Bet you’ve heard these sayings too?
“I love being pregnant.”
“It feels so good to be pregnant and to feel the baby.”
“I miss being pregnant.”
I often read them on Instagram. Unfortunately, I cannot agree with these words at all. Unfortunately, the road to the baby is not beautiful for everyone. Even if you want the baby very much and also love it unconditionally, there are women who do not like being pregnant at all. This should in no way be condemned by other mothers. Every woman, every body and every pregnancy proceeds differently and is perceived differently.
I am currently in the second trimester of my second pregnancy and am suffering from permanent nausea with vomiting almost worse than in my first pregnancy. The body already feels almost poisoned. It’s so bad that I would love to be frozen and not thawed out until the baby is here. Again and again I am told that it will then suddenly get better. I really hope so, but so far I’m noticing only slight improvement, and in the first pregnancy the nausea lasted until the 7th month, so my hope is limited.
Severe nausea during pregnancy
In a nutshell: No, being pregnant is not nice for everyone – certainly not without problems.
Of course, I’m infinitely grateful that it worked out on the first try the second time, too. However, if I had known what was coming, my daughter would probably have remained an only child.
You know those scenes in movies where a pregnant woman has to vomit for a short time in the morning and then goes about her daily routine as normal? In most cases with severe morning sickness, you don’t just vomit briefly in the morning. The nausea persists all day and follows one permanently. It can also make a relationship very challenging. Understanding on both sides is needed more than ever. But it is difficult to make this pregnancy disease tangible for fellow people. No one, especially probably men, can comprehend how one can be sick 24/7 for several weeks. The intensity of the nausea can be described roughly like this: You visit Europa-Park in Rust, go on a roller coaster like the Silverstar or Blue Fire 10 times, and eat some deep-fried apple rings or chocolate crepes after each round. Exactly, almost everyone would probably vomit.
Image Source: Pexels.com / Leah Kelley
This is exactly how my morning sickness feels day after day. Nevertheless, you have to function. Work is waiting, the child has to be taken care of, and there is also the partner who longs for togetherness. It’s damn exhausting and anything but beautiful.
Pregnancy – the happiness of every woman?
This has nothing to do with ingratitude. However, it’s hard to look forward to the future in this state because of the constant nausea. Sometimes I can really despair of it and don’t understand why I can’t just enjoy it like many others. The body, the psyche, the relationship and everyday life suffer. You almost hit rock bottom in your well-being, and then another mom comes along and reminds you that pregnancy is not a disease and that it’s the most beautiful thing ever. Of course, pregnancy is not a disease, but for me this condition is much worse than being sick. One usually recovers from an illness after a short time. The nausea does not disappear, but drags on for several months and massively restricts everyday life. Of course, every expectant mother is allowed to announce when she feels like a million bucks during pregnancy. But please don’t judge the feelings of other pregnant women.
In any case, there are only a few permissible medications during pregnancy, as they can enter the embryo’s bloodstream and harm it. However, there are some approved medications that may be taken during pregnancy. Unfortunately, these only help me in the very short term and do not completely relieve the symptoms. Even home remedies like ginger tea, Coca-Cola or eating something light while already lying down didn’t really help with me, unfortunately. The trip to the toilet to throw up is usually not spared. Also homeopathy like globules or spagyric spray did not help with me.
The time after
Overall, pregnancy is challenging for many women and it is important to understand that not all women have the same experience. While for some women it is a wonderful and beautiful experience, for others it is associated with nausea and vomiting or other discomfort, which interferes with daily life and well-being. It is important to respect and not judge the feelings of other pregnant women. The support and understanding of those around you are critical during this time. If one is not feeling well during this time, it is also not selfish to seek help and take care of one’s body. Pregnancy is not a disease, but it can be a very difficult time, which must be mastered with a lot of patience, understanding and occasionally medical support. The unforgettable moments that you can experience later together as a family are worth it willy-nilly (what a pun).
