Pregnancy Problems
By carpenter5
@carpenter5 (6782)
United States
June 14, 2011 3:12am CST
Many of you know that my daughter Kristen and her husband Zack are expecting their first child in December.
Well, night before last, Zack and my youngest daughter Lauren had to take Kristen to the Emergency Room at the hospital there in Arkansas where they are. Kristen is having a horrible time with morning sickness. Actually, that's not even a valid term because she has been sick pretty much 24/7 for weeks.
She's done everything any of us can think of to try and combat the throwing up. But still it persists. Saturday night, she got up from the dining table and started across the kitchen floor at my sister's house. Angie (My sister) said that one minute she was fine, the next minute she went white as a sheet, then the next kind of a scary ash gray color. My brother in law is an EMT and he saw all the color draining from her face and jumped up. He grabbed her just about the time she passed out and if it hadn't been for him, she would have hit the floor.
They got her in and found that she is anemic and severely dehydrated. Her electrolytes were really low as well. The nurse had a hard time once she got to the ER getting blood from her arm. I understand this is another sign of dehydration. They ended up putting a baby needle in and taking blood/putting the iv into the back of her hand. very painful
The doctor's checked her out good. Babies heartbeats sound strong. They kept her overnight, gave her 4 liters of iv saline fluid, and a pint of whole blood.
I have got to figure out something to keep fluids in her. She is not gaining weight because she is so sick. I'd love to hear about things you ate and drank while you or your significant other were pregnant that might stay down.
She's tried all the usual...water, sprite, pedialite, juices, crackers and coca cola.
She had trouble with dairy making her sick before she was pregnant. She's pretty much avoiding milk, but trying to each cheese and other things to get calcium for the baby.
2 people like this
10 responses
@bunnybon7 (50973)
• Holiday, Florida
14 Jun 11
that poor child. well, i took alka seltzer a lot with my first and i know they dont say you can now, but it kept my stomach in check and i didnt vomit as much. im not sure if they have changed how its made in 47yrs. but my son is a big strapping man as you can see in my pics. 
im not sure what else to say. i'll pray for her. 
doesnt the doctors know what else to do? doctors are just not really good any more i guess. @carpenter5 (6782)
• United States
15 Jun 11
Well, her obstetricion in Arkansas wasn't very good in my opinion. He was an older man and just didn't seem to take anything she said seriously. Kristen said he kept telling her "That's normal" and would just go on like she hadn't even spoken. I'm sure that's why she ended up in the hospital emergency room twice with dehydration! I will have her out here with me starting tomorrow and I promise you the doctor's won't ignore her here! Her Grammie and I won't let them! LOL
@carpenter5 (6782)
• United States
24 Aug 11
Definately. We've hit record highs here two days this week. Yesterday it was 114. I talked to my sister in Texas and she said that the heat index there was 120* That's just crazy.
We try to stay in as much as we can during the day. We do as much of our shopping and errands either early in the morning or late at night after the sun has gone down. I'm ready to start walking again, but I'm not doing it when it's so hot.
@bunnybon7 (50973)
• Holiday, Florida
15 Jun 11
thats great. good for you. now just make sure shes not out in this heat a lot. its enough to make anyone sicker. 1 person likes this
@miadsoriano (884)
• Philippines
17 Jun 11
I was the same way when I was pregnant with my one and only child. I was 34 when I conceived. Everything was going well until the second month when the morning sickness (actually all-day sickness) started. I lost 20 pounds in a weeks' time. I couldn't eat ANYTHING! I disliked very much smelling and eating anything that had garlic and tomatoes and onions and cooking oil. My husband and I had to go back and live under my parents' just so they can monitor me while my husband was away at work. I had to see an endocrinologist too to make sure that my gestational diabetes was in check, but also had to see a nutritionist so that I eat enough for me and my baby. I also experienced some bleeding all through the 2nd trimester.
There was really nothing I or anyone could do but just rest, eat and drink a little something, drink my prenatal vitamins, and pray. It was a complicated pregnancy up to the very last minute when they had to induce my labor because I was already in my 41st week and my baby didn't show any signs of movement.
