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Mackfam
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| Posted: April 17 2007 at 9:21pm | IP Logged
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I hope I'm posting this in the right place - if not I guess somebody will move this.
I know I'm not the only one that suffers from severe hyperemesis during pregnancy here. We have 5 children, 1 was an early miscarriage, 1 was a heart-wrenching loss at 36 weeks (a long story and another thread entirely.) I have experienced extreme sickness with all of them. Our youngest is 2 now, and both dh and I are open to life and ready to start trying to expand the family again. In the hopes that God grants us another child, there are some real concerns and plans that have to be made in order for mommy to be out of commission for a few months.
I am unable to take care of myself or my family when I get pregnant which results in my mother coming to take care of everyone. More stress. This disrupts the normal Grandma/kid relationship, and for some reason my wonderful mother thinks kids should be well behaved almost all the time - and my children are far from perfect! You can see where this goes!
I'm in very good health - we bake our own bread, try to avoid preservatives/colorings, eat mostly organic (for a variety of other health reasons.) These nutritional changes are since the birth of our last child - maybe they will bear some fruit in my pregnancies as well??
I've tried everything - motion sickness wristbands, every tea you can think of, vitamins, Zofran by the bucketloads! At a certain point, nothing works - and it's just time to gut it out!! Literally!!  The last 2 pregnancies I have survived through the use of a PICC line - a central line inserted in order to feed me and the baby. I really want to avoid that!!
Here are my questions
1. If you've had extreme hyperemesis and have tried something that actually worked (I'm very open to homeopathic/natural rememdies) PLEASE tell me! I'm not looking for miracles (though that would be nice) just functionality.
2. O.K. - so there are no great fixes out there. How do you handle life? Do any of you have any plans or preparations that you do ahead of time that allow you to keep your family intact without having to bring someone else in? My oldest dd is 10 and very helpful, but I don't want to take too much advantage of that.
3. Anybody found a way to avoid a PICC line? I don't mind a normal IV for hydration, but a central line is very scary for me!
Please help. If you have any insight on this issue please let me know. I so desire another little one. Pray for my dh, he has such a hard time knowingly putting his wife in this position.
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Jen Mackintosh
Wife to Rob, mom to dd 19 , ds 16, ds 11, dd 8, and dd 3
Wildflowers and Marbles
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chicken lady
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| Posted: April 17 2007 at 9:50pm | IP Logged
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All I have to say is you are amazing. What a beautiful heart you have, you are an example to all of us. I wish I could give you advice, I get sick, really sick but nothing like you. I feel humbled to even attempt a response. Prayers to St Gerard for you!
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JodieLyn
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| Posted: April 17 2007 at 9:55pm | IP Logged
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I don't know.. haven't been quite that extreme myself.. found for me that I need to use something with electrolytes (gatorade is cheap) more or less exclusively for my drinks when the sickness first hits.. otherwise it spirals out of control.. doing so I can get stable enough that even though I get sick it's functional.
But I do have a friend who's about as bad as you've described. And she uses broth a lot, and slushie type drinks.. and she's trying something that she hasn't before.. which is taking milk thistle.. it helps support the liver and handle toxins.. and she's taking it now before she gets pregnant hoping that it might head off the extreme sickness.. she's read something about it helping with pregnancy.. I'm not sure what.. but she's taking it even with money being tight so I know she's got a lot of hopes for it.
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Mackfam
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| Posted: April 18 2007 at 10:18pm | IP Logged
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Thank you so much ladies. I'm going to look into milk thistle - haven't heard of that. The slushies sound so good, and are definitely a good idea to try. I know I can sometimes do ice chips - but at a certain point I just can't hold anything down. Maybe if I really try to stay ahead of it? Seems like I've said that before with no success. Oh well, whatever God has planned for us. Fiat.
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Jen Mackintosh
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mary theresa
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| Posted: April 19 2007 at 12:53pm | IP Logged
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Have you heard of this? http://www.beyondprobiotics.net/capracolostrum.htm
Some women I know took this for morning sickness with great success. But this a total shot in the dark . . . 
I hope you can find something to help your sickness! Like, chicken lady said, you must have a beautiful strong heart to be open and accepting knowing how hard it will be. I admire your courage!
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Mary Theresa
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teachingmyown
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| Posted: April 19 2007 at 2:04pm | IP Logged
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I haven't been a sick as you are describing, although with my last I really wasn't functional for several months. I have never needed hospitalization or IVs, thank God.
On the practical, day-by-day level, to prepare for a pregnancy, maybe you could make a couple of months of freezer meals to get you through that time when you are sickest. Declutter as much as possible and teach your children some basic survival skills- making lunch, light laundry, wiping up messes after themselves, so things don't get so out of control.
