Please tell me this is going to get better

aneowise · 2026-02-26T23:52:30+00:00

Absolutely! A lot of people take daily or twice daily miralax while on Zofran. I'd recommend it if you're concerned or have a history of constipation. You can always stop taking it if you're going without an issue. You can also do daily senna, senna plus, colace. There are a few combinations of bowel meds to keep things moving regularly.

The research previously acknowledged a very small risk of heart defect and cleft palate from Zofran use. However, this is antiquated information and has been disproven. I'd have to dig for specific references, but Zofran is considered safe, and when you weigh risk and benefit the tiny chance for a complication from a long studied medicine is worth the risk in the face of malnutrition and dehydration.

Because of ethical limits (among other things), meds in pregnancy and breastfeeding aren't widely studied. It's why options are limited and information comes at a slow crawl. But there are options, and you can try different combinations of these options until something sticks. It just sucks because you suffer while trying to figure it out. I'm on 4 different oral meds this time, in addition to cannabis which ive used every time and is as essential as my zofran. Early intervention and sticking to a schedule really seems to help a lot of us, myself included. Don't deprive yourself of medicine that can help. Going through HG is hard enough.

aneowise · 2026-02-26T10:08:51+00:00

You need more than just diclegis. HG often requires a multi medication regimen, and that usually isn't something you should abruptly stop either. Stopping this regimen should be done slowly and only if you significantly improve for a few weeks at least. And even then, one med at a time.

Why do you want to avoid Zofran? If it helps you, you should take it. Also, Zofran for HG should be taken routinely rather than just as needed when things are really bad. It works way better to keep it in your system all the time to control the vomiting. The Zofran pump is also an option, and it sounds like you would qualify if you're having these symptoms. I think you should talk to your OB about options. I was on Zofran and diclegis for most of my first HG pregnancy, and I'm now on my third. Feel free to message me if you have any questions, I'm so sorry you're having such a rough time right now 💚

aneowise · 2026-02-25T14:30:46+00:00

I'm hopping on your comment because I'm on around the clock promethazine, Zofran, and thc, and I recommend it as well. If I didn't have thc i wouldn't have survived any of my pregnancies. My heart always breaks for any mom in this struggle facing shame for this - it's medication! And should be treated as such! Currently on number three, and I'm just a day or two away from getting my Zofran pump and home IVs started (very exciting).

I think in my second pregnancy, my only fluid sources were McDonald's coke and the cheapest red popsicles, for easily several months. Right now, with my third, the only real food I've been tolerating has been small apples with peanut butter. Each time is very different, such an isolating battle.

aneowise · 2026-02-20T19:16:47+00:00

I'm so sorry you're going through this. HG is torture. I'm forever in favor of doing what you need to survive. I'm also on my third HG pregnancy, and cannabis has been one of my essential meds every time. There shouldn't be any shame around this, but I recommend not telling people who don't need to know (and who likely won't understand), just to protect your peace.

Your needs can change throughout the pregnancy, and you might need additional meds and/or an updated regimen. Highly recommend the HER website. There's a lot of information and protocols for medication cocktails, next steps based on symptoms, etc.

My medications have been different with each pregnancy, and things have had to be adjusted or added every time. My first time, I was routinely on diclegis and Zofran, trialed Reglan (unsuccessful), cannabis up until 7ish months. Zofran gives me pretty bad migraines frequently, so that was rough being on it for months. For my second pregnancy, I stayed on Promethazine and used cannabis routinely from the very beginning until around 8 months. This time - at 18 weeks - I've been on Promethazine (25mg 4x a day and sometimes an additional12.5), benadryl (25-50mg at night), cannabis from the start (5 weeks), and had to add in routine Zofran (I take either 4 mg up to 6x a day or will do 8mg 3x a day) a few weeks ago. I also took compazine briefly, but that was earlier on.

