First trimester and I’m a horrible person

[Anonymous]

I had terrible morning sickness with my other pregnancies and now I feel so sick that I basically have to stay outside in the fresh air or throw up.

I feel so awful about it. Like my other children are trying to snuggle with me and I’m holding my breath so that I won’t smell anything. My DH eats dinner and I have to physically look away until it’s gone or throw up. I fake excuses to be outside but I don’t want to hurt their feelings. So far the only thing that works is sucking on Altoids to basically flood my body with intense mint or cleaning with strong chemicals to not smell anything (also not good). What are some other ways to “secretly” avoid smells?

[Anonymous]

Peppermint oil under your nose? What about wearing nose plugs that swimmers wear?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Peppermint oil under your nose? What about wearing nose plugs that swimmers wear?

That’s so smart, I just tried Vapo Rub because that’s all I had and it’s definitely helping block smells. I need to order some oil.

[Anonymous]

You're not a horrible person, OP! No advice, but commiseration. And tell your family the truth, why would this hurt their feelings? It's not anyone's fault.

I will never forget my morning sickness with DC2: I would puke regularly during my morning commute. I had to pull over anywhere I could find, amid all the honking, and puke in the bag I had prepared, then drive on. In the morning my husband would wake up our oldest with a song, and somehow that song became associated with vomit, and to this day (13 years later!) I can't hear it without wanting to puke. It's crazy!

[Anonymous]

I put sliced lemons all over the house so I could run over and sniff them constantly - like open on plates on the bathroom counter, coffee tables, etc. Replaced every few
Days.

It looked insane.
I also got Diclegis which worked but made me sleep 13 hours a day and feel so groggy

[Anonymous]

I don’t know how old your other kids are, but I’m sure your DH is old enough to not have his feelings hurt by your morning sickness. Go to a different room when he’s eating.

[Anonymous]

Just be upfront! No need to hide this.

[Anonymous]

I don't see need to hide- but can open windows and run air purifiers to make air change over more and hopefully have fewer lasting smells.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I put sliced lemons all over the house so I could run over and sniff them constantly - like open on plates on the bathroom counter, coffee tables, etc. Replaced every few
Days.

It looked insane.
I also got Diclegis which worked but made me sleep 13 hours a day and feel so groggy

Ahhh this actually doesn’t even sound insane to me right now. Anything to block out all the smells.

[Anonymous]

Are you generally into hyperbole, or is this some form of PPD?

[Anonymous]

I thought you were going to say you were using street drugs or drinking multiple bottles of vodka every day. “Horrible person”? Not even close.

Please talk to a doctor, OP. You sound like such a sweet mom! You deserve good support. You deserve to take breaths of fresh air.

[Anonymous]

You need zofran, without delay

[Anonymous]

You are not a horrible person! Definitely diclegis/zofran/meds but also just communicate.

Reduce smells, get people to help. I spent most of my first semesters curled into a fetal position on the bathroom floor considering termination of wanted pregnancies while rapidly losing weight (and yes even medicated). It is a struggle but it IS temporary, it WILL end, and your family can support you.

I would tell my other kid/s that I was not feeling well etc. And I ate like a total weirdo the whole time. I would get things I could stick in the oven and then leave the kitchen. Do what you have to do to survive and DO NOT feel like a horrible person, this is not in your control. You would not call your child a horrible person if they were suffering from nausea and unable to function normally, don't say it about yourself.

[Anonymous]

Zofran and telling everyone hello, I have hypermensis, or whatever you want to call it - is a big deal but it will pass. It's an awful time, I had to go through it 3 times, brutal for me and my family. I felt super guilty, because I basically was away from the family during all meals, and most of the day, in bed...sleep is the only way to avoid "nausea". I stopped making dinner, going to the groceries, and going out of the house for several months...awful, but thankfully it passed around 5 months - some women have this all 9 months, so perspective helped me get by.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are you generally into hyperbole, or is this some form of PPD?

Are you generally a jerk?