I want to put together a Household Management book in case I am ever put out of commission again with morning sickness. I have enough older kids that they can pick up the slack, but even with younger ones the book would help whoever steps in to help out. I know it is hard when your mom comes, maybe there are local friends or homeschooled teens who could help some of the time so that your mother wouldn't have to be there so long. Or that while she is there, she could just enjoy the kids instead of feel the need to run the show.
God will bless your faithfulness to His will, despite the great cost to you.
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Molly
wife to Court & mom to ds '91, dd '96, ds '97, dds '99, '01, '03, '06, and dss '07 and 01/20/11
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Mackfam
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| Posted: April 19 2007 at 2:25pm | IP Logged
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Thank you all so much for the kind words, but I really feel I must point out that I am absolutely no better than any of you other moms who sail through pregnancy with narry a side effect. Every one of us is given the opportunity to suffer for and with our children - multiple miscarriages, a child's prolonged sickness, a disability, a heartache, and the list could go on and on. I am gifted with the suffering right up front - that's all! While I am open to this suffering because I embrace what God created inside the heart of every woman - the deep need to mother - I am also convinced that there has to be a nutritional (non-drug) solution somewhere out there. I have hope, but must keep expectations low because as you know - when it comes down to the nitty gritty of suffering - all is easier when you just pick up that cross and carry it.
Molly,
Thank you so much for your practical advice. I have actually been putting together my home management book for just this reason. I don't feel I've been living it well enough or long enough to count on it, but there is that hope. It has finally taken shape into a potentially workable help. I'm validated to hear you suggest it again. We brutally de-clutter over Lent, so I feel good there, but it wouldn't hurt to take a turn through the kids closets/rooms to make sure they have what they need without my going to find it for them.
I need to just face the idea that a freezer full of meals would be a real help to my dear husband, but I so far haven't been able to muster the motivation to get it done. Do you have a cookbook or something you suggest? How do you get it done? There is only so much time in a day, but I think I could do it if I really set my mind to it. It would certainly be a biggie to not have to worry about! Thank you so much for the practical tips.
Mary Theresa,
The website looks promising - it espouses many of the things I already hold dear - whole, simple foods! Maybe I'm closer to the answer than I thought? I'll look into the website later tonight when the kiddos are in bed. Thanks so much for the link!!
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Jen Mackintosh
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Nina Murphy
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I don't have any advice as this is not my particular cross. I retch, but nothing has ever come up during any of my 10 pregnancies.
But I totally ditto what Chicken Lady said---you are a beautiful witness.
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~~Nina
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and 2 yet-to-be-met
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ladybugs
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I have been excrutiatingly sick with my pregnancies, with violent episodes of nausea. I needed IV's for my 1st and 4th pregnancies...
My doctor never diagnosed me with hyperemesis and I had never even heard the term until last year.
The one thing my doctor did tell me with my 1st pregancy was to keep down what I could - if it meant the healthy foods - do it, if it meant the not-so-healthy - do it.
I don't know if any of this helps you but I offer it fwiw...
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teachingmyown
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Jennifer,
I actually put a bunch of freezer cookbooks on hold at the library that I will pick up tomorrow. It has been years since I looked into this, and like you said, I was never motivated enough to do it. But I want to give it a try now.
A few books are: Once-a-Month Cooking, Frozen Assets, Dinner's in the Freezer. I will let you know how they look tomorrow after I get to look through them.
Menu-Mailer also has freezer meal plans that she sells. You might want to look into that. Just think of how comforting it would be to know that dinner is made and just needs to be popped into the oven!`
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Molly
wife to Court & mom to ds '91, dd '96, ds '97, dds '99, '01, '03, '06, and dss '07 and 01/20/11
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humanaevitae
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I am in a somewhat similar situation.
I have found no solutions thus far.
With my last pregnancy we had a high school girl come in once a week to play with the kids and do some basic chores. Lunches consisted of cold sandwiches and fruit/veggies that didn't smell. The oldest served the other kids and they cleaned up afterwards. Dh came home and made frozen dinners or hamburger helper,etc... We faxed a grocery list to our local store and they had everything boxed up for when Dh could pick it up.
Frankly, we just tried to survive. Schoolwork consisted of workbooks and having the oldest read aloud lots of books. We watched many nature movies and listened to many books on tape.
We installed many gates so the main area of the house could be 'locked down'. The toddler only had access to the main area where I was laying and the playroom. The older kids could work the gates to access the kitchen and a bathroom. We had a gated area outside so sometimes I would lay out there and the kids had outside time.
