Whoever invented the term “morning sickness” never actually witnessed someone with pregnancy nausea. I’ve never met anyone who was just sick in the morning. They either glow their way through the entire nine months, or they are “mildly uncomfortable,” or they are heaving their guts out from day one. That one’s me.
Yes, you are forewarned on the subject matter from the title.
You may have noticed that I have completely fallen off the radar. Where are those thoughtful little comments I leave on your blog, those little attentions that show I am walking the road with you? There is no longer any room for those things in my life. Everything makes me sick. Everything. The only bearable thing to do is sleep, watch mindless dvd’s and read mindless thrillers. (Any book suggestions?)
When I’m not pregnant, I look upon this period as a badge of honor. It helps greatly that I look and feel quite well from about the sixth to the ninth months. When I get sick then it’s only suddenly and without forewarning and is over as fast as it came.
I think fondly of the times when I had to order a second breakfast at work after racing by my entire office (of course my desk was the furthest one back) to try and make it to the bathroom in time after my first breakfast. The cleaning people hated me.
I laughingly reminisce about the time we arrived back to our NY apartment after a long flight from France and a long cab ride from JFK. Sir said he was just going to stop and get the mail and I muttered through clenched teeth that I was going to go straight up. Two minutes later Sir stepped off the elevator to find the contents of my purse flung in a frenzy from the elevator to the door and the contents of my stomach on the door and wall itself.
“I couldn’t find the key,” I wailed.
My badges of honor. But when I’m in it I moan in misery. Nothing works, not the two medicines I have tried, not the saltines and ginger ale, not ginger tea … sometimes McDonalds but all that is out now that I don’t eat gluten. Sometimes greek salad works. Sometimes ice cream, but usually just moans.
I moan about the fact that we’ve had these mice – very large mice judging by their offerings – that just won’t be caught. We’ve plugged every hole we could find with steel wool. We put the mercy cage and the snap trap but they just continue to go on their merry way.
I moan about the fact that Sir is not available to help out right now because of the demanding nature of his job, so I have to muster up the minimum of care to keep the wings on my cherubs all shiny. I moan about the fact that I cannot bear to do even the smallest thing, and yet I need to find the courage to teach 5 hours a week worth of English classes to rowdy kids.
I moan and moan until I remember the Proverb, “If you falter in the time of trouble, how small is your strength?” which always prompts an indignant “harrumph!” from me. My strength is not small!
And so I soldier on.
Because there are worse things, nay?
Shiny cherub wings are over-rated, or so I’ve heard.
Of course you could try to avoid actually throwing UP on the wings, just as a courtesy.
But if they do get a little sprayed, it will wash off.
And getting dirty plus cleaning up afterward is totally normal for children. Especially for ones as lovely and understanding as yours.
Still, I’m sorry if the optimism in this comment makes you sick. (And you’re thinking, “Shut up, friend-who-is-not nauseated 24-hours a day.”)
Because you’re completely right.
And should forget what I said.
Instead, let’s just throw darts at the guy who invented the term “Morning Sickness.”
You go first.
Oh, so sorry to hear this- and even though it was 19 years ago since I had “all day sickness” I remember it well. Nothing to do but survive (with the help of a mommy’s helper, I hope.) Really, for a short time, it is only fair that someone help out. Your job is staying rested and well and not stressed.
Dear Sir: Please find some help for the Lady. Thank you.
I am so sorry that you are feeling this bad!!! I hope you are almost at the point where it passes.
I commiserate and empathize, as I too, had all-day nausea. To the point, I was begging to vomit just for the relief of getting rid of the nausea.
Yes, a pregnant woman’s mind doesn’t work so well in the throes of the first trimester (which seems so long, no?).
Feel better soon! I know, empty words, until it actually happens.
I remember when I was a teen wearing braces and really wanted them off my teeth! The kind dentist told me something I’d already known, but had forgotten: “in the scope of your entire life, you’ll have these braces on for such a short time. A fraction of time, really. Then you’ll have straight teeth.”
In the scope of your life, the next few months of morning sickness is just a short blip, and then you’ll have a beautiful baby. 🙂
Jennie–YOU’RE PREGNANT??? Did I miss this monumental news in one of your other posts???
Yes, my dusty friend. In the last post. Surprise!!!
Congratulations… and sorry about the sickness… I was miserable too. But at the end it is all worth it (just keep telling yourself that). I would always spend the first 3 months on the couch doing nothing. Then it would lessen a little, but not totally. I will keep you in my thoughts!
AHHH! Congrats Darling! Morning sickness is the worst but IT WILL PASS! Enjoy letting your stomach hang out. xoxo
Why, I never thought about it that way – what an encouraging thought! 😉 It is tiresome to always suck it in, huh?
I too had all day sickness and horrendous night sickness. I would usually go to bed as soon as my husband got home from work because I just wanted to sleep through the worst of it if I could.
How on earth did I miss this incredible news! Congrats to you my friend! Oh and hugs…I had the all day sickness too 🙁 Ug. This too shall pass:)
Jennie,
i remember that you were so sick during your pregnancies. Oh, you’re so brave and congrats to your growing family. the more the merrier in your Household!
