The Heppner family: Pregnancy Sickness

Question: You mentioned being very sick with your first six pregnancies. I have been extremely sick with each of my pregnancies and am afraid to have more. Can you give me any advice?

Answer: I am sorry to hear you have been sick with your pregnancies. I feel for you deeply as I can truly identify. I was very sick with my first six pregnancies. I landed in the hospital more than once, seriously dehydrated, as I couldn’t keep even water down. My “morning sickness” lasted all day and into the night.

While sickness with my pregnancies usually began two weeks after conception and lasted through the fourth month, I was sick through the eighth month of pregnancy with our sixth child. I was so sick, I lost my strength. This was different from just not being able to function, in that I needed help just getting up to use the bathroom, (which was only a few times a day, since I was so dehydrated). I remember being so exhausted after merely giving my five little ones goodnight hugs at bedtime, that I would lay back and just cry. I lost so much weight; I looked much like a walking skeleton - skin hanging on bones. I only started gaining some of that weight back the last month of that pregnancy.

I was very lonely and depressed during this time, and struggled with our decision to give God control with this pregnancy. I vacillated between being so sick I wished I could die, and being afraid that I was going to die. It didn’t make much sense to keep having children, when I could not properly care for the children we already had. While we received some help from a select group of people, the cutting and hurtful comments directed at me in passing, and/or coming back through the grapevine only added to the lonely despondency I already had, and served to give an appearance of credibility to the lie from the enemy that I was just a burden to others.

I was too sick and weak to even read, so I had Christian radio playing most of the time. I count this ministry as the vessel God used to sustain me during that hard time. I remember one particularly hard day, crying out to God, and having him speak to my heart through a radio ministry. I realized that while I was willing to lay down my life for him on the mission field (my husband and I served in Ecuador, South America for five months after we were married, and we were looking at going back into full-time ministry), I struggled with what others think and say. If I died serving Christ on the mission field, I would be a martyr for Christ, a true heroine. But, if I died “…having how many kids in how many years?!!” Others would just talk about how irresponsible and foolish I had been. (Our oldest was seven when I was pregnant with our sixth child.)

God asked me if giving life to how ever many children He saw fit to give was worth doing for His sake. I realized the great role He was giving to me…that even one little life was worth laying down my life for. I look back at that time as a turning point in my life, and I am thankful that God brought me to that place of surrender and to a deeper realization of the value of motherhood. I died to myself in a deeper way and so more of me was available to be filled with the grace and power of God.

Since then, by the graciousness of God, my pregnancies have gone relatively well. I state this because I recognize his grace in giving the knowledge that was especially helpful for me that I am about to share with you. Please remember that this is not intended as medical advice, but rather what was helpful for me and/or what has been helpful for other women. Prayerfully consider what God has for you.

Much of the nausea and vomiting of pregnancy is a symptom of your body reacting to hormonal changes. If you are one who deals with PMS symptoms, most likely your body will also stumble a bit, so to speak, with the transition of pregnancy hormones. Evidence exists that those who deal with these symptoms have less incidence of miscarriage. So, one helpful aspect is to have a grateful attitude (rather than self-pity), thanking God for the life He is blessing you with, and the symptoms that are present, letting you know that your hormonal levels are high enough to sustain a pregnancy.

The hormonal changes in pregnancy bring about a higher sensitivity to toxins. Some researchers reason that once the baby is developed enough to tolerate certain toxins, the morning sickness goes away.

Drinking good water helps rid your body of toxins, helps the baby in keeping the amniotic fluid supplied with fresh water, and also helps with your energy level. Many pregnant women deal with light-headedness and heart palpitations. Much of this can be relieved by drinking enough water. Cold water can be a shock to your warm stomach, particularly in the morning, causing a prompt eruption. I have found that heating the water to a very warm, not hot, temp can help with this. You want to heat it rather than using the hot water from your hot water heater, as mineral sediments can become quite concentrated in a hot water heater.

You want to drink water up to one-half an hour before you eat and then start again a good hour after you have eaten. The reason you do not want to drink water with a meal is because water serves to dilute your stomach’s digestive juices, causing the food to sit in the stomach longer, making it more toxic, and you will be taking a greater risk at losing your meal.

I have found that adding real lemon juice to hot or cold water helps make the water more palatable, whereas drinking straight water can activate the gag reflex. I generally use the Minute Maid pure lemon juice that comes in a little yellow squeeze bottle in the grocer‘s freezer section. I have actually brought this with me in my diaper bag or back pack as just a little squirt can cut the gags. Pure lemon juice also helps detoxify.