I hate having to put that much responsibility on my older kids. However they are completely excited about me having another baby someday. It is very hard on my dh as he has to do everything and deal with an emotional and unhappy wife who feels sick, worthless, and upset that everyone is doing everything wrong, I mean different!
We are a bit concerned about the next future pregnancy as dh's job has changed and he is gone 3 days in a row every wk. However my oldest is now 10 and I think he will be able to handle the suppers and putting the toddler to bed.
Obviously I don't have any good advice but I think I may understand where you are coming from. Hugs!
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teachingmyown
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| Posted: April 20 2007 at 8:19pm | IP Logged
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Well, I am back from the library! Here are the books I got today and my impressions:
Two that I won't be using are: Once a Month Cooking and Sleep on It. Both books had rather exotic recipes for our plain taste. Once a Month Cooking does do a lot of discussing the process, which is nice, but I would never use her meals.
The other two books are Frozen Assets and Dream Dinners. Frozen Assets really gets into the explanation and steps of the process to cook a month's worth of foods at once. Very valuable information. She has many good recipes. I was disappointed with her 30 plans, though, because she repeats meals or variations of a meal several times during that month. For instance, she has you eating meatballs in one form or another like six times in a month and chicken soup on another 4 or so nights.
The Dream Dinners book is a little different. The emphasis is not on cooking for a month at once. RAther, they have you triple recipes whenever you cook and freeze two for later use. This might be more doable for you if you don't need to stock up immediately. They have some good recipes, including side dishes and desserts. There are a few recipes which they then tell you can't be frozen,not sure I understand why they put them in the book.
I am making a grocery list using recipes from Dream Dinners. If I pick 14 meals to triple, I will cook for the next two weeks and then have four weeks off, or use some of those nights to make other recipes.
I really think this could be key to feeling ready to open yourself up to being out of commission again.
Hope that helps.
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Molly
wife to Court & mom to ds '91, dd '96, ds '97, dds '99, '01, '03, '06, and dss '07 and 01/20/11
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folklaur
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I am violently sick throughout my entire pregnancies. I lose weight the whole time. I can't even suck on ice chips.
And, although I hate to say it, I have not really found anything that really, really helps (...except, sorry if it is TMA but, well, phenergan suppositories, ewwww, I know, but at least if I am sleeping I am not throwing up or dry heaving.)
Not only do I get violently sick, my mouth also produces extreme saliva, so I am gagging all the time.
Bless her, my mother was sharing her house with us this last time. She made sure my famiy was well fed, and my children and DH well taken care of. She also took good care of me. And when I had the blood clot after the birth, she gave me the heperin shots everyday, as I am such a big baby my hands shook too badly to do it myself.
Finally, at one point, I was able to keep down broth. And a little rice. For some reason, potatoes, which are usually a favorite of mine, became repulsive in any form. It was months after AerynClare was born before I could eat them again. I still can't eat tuna fish to this day which had been a favorite but became the most repulsive thing on the face of the planet to me during my first pregnancy 17 years ago.
I tried all the natural remedies. Wrist bands for motion sickness, wristbands with an eletrical pulse, brain wave tapes/music, ginger lollipops, different teas, herbal supplements. Nothing really made a difference.
And - yes, my mom did things differently than I would do them, she definitly runs her house different than I do mine - with food choices, discipline, etc. BUT, if she is willing to step up and do all this just for out of love of me and mine, I just deal with it. Happily. Well, sleepily, actually. Most of the nine months is a blur. I know it happened becasue there ARE pictures of me outside of the bathroom, but I remember very little of that....
I hope you find some relief!
I will pray for you!
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Mackfam
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| Posted: April 20 2007 at 9:17pm | IP Logged
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I am so grateful for all of you responding. I wish I knew how to do the "quote" thing - I can quote your entire post, but don't know how to quote bits at a time.
Molly -
I'm really excited to go to the library next week and check out Frozen Assets and Dream Dinners. Thank you so much - how sweet of you to preview them for me!! I know this will provide so much mental peace of mind to know that my 10 year old could just pull out a frozen meal. One less thing for Daddy to have to do when he gets home!
Nicole -
Reading your post was like pulling a page out of one of my pregnancies. It is somewhat reassuring to know that there are others who willingly do this. I don't need to tell you the amount of flack we get whenever anyone hears that there is another pregnancy. Survival is the key isn't it! That's all I want to do really. It would be nice if I could avoid the ick, but realistically and prudently, I have to plan for what will likely happen again. You did have some good suggestions in your post. Nature movies and books on tape/CD - I hadn't even thought of that!! I'm going to start looking into it now, and put some neat stuff away for when we (God willing) get pregnant. Also, I had no idea we could fax a grocery list to the store!!! I'm going to check into that for sure!
