Preventing hyperemesis- is it possible?

Ok, so Im not pg yet, but we are TTC in April this year. I have 2 little boys, 3 and 1 y.o and I got severe morning sickness (hyperemesis gravidarum) with both.

During my last pg, I swore I would never get pg again because the sickness is so bad, and it means hospitalisation, strong drugs (maxalon and zofran) and almost total inability to look after myself or my kids while the sickness lasts. Im one of the very lucky ones with HG, in that it doesnt last the entire pg, just the first 5-20 weeks, then Im fine with the occasional throw-up for the last 20 weeks.

Im so scared of this happening again, but I really want another beautiful baby, and my 2 sons have taught me that its totally worth the sacrifice.

Does anyone know if there is anything I can do to possibly prevent this before I get pg? I know there is probably nothing I can do, but if anyone had any ideas I'd like to try them.

Some of the suggestions for minimising the impact of hyperemesis gravidarium include dietary advice (there is an information sheet from Queensland Health with suggestions of what to eat etc), pyridoxime 25mg three times a day (a vitamin B) as well as maxalon /zofran. It is also suggested to eat small meals regularly - up to 12 times a day, to stabilise blood sugars. A drop in blood sugar often makes the nausea worse.

There are lots of options and the sooner you get the symptoms managed, the better. Good luck ;)

Subscribing to this thread - I had HG with my first and am seriously thinking about not having any more kids as it was that awful.

Nope. Had it with all 6 of mine. Can only make it a bit more manageable. I found out definitively with Phoebe that nothing will stop it - only mask it and make it less a problem, so long as you continue treatment.

I can only recommend that you use every trick in the morning the minute you get out of bed. I have noticed that everything will be okay for about 15-20 minutes after getting out of bed. If I went straight to the maxolon, vit B and vegemite on toast in that time, I could usually function through the day and keep down small meals without too much hassle.

ETA: Sorry for the blunt start - just figured I'd get the bad news out of the way straight away. Check out helpher org though.

Thanks ladies. I knew it would be the case, but I just had to ask.

Inertia, how did you possibly cope with having 5 other children and HG? I think you are absolutely amazing. I struggled with 1, and cant even begin to imagine doing it with 2 or more children. Im so scared of the HG. Id rather go through labour once every day of the pg than deal with the 24x7 vomiting and nausea. Ive got an action plan, that once I get my BFP Im going to cook as many meals as I can and make sure all the washing and ironing is done so it'll be a bit easier when the sickness sets in.

I know it isnt the worse thing that could happen, but I wish it didnt have to be so hard :(

All I can suggest is try for a girl.
With both my girls I had HG & was allergic to Maxalon, so that didn't help at all. But when pregnant with DS I only had normal m/s. Maybe on the bad end of normal, but throwing up once or twice a day for about 8 weeks is so much better than 18 - 20 times a day for 25-ish weeks.
You can't guarantee the sex, I know, & it might not make a huge difference, but I feel so so lucky having a boy worked for me.

I've just found out I'm UTD again & don't want to find out what we are having, but I know m/s will tell me. Its ok so far... still very, very paranoid & scared it'll get worse. I think about everything I eat as if it were coming back up, coz some foods are just so much easier than others!

You could try Blackmores morning sickness formula. I started it this morning. I have no idea how good it is. Probably won't help with HG.
I guess just getting your DP to do anything that provokes it. Keep the house clean with a scent you can tolerate, cook the foods you can't stand the smell of. Not a magic cure, but a start :hug:

It is hard, very very hard. I don't know if its the same for every one else, but I was so tired too. A trip to the loo would put me to sleep for 2 hours!

FWIW - I opened my windows this morning coz my clean house stunk & was hoping for the smell of fresh air...I copped wet dirt instead!!! :sick:

I was very bad with DD1 mainly due to the fact I dehydrated very quickly and never really recovered until about 18 weeks. However with DD2 I drank heaps straight away, all the time (went to the look every hour!) and ate all the time as well. I'm a teacher so I used to sneak snacks in class and duck to the loo every class change. I also ate a lot of protein and salt. Cause of my water intake, I was getting low blood pressure so I had to add salt to everything. My mum also got very sick and she ate an egg for breakfast everymorning before it got too bad and she said it worked really well.

Oh and I found that drinking sports drinks helps a lot in the heat. Maybe stock up on them (or use the powder) so you don't have to add salt to all your foods.

HTH :)

Bjroase - congrats on your new pg! You'll just love having 4 kids, its a lot of work, but so worth it. I hope your m/s is manageable this time too. So I need a girl hey? Easier said than done unfortunately (I swayed girl with DS2), so I'll be just as thrilled with a new baby boy even if it means agonising sickness again.

Ryatha, I was dehydrated too, so I had to suck on ice chips all day! Fun hey. I found salty and greecy foods were better for me too, and also caused more dehydration. Problem is, that when I have HG I just dont want to eat anything at all because whatever I eat just comes straight up again. Dont know about you, but I ripped the lining in my stomach from vomiting so much.

Thanks for the tips ladies, I'll just try to eat as regularly as possible to reduce the chance of blood sugars dropping, even if it means vomiting even more, at least some of it will stay down.

Do I really want to do it again. Yes, oh course I do, I must be crazy.:lol:

It was the oddest thing - but my doctor with my first was - well - a flaming moron and used to tell me "You're pregnant, what were you expecting?"... So I figured that this *was* normal morning sickness. For 8 months the only things I could keep down were burger rings. The 8 week ultrasound was an utter joke. They wanted me to have 1.5l of water drunk... So I did that, got there said I am feeling EXTREMELY nauseous, can they see me soon.. Nope nope.. had to wait.. So I am fighting this desperate need to vomit for a good 30 minutes before I had to make a run for the bathroom and I only just made it. Then they wanted me to drink MORE water and wait for it to go to the bladder.. No sooner was she done with the dating scan and I didnt even wait for her to wipe the jelly off.. straight for the bathroom again. This was my first ever pregnancy experience so I just sucked it up.

In the end the HG turned into my definitive free pregnancy test, lmao! The first thing I lost the ability to stomach was citrus. I threw up my morning orange juice, I knew I would get a BFP.

DW has had hyperemesis three times. We've not encountered anything to either prevent it happening, or relieve it once it strikes. We did try some megadoses of Vitamin B21 before our last pregnancy, and in the end, it was the worst!

Good luck. I think the best thing you can do is plan well ahead to try and have your life and affairs in order so that you have as little responsibility as possible during your sick months. It has certainly been severe enough for us that it has led us to delay the conception of our next bub until our little ones are older and more independent (and in school!) and I can save up some money to take some time off work.

:hug::hug::hug::hug::hug: Diamond Girl, I cant give you enough hugs! I am so so so so sorry you suffered this. Im jumping on board because I want to know too..... I had this with DD and I am absolutely terrified of it happening again (if I am ever game enough to try again).

Inertia, I remember my 8 and 12 week scans too, what a joke telling women with HG to drink all that water. I remember the nurses giving me my very first maxalon injection, and telling me that Id feel all better in an hour or more. Yeah right!

Smickers, what a fantastic husband you are! I wish my DH could take some time off too, but luckily his work lets him work from home a bit when needed, so that helps a bit. Its tough on the OH too, I know this because my DH looked so exhausted by the end of it, looking after me and the kids too, and everything else. I really hope your DW is lucky enough to escape it next time.

Lily dust - You are so sweet. Im sorry youve suffered this too. Maybe you'll be one of the lucky ones and not get it again. I know I'll get it again because Ive had it twice now. I just love babies so much that Im willing to put myself through it again even though Im absolutely petrified.