16 weeks

I have several things I want to blog about, not least the beautiful blanket that arrived in the post last week. But I have been feeling pretty “off” these past few days between a return of the sicky feeling, the gagging and the exhaustion through to painful aching back and hips. So you’ll have to bear with me just a little while longer!

I’m currently 16 weeks pregnant and thanks to an improvement in the way I was feeling and the odd really good day I had begun to fall into the trap of thinking that I was finally beyond the nightmare of morning sickness. But, just when I felt like I was over it all, it came back with a vengeance and I have been nauseous, gagging and retching for days *sigh*.

Things are definitely changing, I mean I have finally been able to drink hot drinks again over the past couple of days, which is something I couldn’t imagine doing ever again a few weeks ago. But I am miserable beyond words with the way this icky feeling is clinging on, and so is Tim. I am not myself when I am sick and I have been sick for about 3 months now as my “morning sickness” began very early on in the pregnancy.

I want to enjoy being pregnant, but it is so hard when you just feel so rubbish all the time and can see no end in sight. I keep going to bed and hoping (and praying) that the next day will be the day I wake up and it has finally miraculously disappeared… I thought that day was last Wednesday, but by Friday I felt rubbish again.

My GP suggested I try nasal douching (squirting salty water up my nose) to try and clear my sinuses, to see if that will stop the post-nasal drip and tickly cough that I have suffered from since having a cold at the beginning of pregnancy. It may sound strange but this is one of the worst symptoms as my body seems to consider retching far easier than coughing and so I go to cough and end up with my hand over my mouth running to the toilet instead.

She also suggested taking Gaviscon regularly, even if I don’t feel particularly like I have heartburn or indigestion, because there could be a build up of acid that is contributing to the nausea. I can’t stand Gaviscon, but I’ll do anything to feel well again.

And then I tried acupuncture. I had what the terapist termed a “gentle” treatment as it was my first time and I am pregnant and I am due back on Saturday. It is an expense we could really do without right now, but something that seems so crucial when I am still weighing in at 2lbs under my pre-pregnancy weight. My body shape has changed enough to make my trousers very tight, but my weight is still less than it was before I got pregnant thanks to not being able to stomach much. I would sure like to rectify that problem.

So, I am hoping the combination of these three things and the passing of more time will *finally* bring relief from the hell of this sickness. I am ready for it to be gone, completely, with no threat of it returning, so I can start getting on with my life. It is so hard being so incapacitated by it, but despite the absolute desire to do more around the house, to see friends and family and to start planning for baby’s arrival later this year, all I really want to do when sick is stay in bed and try to forget about it. Which is so unlike me, as I usually like to have several projects on the go, so I really want to feel more like myself again.

So, fingers crossed, next time you hear from me, I’ll be a much happier pregnant lady, with lots to show and tell.