I hope that the morning sickness doesn’t last the entire time! Just remember the kids can live wearing their jeans a second day, eating cereal & fruit for dinner, or going to bed a bit early or late.
Congratulations on the baby-on-the-way and so sorry about the pukies!
Congratulations on your brilliant news, as to your predicament have you heard of seasickness bracelets, they are recommended for chemotherapy patients and they might just work for you, it might be worth a try.
Soooo sorry to hear it. I really hope this is short-lived like mine was (one month, but it felt like a lifetime). Reading the above comment reminded me of the magnet wristbands I wore on a cruise ship. When I felt nauseated, I’d put those suckers on and felt fine instantly. You can get them in any drugstore or travel store. Feel better soon.
Oh you poor thing! Morning sickness is the worst, especially when it’s constant. I didn’t get sick when I was pregnant but I did look like crap for 9 months. My skin, my hair…ugh. I had no glow at all! I had a total “dull” instead.
Oh, Jennie, morning (aka all-day) sickness is just the worst. Reading your post brought back such strong visceral memories of my own days of constant nausea. I have no magic cures to share (never found any no matter what I tried), just empathy and a virtual offer to hold back your hair while you puke. 🙂
Congratulations on your wonderful news. I hope you feel better very, very soon.
I had the “all day” sickness too. So not fun. I hope it doesn’t last too terribly long and that you’re to your mid-pregnancy glowing self in no time!
Ugh. Puking. There’s just no dignity in it. On the other hand, as your reader suggested: let your tummy hang out, wear big loose dresses and fuzzy socks (maybe at the same time). Eat off paper plates, forget cooking. There ARE delivery joints in France, yes? As for thrillers: Lee Child’s Jack Reacher stories are great mindless totally absorbing; Donna Leon detective series set in Venice: great mysteries AND a trip to Italy all in one; James Lee Burke Robicheaux thrillers set in Baton Rouge; Daniel Silva spy thrillers, lots of political intrigue and discussions about art; also re-reading old Le Carre novels – so well written, so elegant! Also, not a thriller but a good read, Ann Patchett’s State of Wonder (which becomes about fertility and pregnancy, so it’s kind of appropriate); also the Harry Bosch thrillers–author’s last name is Connelly–set in LA, nicely written, so that you can be completely absorbed but not totally rot your brain. Good luck.
Thank you for these suggestions!! I just chanced upon a Daniel Silva book in our collection and I have no idea where it came from. I like it.
oh Jennie! 🙁 When I was pregnant with Alizée, and Adam was just 4 (and oh so much a boy), he would hear me retching and come running. He loved to stand outside the door and watch proclaiming in his little-boy-so-impressed voice…”Dad, she’s doing it again! Come watch with me!” Alizée loves to hear that story now BTW. Not so funny at the time, when I could not be in the kitchen when anyone opened the refrigerator door (it smelled soooo bad to me), when everything smelled bad actually, and when everything made me throw up. But now all these years later, I look back and think…I was the coolest mom ever to a little boy impressed by someone who could vomit on command. Wish he still thought I was that cool! Hang in there luv, this too shall pass!
Jennie, how I understan u! And how much i’d like to help u going through it! Few days ago i had a gastro and i felt exactly like being pregnant and it made me think “never, never again!”. Be courageus my friend one day it will be over.
Hi Jennie!
I peeked in on your blog again after our emails with Andi. I read a couple where you talk about your gluten intolerance (me too! me too!) and then saw this post about the pregnancy nausea and sickness. I just wanted to send more good thoughts your way — I never had it this bad, but have had plenty of women friends who have experienced it as bad as this, and it is truly the pits. I hope that there is something you can find to take to help, but if not, that the weeks will fly by swiftly and that you will feel better very soon.
As for good books, I just finished the Philip Pullman trilogy, “His Dark Materials” and loved them. They kept me going through November with doing NaNoWriMo, having a crazy work schedule, and a couple of “gluten incidents.” I read the post “Flying” BTW — I had bad stomach symptoms in my 20s and 30s, but by the time I was finally diagnosed with a problem at 40, those had slowed down, and it has gone to what I call the “immune-system crash” place when I have gluten, and now dairy, too. I get flu-like symptoms with swollen glands, low grade fever (sometimes) and body aches along with exhaustion. In fact, I sometimes get really confused if I have come down with a cold or if I just ate something I should not have!
Anyway, just wanted to be here to empathize some more and send some good vibes your way. Thank you for sharing your life and your stories in the way that you do!
xx
Karin
Oh yikes – you have it worse than I do, especially with the no dairy! And my symptoms are not quite as bad if I slip up, but I still need to be careful.
I already read the Pullman series – darn. Would love some fresh stuff. 🙂
I’m terrible at keeping up .. I missed this news. Congratulations!! And I’m so sorry for the all day sickness. I know. Zofran was my best friend. May the days when this seems like a badge of honor come quickly.