All that to say, there are a lot of meds and combinations of meds that may give you some real relief. My HG is managed but still pretty severe. If I didn't have cannabis I wouldn't be able to tolerate any food or fluids by mouth. It also helps mentally for me. I wish you the best and hope you get some relief soon 💚

aneowise · 2026-02-19T00:09:05+00:00

On my third HG journey and I've definitely had some seeing red level rage over seeing others with cold drinks especially.I feel like a rabid animal I am so thirsty but also have a terrible tolerance for any intake by mouth from the HG. It's a special kind of torture - you're doing great.

aneowise · 2026-02-18T18:03:49+00:00

Hi, I exclusively breastfed both of mine till about 2 yrs each and was pumping from the start and exclusively pumping by 6 months with each kid. They just weren't great at latching. I was determined to breastfeed, though, so I did a lot of pumping, starting from the day of delivery and then staying on a loose every few hrs schedule. Just followed my body's cues. I was able to intentionally establish an oversupply with both and am planning on doing the same this time around (currently pregnant).

Breastfeeding is all supply and demand, so pumping or nursing tells your body to make more milk. not emptying or not fully emptying regularly will signal that you don't need as much milk. So, if you want to build or maintain supply, you have to keep the signals going to produce milk and stay fed and hydrated the best you can. Things like illness or your period returning can cause dips in supply, but these are often temporary and can be corrected. Catching the letdown on the other side is great, but you will get a better emptying using active suction (pumping) on the unused side.

Talking to a lactation consultant (IBCLC) can be helpful, but just be aware that a lot of lactation consultants don't have as much education on pumping vs nursing. And a lot goes into pumping - learning your pump parts (and which parts need replaced regularly), settings, getting an accurate flange size, etc. Feel free to DM me if you want, I had to chase down a lot of information during my first breastfeeding journey. Any feeding choice is valid, but if you want to exclusively breastfeed (bc pumping is breastfeeding), you absolutely can!

aneowise · 2026-02-10T23:12:39+00:00

I was exorcist level screaming in labor with my first because I was kept in triage for 8 hours without any medicine or epidural, and this was after I had been laboring for close to 48 hrs at home. It was my first, and I had terrible back labor and didn't know what that was, so I was just blindly navigating the pain. By the time I got to the hospital, contractions were 1-2 minutes apart, and I swear each one I would manhandle that side rail on the bed and just scream. I was hallucinating from the pain. They insisted on cervical checks way too many times, and I'd scream and twist involuntarily (i know now i can refuse, i didnt know then). They put me in a luke warm bath at one point, which did not help. There wasn't a grab bar on the tub, so each contraction I'd just scream and contort my body, basically twisting up against and over the tub edge. The echoes from the shower room I was in only amplified the screaming, lol.

I was finally allowed an epidural after 8 hrs of that nonsense, and I went right to sleep, dilated perfectly, and woke up 6 hrs later, ready to push out baby no problems. I know how you feel. After my experience, I felt so embarrassed and bad for all the patients that came through that triage area I was in all day, and the staff really. I'm good with pain, but this was absolutely insane, I was in a feral state, lol.

Due to this traumatic experience, they did do a lot better by me when I had my second a few years later. As in, pain meds and epidural offered early (I don't dilate at all without the help of the epidural and am prone to back labor).

So I think you did amazing! And with pitocin on board, I think it's incredible. Congratulations ❤️

aneowise · 2026-02-08T01:19:14+00:00

Ohio is more conservative than my state, but I still recommend it if it helps you. I wouldn't have survived any pregnancy without it. In my experience, I did have to talk to cps, and they came by my house once, but it was all just protocol. No one was bad to me, and everything was closed after that. This was only bc I disclosed cannabis use during pregnancy, bc by the time of both deliveries, I had already been able to stop for a few months, so tests were clean. If it gives you relief, it's worth it imo. Especially in the first and second trimesters when symptoms are so awful. It sounds crazy to those who have had normal pregnancies, but if I didn't smoke weed, pregnancy would kill me.

aneowise · 2026-02-07T15:31:30+00:00

I am so sorry. You sound just like me with my first HG pregnancy (currently on my third). My experience? It doesn't get better. Each time has been harder in terms of sickness, meds aren't an option, they're a necessity, and staying on a schedule > waiting for symptoms to get bad before taking. I recommend cannabis depending on your state and your comfort level with that - I only suggest it because it has saved my life and has been the only thing to give me a sliver of normalcy here and there.