But miracle of miracles...despite all that I have been through, I am now the mother of a very healthy, happy, and active little 3 year old!
I wish your daughter good luck and I will definitely pray for her and the baby's safety! Godspeed!
2 people like this
@carpenter5 (6782)
• United States
24 Aug 11
You're sweet to pray for her. We appreciate all the prayers we can get! She's had a difficult pregnancy so far, though with every ultra sound, Bentley is fine (We did find out it is a boy...bentley tyler) But, now, he is growing at a much faster pace than she is, so he's quickly running out of room, and she is under tremendous pain many days every time he moves because it's just such a tight fit.
@miadsoriano (884)
• Philippines
2 Sep 11
Poor girl...Poor baby too! I wish them well and will say a prayer for them as soon as I'm done replying here. God bless!
@AmbiePam (85423)
• United States
14 Jun 11
A long time ago when I was nauseated all the time (of course I wasn't pregnant) my doctor gave me a prescription medicine, but was composed mainly of ginger. Since ginger is supposed to ease nausea. It's been so long that I don't remember if it worked, but maybe ginger pills over the counter would help? That is if she could swallow them without throwing up.
1 person likes this
@carpenter5 (6782)
• United States
15 Jun 11
I don't know. You're the second one that has suggested ginger so I'm definately going to give it a try. I also may get her some ginger ale and see if that will settle her stomach better than sprite. I told her when I talked to her earlier that Sprite made me want to throw up! lol There is something about the taste of it that just doesn't sit well with me at all. Even when I'm sick.
1 person likes this
@moonchild117 (1987)
• Philippines
14 Jun 11
I'm sorry to hear about your daughter's hardship during her pregnancy. I did not have those kinds of problems when I was pregnant with my daughter. I just drank a lot of water and fruit juice, no cola or caffeine for me (that was a bummer, though). As for food, my mom gave me lots of vegetables and fruits (except pineapples, I don't know why), and also lots of kinds of soup -- chicken broth, cream of mushroom, etc.
Has her doctor given her iron supplements? I remember my OB-Gyne giving me iron supplements as well as folic acid during my pregnancy. Also calcium capsules. Maybe you could ask her doctor or another obstetrician with regards to a diet that she could take during her pregnancy. All the best to you and your family.
2 people like this
@carpenter5 (6782)
• United States
15 Jun 11
I'm going to sit down and go over a menu with her and see if we can come up with some things that she can eat that won't make her sick. I'm hoping that part of it is also the stress from the move and her husband losing his job right after they found out she was pregnant, and getting one out here with us and them getting ready to move.
She is on iron supplements, as well as folic acids and prenatal vitamins. I have had her quit taking the prenatal vitamins temporarily to see if that could be the cause of her stomach upset. I know they were with me.
@peachfive (25)
• Philippines
14 Jun 11
sad to hear that she's having a hard time on her pregnancy..
all i can suggest is to let her take vitamins with lots of iron on it..
when i was pregnant my doctor prescribe me with vitamins and iron supplement..
and if you could get her to drink milk, try anmum... or any milk made for pregnant women, ask her doctor about it... it will sure make her body's immune system better..
when i was pregnant, i always follow my doctor's advice what to eat what not to eat... and my pregnancy got smoothly... i didn't even got sick...
but i will also suggest to refrain her from moving too much... maybe she gets easily tired... a lot of sleep will also help pregnant women gain energy especially in her case that she's anemic...
1 person likes this
@carpenter5 (6782)
• United States
15 Jun 11
I've also suggested to her that she do most of her activity either early in the morning or late afternoon. It is so hot here that doing things in the middle of the heat of the day can't be good for her either. So hopefully that will help as well.
She's trying to drink soy milk, but I think it's upsetting her stomach now as well as the regular cow's milk. We'll keep trying and see what we can come up with to get some calcium into her
@carpenter5 (6782)
• United States
24 Aug 11
She's taking caltrate which is a calcium supplement. Her new OB doctor since she moved out here is just amazing. She did some small things that have helped tremendously with the morning sickness that Kristen was unfortunately experiencing all day long. For instance, she took her off prenatal vitamins because they were tending to make her nauseated. Instead she is taking a Children's multi-vitamin that is a gummy! Then she takes the caltrate and a folic acid tablet and voila! No sickness at all! She is getting the same vitamins as a prenatal without the upset tummy.
