[Almamiel]

I have a friend who's wife had a really, really difficult pregnancy first time around (very ill the entire time) and who just tested positive last week with their second. They were hoping she'd have an easier time of it this time, but he just called and said she's in the hospital for dehydration. She's 8 weeks along. He says last time they tried everything, but she was in the hospital for probably 3 months out of the entire pregnancy. She's having an i.v. right now to get her fluids up.

Any suggestions? They're vegan and very concientious about their diet. They're just really not looking forward to dealing with this again. Last time she lost around 20lbs at some point...Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

[pamamidwife]

*repeat*

 

[pamamidwife]

This totally bites and I had a friend who spent most of her pregnancy on antinausea drugs - it was the only thing that helped.

(Her nausea was so severe, she contemplated ending the pregnancy, which she felt horrible about, but she was so sick and bedridden!)

Doing enemas of Recharge or Gatorade can be a less invasive, but just as effective, way of rehydrating women.

I would probably encourage her to let go of her ideals about her diet to some degree and eat whatever she can stomach. Protein helps, but it's usually the last thing people want.

It's just so hard to deal with hyperemesis. Very hard. I have no real suggestions, just sympathy.

 

[Almamiel]

Thank you for your kind thoughts - her husband just told me he was encouraging her to eat anything she could keep down, including cheese pizza -usually a big, big no no for them, so I think that because they've been down this road before, they're going to go with what works. It'll just be a long road to walk, I guess...

 

[pumpkinhead]

I took my last anti-emetic the morning before the birth of my son. I carried the perscription in my purse for 6 and 1/2 months. By this point, I'd lost 14lbs and had been in and out of emerg 3 times for dehydration. I don't mean to bellyache, just wanted to let you know I'm qualified to respond

.

A few things that got me thru the first 6 mos:

I had to NEVER have an empty stomach or let myself get hungry. Couldn't brush my teeth til noon (YUK!). Oh, salty things seemed to help! Pretzels, crackers and Kettle chips

. Really sour lemon candy helped some too. Interestingly enough, CHEESE PIZZA was one of the only things that stayed down! Oh, and I couldn't drink water. The weirdest thing as I LooooooooVE water! Ginger ale and ginger beer were life savers!! I did most of my eating in the evening as well. For whatever reason, I had a 'window' from around 5-11pm where I wasn't as nauseous.

Ultimately I caved and took the anti-emetics. I hated having to take em but I don't regret it. They were called 'Diclectin'. It's a combination of an anti-histamine and a vit B12 complex. Apparently vit B 12 alone can help some women as well. You just need to get info on the proper dosage as too much isn't good.

Anyhow, I hope some of this helps and I hope your friend can find some relief!! Hyper-emesis SUCKS!!!