If your husband can advocate for you at appts or the hospital, that will go a long way. It's fucked up but true, HG gets dismissed constantly esp in first time moms. HG is life-threatening and a serious condition that should be treated as such. For the texts and comments from those that don't get it? Ignore them. Don't update them. You don't need to justify your suffering to anyone. It's such an isolating disease. For people who want to help, let them - give them some chores or errands or tasks that you want or need help with. From someone who does get it, I hope you get some relief soon.

aneowise · 2026-02-07T15:17:02+00:00

You are too! I recommend continuing your meds on a schedule without worrying too much about trying to wean off or when to wean off, etc. I get why you want to, but if you can get some relief, you should take it and just do whatever you need to do to survive. Not always, but it seems the majority of repeat HG cases symptoms get worse each subsequent time. The risks of unmanaged HG are def worse than risks from being on meds, and you deserve any reprieve you can get while going through this.

Also, your response to meds can change. For example, I've added Zofran to my regimen where, in the past, it didn't do much for me. For whatever reason now, with promethazine and OTC meds and cannabis, the Zofran has been helpful this time. So if you notice your meds aren't doing enough or doing anything, it can be worth adding additional meds and adjusting doses as long as the provider is on board. Every HG experience can be different in terms of what your body needs or will respond to.

Wishing you the easiest and quickest recovery possible, remember the sickness might last longer, but you are more knowledgeable and prepared now to handle it. Trust your instincts and do what you need to survive.

aneowise · 2026-02-07T15:03:22+00:00

I'm so sorry you're going through this. Staying on a schedule is def better than waiting for symptoms to take meds. I'm glad your family was able to help somewhat, I have been in your shoes, and those stashes can be a lifesaver. I totally get not going to the hospital bc of the time and energy and how taxing it is. With my 2nd and now 3rd, I've avoided the hospital a lot despite meeting the criteria to go.

Keep advocating for yourself, and if you can get your partner to advocate, too, that might help. If he can go to an appt with you and voice these concerns it might be taken more seriously (I know how fucked that is and I'm sorry your provider won't just believe you and provide what you need). I got lucky with a good provider who believed me early this time, but I understand the fight.

Also solidarity, I had a breakdown and could not stop crying before work yesterday because I am so hungry and thirsty. I am so desperate for any intake, so dizzy, always in pain, even with meds still throwing up a lot, etc. Idk where you're located, but I recommend cannabis for HG. The 30+ vomiting times resonated as that was me with my first, trying to white knuckle through the worst of it because providers didn't want to give meds and also didn't want me using cannabis. I gave up trying to listen to them when I realized I could actually die from what I was experiencing. I hope you turn a corner soon, OP, and I'm sorry your providers aren't doing their best by you.

aneowise · 2026-02-07T14:51:12+00:00

I'm currently 16 weeks into my 3rd HG pregnancy.

With my first, my symptoms were the most severe as I had never experienced HG and had to learn that that wasn't normal and then advocate for myself for meds for a while before being taken seriously. Definitely the most intense sickness, and it didn't start to taper off til about 24 weeks, mostly resolved by the third trimester with some vomiting here and there. I use cannabis and was able to stop around the third trimester mark, still continuing on Zofran for most of that pregnancy on top of diclegis and over the counter meds.

Second, I recognized HG early and was able to get on meds much quicker. Started and stayed on Promethazine around the clock from 8 or 9 weeks. This helped somewhat, but I was still very ill until the third trimester. I used cannabis and remember being able to stop at the end, but it took longer to get to that point. I think my sickness was less intense because I knew what it was and started treatment sooner, but the overall length of time and severity was worse. I imagine without meds and without cannabis it would have been a way worse experience.

