASTICALLY changed. I've always had to be very conscious of what I eat. Even in high school, I really had to be careful in order to not gain weight. Now, because of constant nausea, I'm eating crackers, juice, small meals, and snacks throughout the day, as well as my normal meals (now smaller portions). I'm eating in smaller portions, but much more often. Fluids are difficult.
My physical relationship with Conrad has also drastically changed. Because I'm so uncomfortable and feel so sick, even snuggling is awful. If he wants to hug me, I do it as quickly as I can, because the squeezing of my body makes me want to murder people and eat a bunch of pie (strangely, taking my prenatal vitamin makes me feel the same way).
Help a new mama out. What did you do during pregnancy to quell nausea? What are good powerfoods? How can I keep from gaining an unreasonable amount of weight? (I know the appropriate amount to gain is about 30 lbs, but I also want to be fit and healthy, and not gain too much) When does morning sickness end? When will wearing clothes not be so uncomfortable? When will physical touch stop being so uncomfortable?
Also, when do I need to worry about registering for baby stuff?
I'm also 8 weeks with my second. Just saw the baby and heartbeat today! I can relate to all those feelings, but the nausea isn't as bad this time, just the fatigue and head aches are terrible. With my first it was bad. Apples and watermelon helped me. Apples also curb your appetite while giving you lots of nutrients and something about watermelon quenched the thirst without having to drink a lot. Now, I just lay down when I get queasy because fatigue sets it off. Don't shop yet for baby, wait til you find out the sex and have your shower. Less to buy. Morning sickness should end by first semester, clothed never feel great, but the pressure on your uterus gets better..loose fitting clothes help.And after awhile you will want your partner close when baby begins to move, you will want to share that with him. It gets better, all of it...Amazing actually! Don't register until you're ready for your shower...no one looks at it til then. Also babies don't need much, just you mostly so don't go too crazy getting stressed for all you need:) I felt first fluttered at 10 weeks so just think how close you are to all that. It's crazy to do it all again, but just as exciting and new:) hope this helps!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! Apples and watermelon is really good advice. I know I need more fluids, but plain water is the WORST for some reason. I'm also noticing if I use those water flavorers like Mio, I'm able to drink a lot more. I hope I can recognize the movement as early as ten weeks! I'm so excited to feel it move!
DeleteGinger Ale, crackers, and peppermints were my best friend. I waited until we were 5 months along to register, that way you know the gender too (if you're not team green).
ReplyDeleteHaha! Team green. Literal LOL.
DeleteCrackers and ginger ale also worked for me, but one thing that worked for sure was to NEVER stuff myself. Leave the table thinking you could take another bit. Something about having a full stomach and not having that much room always made me nausea, but always an hour later not right away. I know it feels sick now but TRY not to focus too much on this, especially because you are in the very beginning. I would say to help prevent gaining too much is to not over indulge. I cant tell you how many people I had around me saying "oh your eating for two" wrong!! Since you only need about 300 more calories a day, I always remembered that. I ate healthier and just a wee bit more and did pretty good. I hope this helps.
ReplyDeleteTotally. I notice that if I'm too full, I feel SO gross. When people say "you're eating for two," I always think to myself "what a stupid mindset. I'm eating for myself and someone the size of a kidney bean, not two full-grown adults!"
DeleteUgh, I went through a phase where I mourned pizza. Pizza was my favorite and it made me so sick. For days at a time the only food I could eat was brown sugar and cinnamon pop tarts and/or cheetos. I know, BIZARRE.
ReplyDeleteIt will get better! :)
I'm glad I'm not the only pregnant person who eats junk food! I always feel like I'll be judged by those "supermoms" who are ridiculously overprotective.
DeleteThe pectin in apples really helps to settle your stomach, so I would eat apples a lot in the morning for breakfast. And tangerines. And watermelon. Drinking lots of water and staying hydrated is also supposed to help, but never worked for me!
ReplyDeleteI'm off to go buy some apples! :) Good advice.
DeleteGinger ale (real) and carbs. I am 31 weeks along. Appropriate weight gain is based on your starting weight and what your doctor says. As long as you're healthy and gaining evenly!
ReplyDeleteCarbs totally work. I'm just worried I'll get really fat in the face, lol.
DeleteAnd p.s. second trimester is great! :)
ReplyDeleteAsk your dr for a prescription for zofran. I still felt sick but at least I wasn't puking several times a day. Other than that, lemon water and turkey rolled with cheese. I've heard protein helps settle a pregnant stomach and it sure seemed to help me. My money is on you having a girl, for me thats when morning sickness was WAY worse.
ReplyDeleteAnd for the record people were asking me at my brother's wedding if I was pregnant and I was only 7 weeks along so I understand the embarrassment of showing really early.
How funny! My mom said her sickness was worse with boys, so my whole family is betting on a boy! I'm so excited to find out. Turkey and cheese is such a good idea! Why haven't I thought of that? Oh yeah, 'cause I have mommy brain already.
