The Four Week Hangover

At exactly 6 weeks the nausea kicked in.  Since finding out we were pregnant, I started feeling the typical symptoms: fatigue, sensitivity to smell and some morning sickness.  But at 6 weeks, the nausea hit me like a ton of bricks.  From the moment I woke up in the morning to the moment I lay my head down at night, I felt sick.  Having a lot of experience with all things nauseous, it wasn't a foreign feeling.  But typically after a bad car ride or a long and cramped plane flight (two of the most nausea-inducing activities for me), I can usually cure the horrible feeling by laying down, doing some yoga, or just getting fresh air.  But THIS?  This was different.  It was like being hungover every day without the fun of having one too many dirty martinis the night before.  And the aversions that accompanied it made being around anything difficult to bear.

Fortunately, as I come into my 10th week, the symptoms seem to be subsiding a little.  I'm starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel and crawling back into some sense of normalcy.  I figured this would be a good time to thank the following for helping me get through the tough month:

• Whole Foods for carrying organic strawberries in the middle of fall - Seriously, only thing I could eat to cure the indigestion and icky feelings in general
• Parents for willing to pick up the most random food for me at a moment's notice
• The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins for giving me a welcome distraction
• A very VERY patient husband
• A very VERY helpful sister-in-law, who may or may not have adopted some pregnancy symptoms from being in such close proximity to me
• Sea bands
• Ice, cold water in giant frosty mugs (this child is definitely Adam's)
• Our interior designers for having the foresight to get us a giant, comfy couch on which I could nap everyday
• Hello Kitty hard candies and Jolly Ranchers (for the two days I could tolerate them, they helped immensely)

I would like the following to go away until after next June when I can tolerate them again:

• Axe body spray
• Any lotion or soap that is minty
• Food with MSG in it (definitely paid for that one time I was craving orange chicken)
• Hello Kitty hard candies and Jolly Ranchers (it was a short love affair)

I know that on the continuum of pregnancy symptoms, I had it pretty easy.  I wasn't constantly hovering over the toilet, didn't need medication, and was able to keep food down.  But I'd be lying if I didn't say that I welcome the time when I don't feel so sick all the time.  Really, we should get some sort of badge at least.