Morning Sickness...One of the Nasty Demons of Pregnancy
Aug 11 '05
The Bottom Line There are some who are blessed to never go through this experience...I was not one of those fortunate ones.
I've invited everyone into my pregnancy adventures just because I'm finding the whole experience fascinating, exciting, new, scary, and a whole bunch of other feelings I never thought I'd experience. I've briefly touched up on morning sickness in some of my essays, but seeing there is a whole topic on the subject, I figured I can elaborate even more on my experience. I'll try not to be too graphic or gross anyone out, but if I do, consider this my apology. To be honest, pregnancy can sometimes be a little gross and that's all part of the experience.
The Beginning of the End - Or So I Thought...
When we first found out about our blessed event back in January, we were on top of the world. Oh wow, a baby, a new life, our family was finally going to start. It was the greatest thing that could ever have happened to us.
That was until that first morning back in February when I literally thought I was going to die. I couldn't believe it. I woke up one morning, had something to eat, took my vitamins and minutes later, I'm running to the bathroom as if my life depended on it. The first time it happened, I was pretty freaked out.
I'm not the type of person who "throws up" all the time, so when I was making frequent trips to the bathroom on all fours, I knew something was up. Like I said, I was pretty freaked out the first time it happened. I literally thought I was going to die. That first experience took me back to 10 years ago when I threw up to the point that I had to be rushed to the emergency room and treated for dehydration. I thought that's what was happening to me again, but luckily (if you can call it such), it wasn't as bad and I was able to go on with the rest of my day.
Trying to Create a Routine
Well, since it was unavoidable, I figured I would try to come up with a routine that would keep me sane anytime I had to make these trips to the bathroom. Thinking that if I could at least tame the beast, I was hoping this would make the first trimester go by a little more easier.
Let's just say that in the beginning it was like a very challenging uphill battle.
I love bananas. I can't get enough of bananas. Heck, I try to make banana bread as often as I can. But during that first trimester, bananas were out of the question. At first I couldn't understand why was it that every morning after I had a banana I wound up in the bathroom. Then it hit me - DUH - your prenatal vitamins. After I looked at what was in them, I realized that I was getting too much potassium and my body (and baby) just couldn't handle all of that, so one of them had to go. It was usually the bananas that triggered my trip to the bathroom and everything would come up that I had that morning. Ironically, the vitamin would stay down. So, as much as it pained me, I had to give up the bananas. Believe me, I tried every alternative you could think of to try and sneak a banana here and there - it just wasn't in the cards for me.
Fortunately, I was able to figure out the problem fairly early and in the process, I did try different things to help curb the morning sickness. Saltine crackers and ginger ale became my best friends during the first trimester. I heard from other moms and read many articles that suggesting these two staples as remedies to curb those trips to the bathroom. I'm not sure if it was the salt and the ginger mixed together, but whatever it was did the trick. I always had a bag of crackers by my side or on my nightstand and I'd just be nibbling away like a little chipmunk. Graham crackers helped as well, and I found out they're also good for the baby (plus they taste good too.)
There were times when the demon would rear its ugly head, but instead of it being a complete shock, I always knew ahead of time when I was getting sick. I would get a little queasy and nauseous, but it didn't hit me to the point where I had to knock anyone or anything out of my path. I eventually was able to handle my sickness to the point where it wasn't controlling my entire life.
Final Thoughts
So, what can be said about morning sickness? It affects women in many different ways. Some are blessed to never have to go through it (I need to find these women and torture them - kidding), some only get it during the first trimester, and some women are sick their entire pregnancy (and I really feel for those women). I think the key is to make sure you seek comfort quickly because it can take over your life and make you very miserable. Talk to other expectant moms, your own mom, and your doctor, check out websites, read articles, but make sure you get help. Fortunately, this is one sickness that can be curbed, or at least tamed and not something you have to "tough out."
Looking back on my morning sickness brouhaha, it was painful and unbearable at times, and I hardly gained weight because of it, but I was able to handle it and even live with it (for the most part). But the best part about the whole thing is that it's now over and the real pain's about to begin - AARRGGHH!!!!!
Take care all and thanks for reading.
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