As most of you know, Jeff and I are excitedly expecting our second baby! Due date is February 2nd and we just hit the 12 week mark. Miss Ella will be a great big sister! Unfortunately this pregnancy hasn't started off so smoothly as I have been diagnosed with Hyperemesis Gravidarium which is basically severe nausea and vomiting in pregnancy leading to weight loss and dehydration. Looking back, I should have known I was in for it when I started throwing up even before I got a positive pregnancy test around 4 weeks. I had been sick with Ella so I figured it was just starting up earlier this time. Unfortunately, things got progressively worse and by 5 weeks I was miserable. I wasn't scheduled for my first OB appointment for 3 more weeks but called in asking what to do and they prescribed Zofran, which is an anti nausea medication that is often used to combat sickness in chemotherapy patients. I began taking Zofran which helped a bit with the vomiting but didn't touch my 24/7 nausea.
The best way I can describe how I was (and still am) feeling is like the worst stomach flu you have ever had for the past two months. There have been days that I have vomited upwards of ten times and I have my good days where I only throw up once or twice. The nausea is the worst part because it NEVER lets up and the only time that I really feel okay is if I am laying down- not so easy when you have an eighteen month old to chase after! Luckily my mom and mother in law have been amazing and have made sure that Miss Ella gets plenty of special attention since Mommy can't quite hold up her end of the bargain. Most days I lay on the ground next to Ella as she plays and she has learned to bring her toys to me. :) I think emotionally, that has been the hardest part of this whole experience- not being able to care for Ella the way I should. I had such high hopes for this summer of doing all this fun stuff with my little girl and, well, that just isn't in the cards right now.
When I went for my 8 week appointment I was down about 10 pounds and just miserable. I was hardly able to keep anything down, especially fluids and was so dizzy with bad headaches. The doctor sent me to the hospital that day for IV fluids which helped the dizziness quite a bit. Unfortunately, a few weeks later I was back in again because I am unable to keep water down and can only drink a few sips here and there or it is immediate vomiting. Once I started keeping track I realized that I was only drinking 8-10 oz a day- maybe 20 ounces on a really good day once every few weeks. So the IV fluids would help for a day or two and then I would go back into my dehydration mode which just feels awful. I have been so weak and exhausted and just plain NOT feeling good. I called again expecting to head in for another round of IV fluids, but the doctor had different plans and suggested I get a PICC line. A PICC is a catheter that is inserted in the crook of my arm and is about 20 inches long- it goes up my arm and down into my chest near my heart. It remains there semi permanently so that I am able to hook myself up at home to IV fluids. Home health care set me up with all my supplies and Jeff and I learned how to hook up and administer the IV medication. The home health care nurse comes once a week to change the dressings on my line and check my vitals/do bloodwork.
Today I had my 12 week appointment which included an ultrasound which was amazing. Baby was just so darn cute in there flipping, flopping and waving. Little peanut made getting measurements pretty tricky but the tech finally got what she needed. Then I met with the doctor and he decided that I need more fluids so I will now be doing two IVs a day- once in the morning and once at night. Sigh. But I know it is what is best for baby and myself. Thank goodness it is summer and I am off work. In the end, I know that I will be rewarded with an amazing little blessing so that is what keeps me going on the hard days. :)
The best way I can describe how I was (and still am) feeling is like the worst stomach flu you have ever had for the past two months. There have been days that I have vomited upwards of ten times and I have my good days where I only throw up once or twice. The nausea is the worst part because it NEVER lets up and the only time that I really feel okay is if I am laying down- not so easy when you have an eighteen month old to chase after! Luckily my mom and mother in law have been amazing and have made sure that Miss Ella gets plenty of special attention since Mommy can't quite hold up her end of the bargain. Most days I lay on the ground next to Ella as she plays and she has learned to bring her toys to me. :) I think emotionally, that has been the hardest part of this whole experience- not being able to care for Ella the way I should. I had such high hopes for this summer of doing all this fun stuff with my little girl and, well, that just isn't in the cards right now.
When I went for my 8 week appointment I was down about 10 pounds and just miserable. I was hardly able to keep anything down, especially fluids and was so dizzy with bad headaches. The doctor sent me to the hospital that day for IV fluids which helped the dizziness quite a bit. Unfortunately, a few weeks later I was back in again because I am unable to keep water down and can only drink a few sips here and there or it is immediate vomiting. Once I started keeping track I realized that I was only drinking 8-10 oz a day- maybe 20 ounces on a really good day once every few weeks. So the IV fluids would help for a day or two and then I would go back into my dehydration mode which just feels awful. I have been so weak and exhausted and just plain NOT feeling good. I called again expecting to head in for another round of IV fluids, but the doctor had different plans and suggested I get a PICC line. A PICC is a catheter that is inserted in the crook of my arm and is about 20 inches long- it goes up my arm and down into my chest near my heart. It remains there semi permanently so that I am able to hook myself up at home to IV fluids. Home health care set me up with all my supplies and Jeff and I learned how to hook up and administer the IV medication. The home health care nurse comes once a week to change the dressings on my line and check my vitals/do bloodwork.
Today I had my 12 week appointment which included an ultrasound which was amazing. Baby was just so darn cute in there flipping, flopping and waving. Little peanut made getting measurements pretty tricky but the tech finally got what she needed. Then I met with the doctor and he decided that I need more fluids so I will now be doing two IVs a day- once in the morning and once at night. Sigh. But I know it is what is best for baby and myself. Thank goodness it is summer and I am off work. In the end, I know that I will be rewarded with an amazing little blessing so that is what keeps me going on the hard days. :)
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