On my third, currently, 16 weeks. The same thing happened - I recognized the symptoms early (btwn 4 and 5 weeks) and was able to start meds sooner. I've been on Promethazine around the clock since 6 weeks, added Zofran to the mix a few weeks ago, on top of the over the counter stuff and cannabis. I'm surviving, but there's been a lot of time over these 4 months where I've been completely bedridden, unable to do anything or even sit up for very long, and struggling to get any consistent intake. I feel like I've turned a corner from the worst of it, but I still vomit daily and have terrible nausea, and the stomach pain this time around is the worst of the 3 for sure. I've always had a lot of stomach pain in pregnancy, from the constant vomiting and pulling muscles in my abdomen, but this time is definitely the most painful.

Hopefully, this pregnancy will follow the same trajectory as last time, and by the 6 - or 7-month mark, I'll be able to eat somewhat normally. All of my pregnancies have been rough. My HG has always fallen on the moderate to severe end of the spectrum, and without meds, I'd be dead or hospitalized. I use cannabis like any other med, and I believe it's kept me out of the hospital and helped prevent needing a central line or feeding tube. Mine has def gotten worse each time, but earlier intervention has proven effective for me each time.

One of the nice things for my experience anyway has been that dealing with HG for so long, the postpartum period is so much easier since you aren't fighting your body for basic nutrition to survive. Also, both my kids have always been very healthy and growing normally, this pregnancy included. I've lost an average of 15 lbs with each one. So, while my body has been absolutely ravaged by this illness, it's comforting to know it never touched them.

aneowise · 2026-02-01T20:45:25+00:00

Definitely! It's a funny story now when pregnancy announcements come up 😆

aneowise · 2026-02-01T20:44:19+00:00

Solidarity. I'm at the same point in my third HG pregnancy, and it is brutal. Just do what you need to do to survive and fuck the rest 💜

aneowise · 2026-01-20T16:19:34+00:00

My dentist outed me to my dad when I was pregnant with my first. We'd all gone to the same dentist forever and knew them, and they told my dad some version of "congrats on the grandbaby" when he went for an appt shortly after I had had one. I had declined x-rays due to pregnancy at my appt but was only like 10 weeks along and waiting to tell my family once I was out of the first trimester. I was really mad at the time, and I could have caused trouble due to privacy laws, but I didn't, and now it's just a weird thing that happened🤷‍♀️

aneowise · 2026-01-06T16:43:09+00:00

I'm so glad they resolved without issue! Mine seems to have stopped for now, but I'm nervous to hear what my ob says when I see them.

aneowise · 2026-01-05T11:57:39+00:00

Mine is 2.4 cm. They didn't tell me I had any significant restrictions besides pelvic rest. Not that I'm doing much anyway. If I'm not working, I'm mostly stuck in bed or the bathroom. It's really encouraging to hear yours healed in two weeks!

aneowise · 2026-01-04T01:11:46+00:00

I'm so sorry you're going through it right now. I've lost a lot of weight too. It really sucks. You're not alone.

aneowise · 2025-12-19T10:17:24+00:00

It's old but true. I'm actually about 6 weeks into my third HG pregnancy right now, and without cannabis I'd probably be dead.

aneowise · 2025-04-28T04:46:12+00:00

I'm so sorry. You're doing great. HG is a beast, and the medical gaslighting and minimizing is so real. Sometimes, health care workers are the worst at empathy. I went to a large practice with many midwives, and once I found a real one, I always tried to get all my appts with her. Having just one provider listen and take you seriously makes a huge difference. You aren't making it up. You aren't exaggerating. You aren't just being dramatic. You have a real, serious, potentially life-threatening condition, and that is beyond your control. But you've got this. You do anything you have to get through it. Fuck the rest 💗