I'm excited to tell my husband some of the great ideas you guys have given me!! He's all about the practical, and though we'd both love to think there is a possibility for an improvement in this, prudence forces us to plan! He'll be relieved to think there is a game plan of sorts! How can I ever thank you all?! God bless you!
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Jen Mackintosh
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Wildflowers and Marbles
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folklaur
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| Posted: April 20 2007 at 10:11pm | IP Logged
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Oh - for freezer cooking -- I just got - and like! -
Don't Panic - Dinner's in the Freezer
HTH,
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Dawnie
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Jennifer,
I don't have problems w/ getting violently ill during pregnancy, but I have a suggestions that might help in the dinner department...
Where I live, there is a place called "Simple Suppers to Go" where you go and prepare a month's worth of meals. I think "a month's worth" is like 12 meals? They do all the prep work and clean up for you. You just go there and put the stuff together and get it ready for the freezer. I hear these places are popping up all over the country. Maybe you or dh or a friend or family member could go to a place like this and stock your freezer fairly easily before you even become pregnant? And then go back once a month to restock your freezer once God blesses you with a new life! The meals probably aren't as healthy as something you would prepare yourself w/ whole foods, but it's edible, right?
HTH
Dawn
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Dawnie
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| Posted: April 29 2007 at 11:33am | IP Logged
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Jennifer,
Here's a freezer cooking book I have used and really like...
30 Day Gourmet
I found it at my library several years ago...maybe yours has it too? It's got charts in it for multiplying recipes...I really liked that part of it.
Dawn
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Mackfam
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| Posted: April 30 2007 at 11:44am | IP Logged
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Laura and Dawn,
I went to Amazon and parked both of your suggestions on my wish list. I think I might try to check them out of the library to see which might work best. I already have several others on my library list to check out. One day I'll make it to the library - seems like my littles have been sick non-stop for the last couple of weeks. Oh well. Thank you so much for the suggestions! They are much appreciated.
Dawn,
I just heard about this new phenomenon called Simple Suppers to Go. Initially, I thought it would be better to make it myself and freeze at home - probably a lot cheaper! But then, I thought, if we get caught by surprise and find out we're pregnant before I have all my little ducks in a row - I'm going to give them a panic call and head out there. After I find out I'm preg. I have 1 week of functional bliss and then....ick!
Thank you everyone for your time and suggestions! This has really been so helpful for me to try to prudently plan for another little gift. I'm so visual, it helps to *see* how I might work out the reality of a normally chaotic situation. God's peace and blessings be with all of you!!
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Jen Mackintosh
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Sarah
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Jennifer,
I just burst into tears reading your first post (of course, being 32 wks pregnant myself doesn't help with the emotinal part). But I just went throught this and it was one of the hardest times our family has seen, besides all the other 6 pregnancies.
For me there is no magical cure. I remember too well what you are about to go through. It is so hard.
The only thing I do is IV fluids and allow everything to fall apart. My husband (a doc) considered a PICC line but he decided to use a saline lock but it has to be flushed every so many hours. We can usually get several days with IV fluids then skip 5 or so days and then the lock again. At first the IV fuids make me sicker then a day or so later I'm a little better then the cycle returns. I think it has to do with HCG levels and flushing them out of our systems. Not being able to drink makes it really build up in our systems.
I lie of the couch and in bed for weeks. Dh takes over what he can. We have no family that offers to come help but I think it is better than way because our mothers are not understanding.
For what ever reason God has asked this incredible suffering of some ladies. Just when I think I cannot go on, it gets better. God has allowed me a pleasant 3rd trimester. I'm only mildly nauseated 24/7.  and best of all, I'M FUNCTIONING!!!!! It took until I was over 20 weeks before I reached that point.
Also, when I told our priest that at the heat of my illness that I despaired he said he could have come to the house for confession and encouragement. I never thought of that.
Somehow God will help you. Hugs 
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Zeliemum
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My SIL is currently suffering from this. She has been unable to function for the last 6-7 weeks - although she is starting to have good and bad days not just all bad days.
I was interested in this thread to see if there were any tips to hand on, but it seems like it is something that you have to ride out and let it take its course. Trying to stay as comfortable as possible and get as much support as you can.
That seems to be the ticket.
Lots of prayer and prayers.
Thanks
C 
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4Real Forums : Our Lady of Good Remedy and Care
Topic: Please Help! Hyperemesis in pregnancy