DeleteAnd for the early belly, that SUCKS! People should never ask if you're pregnant based on how you look! Rude. People haven't done that to me, but I've also been very quick to tell people. They don't get the chance to wonder.
things with ginger or lemon or peppermint.
ReplyDeleteIt sometimes gets better after the first trimester....dont worry, this will all be a memory.
Start registering whenever you want, but I suggest after you find out the sex... Target and babies r us give registry gift bags when you register there...they are helpful/informative
Yay gift bags! Done and done. Good advice. I'll wait to worry about registries.
DeleteClub Soda with a squeeze of lemon really helped me. Decaf mint tea seemed to help with the nausea too. I just had my 3rd baby and the cravings were different with all three. I was an avid ice muncher with all three, it seemed when I felt bloated (sounds weird?). Morning sickness tapered off after First trimester, then you go into the honeymoon pregnancy stage :-) Hang in there. I will admit that I was I ate whatever I could get my hands on for my first pregnancy and very careful with pregnancy 2&3 and te funny thing is I gained the same amount of weight. Trust your body and small snacks when you are hungry but most importantly enjoy the journey. When you feel the first flutters in your mama belly it is pure bliss. I signed up for some prenatal classes and met some really nice women who were going through the same physical and emotional changes so the support system was really nice to have. Ot will get better, and when you finally have your baby in your arms it will have all been worth it. Congrats and Good Luck :-)
ReplyDeleteCrushed ice is a good idea. I can't wait to get into the second trimester. Also, signing up for classes is such a good idea! I need a support system, i think.
Deletethats rough i'm sorry you're having it so rough right now. i have no advice since i've never been pregnant.
ReplyDeleteIm sorry for what your going through, I went through the same thing. I threw up the whole 9 mths! Instead of gaining weight I pretty much only lost weight. But it was worth it when i held my baby and finally could eat
ReplyDeleteI was sick the entire time, the anti-puking drug they put me on made me feel like crap. I read an article about women that suffer from anosmia not having morning sickness as bad in pregnancy, and how olfaction really controls a lot of that.
ReplyDeleteI started carrying around essential oils (mostly citrus) to take a whiff when I started to feel gnarly. If you go this route get organic oils, the chemically processed ones smelled, well, like chemicals. Keep crackers or cheerios by your bed and snack in the middle of the night when you wake up, or in the morning. Running on empty or eating too much makes morning sickness worse, you have to just eat a little all the time. Your body will reject foods you normally love (for me, it was salad!). I was so sick I lost 25 pounds, and then gained some of it back in the last trimester. Make peace with your body NOT doing what you expect it to, both now and postpartum. Also, I couldn't hang with the prenatal vitamin, so my doctor told me a few Flinstones and a folic acid is fine. That was WAY better and Jack came out perfect.
My advice is no matter what, research everything. Whether it comes from a doctor or a person on the internet or your great aunt. Google is your bff when pregnant.
This is a good facebook page to follow: https://www.facebook.com/birthwithoutfear?fref=ts
Essential oils are a good idea! I'll give that a try. And yes, I've noticed if I let myself get too hungry, I'm way more likely to throw it up later. If I stay fed, I'm mostly ok.
DeleteOh, and I totally haven't been taking my prenatal vitamin. I'm SO glad you said you didn't take it either. I'll have to pick up some Flinstones. Thanks!
DeleteEating constantly really helps. I know it sucks for weight gain, but as long as you keep doing what you're doing - small meals and be smart about the type of food, you should be okay. Work out on a daily basis. It will help you feel better (although you may not think so right away, but it does!) and it'll help curb the weight gain. You may think you're "showing" right now, but it's just bloat and it comes and goes. It's not until later on that you actually get the real baby belly (it's much harder than the bloated belly). Get a pair of maternity pants or the belly band asap - they are the best!
ReplyDeleteI totally want to be working out daily, but even just walking around the grocery store exhausts me. I'm relieved that I'm just bloated, because my belly is really squishy (not like a pregnant belly) and NOT cute. Belly band is a good idea! I'll have to go buy one!
DeleteCongrats to you guys!! Have you tried Unisom? It's active ingredient is doxylamine and it helps curb nausea, I take one every night while pregnant(as directed by my ob) But it most likely will get better, and someday you'll have a baby and you'll be yourself (to a certain extent) again, seems far-fetched I know, I remember feeling EXACTLY like you at your stage with my first, that it will literally never end. But it does.
ReplyDeleteAlso, just try avoiding super sugary things, that was my mistake. I ate too much candy when I could've easily turned to fruit for the same cravings, but I was lazy. I gained about 45 lbs, and most moms do gain most with their first because you are just thrown into this roller coaster and the only way to cope is by eating doritos and oreos, so don't feel guilty if that happens either, we've all done it!
good luck to you guys!!