5 Tips Surviving a Sick Pregnancy

Like any estrogen riddled being, I hoped for the day I would have a little me. I had all these unrealistic pregnancy expectations… Frolicking in fields, holding my perfectly blossoming baby bump, with not a worry in sight.

Holy crap, that’s the furthest thing from my reality. My pregnancy has been a mess. I mean, SICK ALL DAY AND NIGHT- from the moment I wake, till I go to sleep. I’ve been struggling with a condition called “Hyperemesis Gravidarum”. (I guess Princess Kate had the same problem)

Basically, I feel like I’m hungover 24/7 with my head in a bucket or on ice… This condition can last a few weeks or your entire pregnancy. I have been living with it for almost 8 months straight now. Sometimes the pain can be so bad that I feel like I’m going to throw up, which I do sometimes. There are things that can help, like a little CBD oil massage. If you can get your partner to do this for you it can also be a great bonding session. But how long do you want the effects to last? Because if you think that anything is going to make you feel better 24/7, you’re wrong. There will be times where you find relief, and that makes it all worth it. But other times it can be an uphill battle.

After trying many times to find articles on how to deal with pregnancies from hell. I just couldn’t really find any. For that reason, I’m sharing my top “5 Tips Surviving a Sick Pregnancy”.

1. AVOID GOOGLE SYMPTOM SEARCHES

Oh goodness, if you start popping in conditions. You’ll be slapped in the face with every horrible pregnancy scenario on earth. It’s a dark hole, no hormonal woman wants to be sucked in.

Most likely, you won’t even get the answers you want (ending-up with even more.) It caused me to get overly paranoid, thinking my unborn child may have everything under the moon, plus some…

When I googled *hyperemesis gravidarum the first thing I saw was articles on women aborting their children to avoid having to live this condition. Imagine how quickly I started BAWLING my eyes out. Just the thought sent me into full panic.

I’ll take on any illness, bullet or bully, if it means I can have a healthy baby – so suck it google, you don’t always serve well. Searcher beware! Use a doctor to answer ALL your pregnancy related questions PLEASE!

If not, be warned you are embarking on an emotional roller-coaster.

2. AVOID PERFECT MOMMY BLOGGERS (ugh…)

Legit – I’ve seen blogs blast titles like “Perfectly Pregnant Mom” or “Prepared for Everything Pregnancy”. Oh please, spare me!
Ain’t no mother out there that’s perfect, or even better “prepared”

Bah, there’s no such thing that can groom you 100% for all the shenanigans your body is about to live (constant gas, feeling like your stomach is so far stretched you can’t breathe, or your nipples transforming into new dark chest appendages…)

I loved blogs where moms were real, spoke from the heart, and are willing to share not only the good but the bad. Pregnancy is a beautiful thing. Yes, I get it yaddah, yaddah, yaddah… But for me it’s also been a hot mess and I need to see I’m not alone sometimes. So, if you’re feeling like I was. Sick and in need of support. Stick to people who inspire “you”.

I avoided those who made me feel, I was less of a mother… Neither am I not appreciative of the fact I have this miracle happening, I’m just realistic knowing I am no “Marge Jetson Huxtable”. No one is perfect, certainly not me. Mom blogs that keep it real and honest is where it’s at.

3. LOVE YOUR PARTNER LOTS (you gonna need em’…)

Although raging can come easily when you’re walking around like a sick humpty dumpty, be nice! I would be on death’s bed without my man’s help through these testing times. Forget cooking, cleaning, or even working… If you’re as ill as myself, you just can’t do those sorts of things.

I had to (for the first time in my independent existence…) depend on my man for everything! Including, carrying me in and out of the bath several times I was so far done.

He was really my whole support system – my cleaner, my contact to the outside the world, and my personal shopper. Sure, many times he drove me mad, coming home with the wrong things or brands… But I knew I had to go easy on him. He was trying his best and I love him for that.

Keep calm, knowing your partner will step-up to the plate in your moment of sickness like nothing you’ve seen before. It’s hard enough for them to see you sick all the time. They’ll be happy to know they’re doing, in their own way, everything they can to help you and the baby. Even if that means passing the vacuum or doing the dishes…

4. DON’T WORRY 24/7 ABOUT YOUR BABY

Yes, I hear yea – easier said than done. But I survived this incredible guilt. Just based on the fact, you – yourself may be sick day and night. You may also be worried it’s affecting the baby? You start to think it must! You may guilt trip into thinking “wow what am I doing so wrong to be sick like this non-stop?” I mean the list really goes on, causing a bunch of unnecessary stress on both you and baby.

My doctor said it best: “don’t worry, your baby’s fine. It’ll take everything it needs from your body” even if that means leaving you in the dust… AKA a sick mess.

Stress is the last thing you want when you’re growing a bump. Relax when you can, be sick when you are, and just try to cope. It’s all you can do. Don’t lose hope, this won’t last forever. Concentrate instead on the fact your sweet little baby is growing bigger and stronger. That always made me want to keep chucking on!

5. DON’T BE AFRAID TO ASK FOR HELP…

For the love! Swallow your pride; do yourself, your baby, and your health a favor. Ask for help! One of the best moments for me was when I cracked and asked my parents for freezer meals. They came through in a big way, with enough meals to last me a few weeks!

Meal help, is a huge deal. The thought of slaving over a hot stove when you’re 24/7 sick is like handing a hangover more alcohol – bad news… Often just the smell of food would make me vomit. But as sick as I was, I knew my baby’s still gotta eat!

Getting pre-cooked meals was amazing incentive to keep chowing down! Plus, you get to skip grocery store trips, meal preps, and cooking.
Also, I knew I’d need a bunch of Costco supplies. Knowing my mother and sister are there every few weeks… I’d bug em’ to get me a few things here and there. Truly stocking-up with little effort. Plus, knowing my patience and level of sickness, I couldn’t dream of battling my way through a freaking busy Costco!

Save yourself the mental sanity… Again, just ask for help.

Conclusion – 5 Tips Surviving a Sick Pregnancy

Once you start feeling an actual wiggling human in your belly, it gets real. All the awfulness, sickness, headaches etc. from your pregnancy will be forgotten; knowing your little squishy is coming soon.

As I write this, I’m approaching 8 months and ready to be done with hospital IV’s and walking around with a bowl 24/7. But, deep down I know I’ll miss her swift kicks, cute hiccups and adorable spins.

There’s no better feeling than knowing your own body is in the process of creating a sweet, teeny life. And trust me, I never thought I’d be one to say this (finally becoming a mother at almost 35yrs old…)

Sharing your body’s real estate is so surreal. Now when my stomach growls I think it’s coming from my thighs lol… It’s been one heck of a ride. But you can easily survive this. Know you’re not alone. You’re still a strong, super “soon-to-be” mom – even at your sickest.

Thanks for reading my “5 Tips Surviving a Sick Pregnancy”! Hang in there, 9 months truly flies by. Soak-in the non-sick days. Take advantage and lots of pics before they’re born. Cause as many warn, that’s when the work and years of real worrying starts!

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Follow along folks!

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