@peachfive (25)
• Philippines
15 Jun 11
i think she really needs calcium. i remembered my OB suggested to me to take calcium supplement (tablets) if i don't prefer to drink milk...
so maybe you should try to ask her doctor if it's suitable for your daughter to drink vitamins enriched with calcium...
1 person likes this
@icantthinkofaname (135)
•
14 Jun 11
Perhaps her doctor could prescribe some medication that would give her the nutrients she needs?
When the children are really poorly and at risk of dehydration, there is a drink they get given which replaces all the nutrients lost.
Hopefully this phase will pass soon and she will be able to enjoy the remainder of the prgnancy x
1 person likes this
@carpenter5 (6782)
• United States
15 Jun 11
I am hoping so as well. She has just begun to feel the baby move and was so excited the other night. she called me and was about to cry with happiness. I remember the first time I felt those little flutters with each of my kiddos. There is no other feeling like it. I don't want that precious memory to be overshadowed by the one of sickness and puking.
@carpenter5 (6782)
• United States
24 Aug 11
thanks for those kind words. We just had amother ultra sound and I have to tell you...I cried like a little baby myself when I saw my grandchild! The kids were laughing at me because I was sitting there blubbering. But I'll show you a picture here of why I was crying. Bentley Tyler has his daddy's grin.
@icantthinkofaname (135)
•
17 Jun 11
Awww bless her. Once baby arrives all those horrible memories of being ill will just fade away and every second of it will have been worth it. She is very lucky to have your support through this difficult time xxx
1 person likes this
@peavey (16936)
• United States
14 Jun 11
If she is severely dehydrated, she needs to avoid Coke and anything that has caffeine in it, as that takes fluids from your body. Water is the best thing. If she can't drink it cold, have her drink it lukewarm and she'll get a lot more down. If that won't work (have her try it first), then she can sip on ice water but anything cold should be taken very slowly when her stomach is sensitive.
1 person likes this
@carpenter5 (6782)
• United States
15 Jun 11
Her doctor told her to drink hot Dr Pepper with lemon. I told her that I'd not heard of anyone drinking that since I was a little girl and my great grandmother fixed it for me when I was suffering from a bad case of flu. I'd completely forgotten about it until she said it! It's actually quite good. Boiling it eliminates the acid and the lemon seems to coat your esophogus and ease the acidity that causes you to get sick. I'm going to have to remember it the next time we're sick!
@danishcanadian (28953)
• Canada
28 Jun 11
I have never been pregnant, so I can't answer your question. I can say that it was lucky your brother in law was there to help. What a blessing. I hoPe things improve soon.
1 person likes this
@carpenter5 (6782)
• United States
28 Jun 11
We have her out here in Arizona with us now. She and her husband moved out about two weeks ago. As much as I love my sister and brother in law, I'm much more at ease knowing that she is close where her dad and I can help.
We are so excited about the birth of our grandchild/children. I am looking forward to the doctor scheduling an ultra sound so we can see the baby and make sure everything is ok.
@carolscash (9492)
• United States
14 Jun 11
If there is a natural foods store near you go there and ask them what would be good for her. I know ginger is a great asset when it comes to nausea. I never had bad problems like this when I was pregnant with either child, but I did have some nausea that usually subsided during the day.
1 person likes this
@carpenter5 (6782)
• United States
15 Jun 11
I had quite a bit of sickness with my son, who was my oldest, but it's been so long ago that I don't really remember anything that helped or didn't help. I'm hoping that when I get her out here with me that things will turn around. She's been very stressed about the move and I know that can't be helping with the sickness.
@titchy1231 (732)
•
15 Jun 11
ginger biscuits are supposed to be good. hopes she gets better and enjoys the rest of her pregnancy
@carpenter5 (6782)
• United States
24 Aug 11
Some of the strangest things are staying down when bland foods that should be easy on her tummy are not. I guess every pregnancy is different. She has gotten moved out here and we love her new OB. She gave her some really great suggestions on how to get the nausea under control.
