Diet and Health FAQ

Tagged As: Severe Morning Sickness

Question:
I need help , My wife is six weeks pregnet and suffering from severe morning sickness. At this point she cannot get out of bed without vomiting and is nauseous all day.She is depresed and does not think she can go through with the pregnancy.We need some ideas of how to get through this .does it get any better after the first trimester?

Answer:
For most women it does get better around 12 weeks. However, it does sometimes continue. My first suggestion is that she have a blood test for the H pylori bacteria. It certainly can't hurt anything to test for it -- it is a simple test. And severe N&V of pregnancy HAS been linked to H pylori bacteria in recent studies. If there is H pylori present, it is very simple to treat with antibiotics. As far as the depression -- is that just because of the N&V or is it something else entirely? If she was already depressed, that may be affecting the N&V. There ARE safe medications to take for depression during pregnancy, if indicated. I would suggest getting her to her OB right away. My first appt. wasn't until my 11th week, but if your wife is this bad off, she needs medical attention ASAP. Her doctor should know what tests to run and what to give her to make it easier. There is no reason for her to be suffering this badly, and a depressed mother is not good for the pregnancy. In the meantime, the only comfort that I can offer (and sometimes this was the only thing that go me thru my sickness), is that her extreme nausea indicates a healthy pregnancy. She's sick because the progesterone is so strong in her body, and this is her body's way of dealing with it. Try to keep that in mind, and call her OB. Please get to the doctor/hospital straight away. There is help for this. I had constant vommiting at 7 wks and got put on IV drip for 2 days in hospital, and I then took medication untill the 12 wk-which did help me keep my food down! I know what you wife is going through- I too considered terminating the pregnancy at first because I felt I couldn't cope! But PLEASE don't have an abortion for this reason. With the help of the medication and my boyfriend! I even managed to complete my masters degree during my first trimester! I found that it helped to eat little and often and to stick to low fat foods, eg skimmed milk, and simple plain foods such as rice,/pasta without sauces, boiled eggs, thin slices of chicken on toast, and bannanas to name a few favourites. Oh yes -and sucking on a slice of lemon when I felt really bad. My nausea started to fade at about 12wks. I am now nearly 18 wks and have a BIG appetite. - And I'm very happy that I'm pregnant.