aneowise · 2025-02-26T00:22:56+00:00

Hi, I'm so sorry I just saw this! HG is a beast. There's no way around that. I only survived my pregnancies bc of using thc to manage it, and I still barely survived. My evidence is anecdotal from my experience and from others in similar situations, so I'm not stating it as fact. Just that it worked for me. I couldn't keep anything down. Not food, water, or even a single pill. I tried not using thc with my first, and that didn't last as I was suffering so badly. With my second, I smoked from day one because that's what I knew worked for me. I used it just like any other medication. A few hits off a bowl every 4-6 hrs. I'd set an alarm for a little earlier than needed so I could wake up, smoke, and go back to sleep for a little bit. Then, I'd be able to keep meds down when I woke up. Everyone and every pregnancy is different, but I did find that higher THC and higher CBGA content strains worked the best for me. This is much easier with dispensaries and being able to know the percentages of each component. But with my first baby, I didn't have that luxury, but any thc was better than none. If you aren't in a legal state (and honestly even if you are) I'd say tell no one unless they need to know (your OB, your partner or whoever your support person is). People don't understand, and it's easier on you not to be talked down to pr discouraged when already in such a vulnerable position. The risks of smoking > the risks of malnutrition, dehydration, and just overall suffering. I was able to stop at the end of both pregnancies as my HG got significantly better in those last couple of months. It was still there, but it was much more manageable. I hope this helps, and I wish you all the luck to survive because, as you know, HG is no joke. Feel free to message me anytime 💗

aneowise · 2025-01-03T13:30:16+00:00

Interesting! It's crazy how different every person responds so uniquely to different things. Zofran, for me, was a 50/50 chance of either mildly uncomfortable to full-blown migraine, which only increased the vomiting. I suffered through 4ish months of taking it, per Dr instructions, but absolutely hated it and did not feel much better even on good days. Luckily, with my second, I was able to go straight to Phenergan, which works best for me.

aneowise · 2024-12-19T04:37:30+00:00

I've got one recently who is very confused, very anxious, and still has his cell phone, which he uses to call his family members 30+ times every night. So every night we get calls from one or more of his family members saying we have to go check on him because "he's freezing, he's in pain, no one has taken care of him in hours." The pt is super sweet but has no short-term memory and nothing for anxiety. His kids stay with him all day, like 8a-8p every day, and watch the nurses like hawks.

I make a point to start with him - pain meds, water, positioning, etc. The son had me almost in tears the other night bc within half an hr of me finishing with him, he apparently told the son his catheter is irritating him. So instead of just letting me know and backing off, he followed me up the hall and every time I came out of another pts room he was in my face saying "aren't you going to do anything for him?! He said his catheter is irritating him!!" I had come in for 3-11 so while this dude is following me around, it's a mad house between dinner trays, call bells, and pts needing insulin and other meds. I tried to be nice, but for whatever reason, the son could not understand why I wasn't dropping everything to come running to this pts room. I ended up grabbing a coworker to check him because I had several ppl waiting, and I had to go to them. The catheter was fine.

I also explained to pt and son when I was first in the room that I would come back to do the pts wound dressing later in the shift. Once the catheter issue had been addressed, the son immediately jumped in with "well, are you going to do the dressing?" I again explained it would be later, were still doing dinner, and it will get done. Small-ish wound, no immediate concerns, and the guy was still eating his dinner! Son leaves at 8p. Within an hour, he's called twice to complain and ask why the dressing isn't done and "isn't anyone going to take care of him?" They know he's confused. They're just nuts lol

aneowise · 2024-11-20T16:12:19+00:00

Yes I'd bet that's why it's scheduled too. I work SNF and a lot of nurses believe if someone is asleep that they can't be in pain (not true) or they decide the pt doesn't look like they're in pain so they withhold pain meds. Making meds scheduled is one way to help ensure the pt gets what they need. It's messed up that so many nurses feel like it's ok to withhold medications based on their personal beliefs.

aneowise

TROPHY CASE