Teas and juices are another good option for hydrating when water is hard to swallow. Remember, however, that carbonated beverages, coffee and some teas actually serve to dehydrate rather than hydrate. You definitely want to stay away from sodas, coffee, and teas that have caffeine in them. Caffeine aggravates the system and irritates the stomach lining (as well as affecting the little one growing in you). Herbal teas prepared especially for pregnancy are great. You can get these at your local health food store, or order online. I have found the Celestial Seasoning and Traditional Medicinal lines to be high quality. Ginger tea helped settle my stomach remarkably well. I would keep this at hand and just sip at it throughout the day. You may want to try to find a ginger ale made with real ginger.

Natural juices that do not contain corn syrup, sugar, artificial sweeteners and/or colorings can be good. I drink a natural cranberry-raspberry juice when I am pregnant. This helps prevent bladder infection, which can set in quite easily if one is not adequately hydrated. Remember though that juices can be high in calories, and you can put on weight just drinking a lot of juice. Again, pure water is best when possible.

During my sixth pregnancy, my doctor started me on B vitamin shots. I HATE shots, but I welcomed these in that they made such a difference, and I was so miserable! I could only have them once a week. Toward the end of that week I was crying for another shot. It usually took about a day and then I started keeping some food down and having the energy and motivation I needed to start functioning again. This got me thinking.

I did some research. I found out that the medication that I took with my first pregnancy (and later found out that this “safe” medication caused birth defects in many babies), was in essence a synthetic form of a vitamin B6. I had already found out in my research on other health related issues that natural vitamins were better that synthetic. I started using a natural vitamin B6 with my next pregnancy. It seemed to help some, but I started developing some unnatural nervous system issues. Back to research. I found out that vitamin B6 must be properly balanced with other B vitamins. The typical B complex vitamins are not the correct balance. The one I found that was the right balance is the Time Release Stress B with Vitamin C that Puritan’s Pride produces. This particular vitamin also contains the necessary folic acid for healthy development of your baby. Both my oldest daughter and I have found that we should not take this after the noon meal in that it helps so much with the energy level that taking it in the P.M. can make a relaxing night time sleep difficult. I count this Stress B vitamin find as the most helpful for me.

Besides helping with energy levels, the B vitamins serve to help detoxify your body. Another helpful supplement that helps detoxify and thus prevent pregnancy nausea and sickness is Milk Thistle Weed. While I did not find out about this until after my last pregnancy, many women have told me how this made a tremendous difference for them with their pregnancies. Many natural health experts back this lay information.

Another help I have used was recommended to me by a midwife for the last trimester when I developed a bad case of “itchiness” all over my body. The midwife explained that this ithiness was caused by toxins. The liquid chlorophyll she recommended also had some mint in it, and was actually good tasting. It worked great and also gave me a tremendous energy boost. Chlorophyll helps serve to detoxify as well as feeding your cells with phyto-nutrients. Since then, I have taken it during my first trimester, as well. You can also take chlorophyll capsules. However, I have found the liquid chlorophyll to be far more effective for pregnancy.

Hormonal change that creates a sensitivity to toxins, causes a woman's sense of smell to be enhanced. Anything that is slightly spoiled will register in the brain and cause nausea. We were recently reading in science how the smells in the air are caused by actual chemicals. (So, this is a protective measure with which some of us are “blessed“!-) If you need to change a diaper, do it in a well-ventilated area. Stay away from smells that bother you as much as possible. Open your windows when possible to keep fresh air flowing through the house. Some women have found help with special air filters that filter out the chemicals that cause odors.

When I have dealt with an onset of nausea while in my house, very often I could get relief by going directly outdoors and taking in fresh air by taking slow deep breaths - in through the nose and out through the mouth. We call these “cleansing breaths” in labor, and they actually do serve to help cleanse your system of toxins. In addition, these deep breaths help your body to relax, which helps many of your bodily functions (along with relaxing a queasy contracting stomach).

I highly recommend putting up meals in the freezer either ahead of the time the severe nausea typically sets in, or if you are having a good day, do up some meals you can just warm up ahead of mealtime. If you have children a bit older, here is an opportunity for them to learn real life skills by helping with meals. You can give instructions and walk out of the room, or assist from a distance.

When eating, smaller more frequent meals are best. When you are hungry, eat something that sounds good to you. However, make sure you are eating nutritious food, rather than empty calories such as white flour and sugar. White flour serves to constipate and that increases the toxin levels within your body as well as adding to the varicose vein tendency. White sugar inhibits your immune system, adds to the toxin problem, and gives you a quick artificial energy high, only to crash with-in the hour. Fried, greasy, and fatty foods are very hard on the digestive process (as well as other bodily functions). As a general rule, the darker the vegetable, fruit, or carbohydrate, the more the nutritional value. Small portions of easy to digest protein, such as poached eggs and roasted or baked chicken along with a green salad and a nutritious carbohydrate, such as brown rice, whole wheat bread, or a small portion of whole wheat pasta are great ideas. I loved peanut butter on fresh whole wheat bread with fresh sprouts that I made at home. Remember, you are also feeding a little life that is being formed in you.

You may crave milk, only to find your stomach upset after you have indulged. I developed a serious lactose intolerance during my second pregnancy. I have since found that this is not uncommon. I recommend yogurt, kefir and/or cheese instead of milk, as the cultured products are easier for our bodies to use. Also, when our family drinks more milk, we have more mucous related health issues, like sinus, bronchial and earache problems. We have very little if any of these health issues when we have not been drinking milk on a regular basis. The mucous that milk tends to produce is also hard on the digestive process.

You may want to start taking calcium citrate supplements in the afternoon and evening with food that has a bit of a fat content (so your body can assimilate the calcium). This will help your growing baby as well as helping your bones not to become calcium deficient. Calcium helps you sleep better at night and prevents “charley horse” problems (those painful muscle cramps).

I recommend taking calcium with the afternoon and evening meal, because calcium serves to relax muscles and I have found that when I take it in the morning, I have more of a hard time getting those necessary tasks accomplished. As runners, our boys have learned not to take milk or calcium the day of a meet because it affects their performance that much. Early in the day, I take magnesium citrate (half the daily dosage of my daily calcium intake). This is helpful for calcium assimilation as well as keeping you regular (preventing constipation).

Speaking of constipation, many prenatal supplements contain iron supplements. Iron supplements can cause constipation as well as other health related problems. I use the Time Release Mega Vitamin w/no iron from Puritan‘s Pride. From my research some years ago, this was the best mixture for me as a pregnant and/or lactating woman.

You may not like to hear this, but exercise is one of the best things you can do when you are pregnant. I know…at this stage of pregnancy you are thinking, “I don’t have enough energy to do the things I need to do, why would I waste what little energy I have to exercise?“ I have found that regular exercise (we’re talking getting your heart rate up for 20-30 min. a minimum of four days a week) actually helps produce more energy. Household work is good, but it doesn’t have the same effect as regular exercise. While swimming is probably the best all around exercise, I extend great caution in swimming in pools with chlorine, especially when your baby is going through the formative years.

I walk/run. Exercise helps me to think clearer and boosts my emotional state. I use my walk/runs to converse with God, think through what is happening, what needs to happen and what steps I need to take to get there. One Mother’s Day my husband bought me one of those push behind carts. I could put my little ones in there and go. You can often find these at yard sales or used on-line sites now. Put this on your wish list!

While getting the exercise I need, I also get good dosages of fresh air and sunshine. Just twenty minutes of sunshine a day on exposed hands and face give the necessary daily dosage of vitamin D. One of the advantages of vitamin D is that it helps your body assimilate calcium. Exercise produces endorphins that serve as a type of “General” over the rest of your hormones, helping to keep them properly balanced. If you exercise regularly, you will sleep better at night (which in turn will give you more energy during the day), you will be more regular (less constipation), and you will usually have an easier and shorter labor and delivery.

If you are already having a major problem with not keeping anything down, pick up some natural electrolytes at a health food or drug store. It is important to replace those electrolytes in your system as soon as possible. You may want to keep some chilled on hand to sip at regularly.

Don’t feel guilty about needing more rest, especially during your first trimester. Think about all that is being formed within your body, and realize the toll that takes on your body. While some women can sail through their pregnancies with little sickness or tiredness, some of us are not made that way. Listen to your body. Get the rest you need…for your baby…and for you.

During my last ten pregnancies, I had relatively few incidents of vomiting. I actually made it through one of my pregnancies without vomiting even once! This is incredible in that with my first six pregnancies, if I made it for twenty-four hours without vomiting, I was doing amazingly well! The few times I did vomit, it was usually from doing something stupid like brushing my teeth in the morning, not getting away from a bad smell soon enough, eating fried or greasy food, or forgetting and just chug-a-lugging some water. Get to know what sets you off, and avoid it like the plague when possible. And then, savor, the joys of pregnancy.

I hope and pray this helps you. Let me know if you have any further questions or comments.

Blessings on you and your baby,
Miriam

Disclaimer: Remember that I am a mom, not a medical doctor. The preceding is simply sharing what has helped me and is not intended as medical advice.

More Heppner Family Pictures