Pregnancy 16Weeks

Updated on January 30, 2010
M.B. asks from Fort Worth, TX
12 answers

Help!!! I'm 16 weeks pregnant and I can't keep anything down ,splitting headaches 15 hours out of the day and real bad backpains. Because of all of this all I want to do is sleep , but once I sleep I can only sleep 30 min to and hour at a time . So added to all the above no sleep . Can anyone help please

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K.H.

answers from Washington DC on

I was the same way in my 3rd pregnancy , at 16 weeks when I could take no more I decided to write down everything I ate and drank to see if a pattern , the only thing that was a regular in my diet was dairy....I switched to lactose free milk and stopped eating cheese and within 48 hrs felt fantastic...if you are eating dairy give it a try , yes I missed cheese as I love it but could take no more , & once baby was born I was able to go back to eating dairy

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J.B.

answers from Dallas on

Absolutely ask your doctor for Zofran! It will save you! My doctor says this: the first trimester is all about survival. Foods high in fat (like bean and cheese burritos) help with nausea. Ask about Esgic for your headaches, pregnancy safe tension/migraine headache meds. When you feel a headache coming on have a cup of coffee (or soda but coffee is better for you then soda), you can also then try tylenol sinus (this worked for me a few times...suggested by my doctor). In your second trimester, 2 ibuprofen are now known to be perfectly safe...but talk to your doctor about this as many will freak out and tell you no...its very new proven information.
I am 22 weeks pregnant and had HORRIBLE headaches. I usually get migraines and can't take imitrex obviously and I was getting headaches daily and some lasting for 4 days straight. The Esgic (also known as fioricet) doesn't always take them away but enough to function as a human. Your headaches will subside around week 20. The back pain, I have a chronic back pain problem that is intensified with pregnancy so I understand this too! I suggest a prenatal yoga DVD. With the breathing and specific stretches you will be amazed at your relief. Also at Costco right now they have The Miracle Ball Method that I stumbled across and its worked wonders for my pain! Its only about $11...in the book section.
Its also been said that hydrocodone can be used during pregnancy obviously not in large amounts. I know, controversial....If your pain is keeping you down and unbearable you may want to talk to your doc about that option too. Risk vs benefit. Good luck and things will get better! Hang in there!

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E.W.

answers from Dallas on

I am 14 weeks pregnant and have been experiencing horrible headaches. I asked the nurse at the OB about them and she said it was just hormone related. Well on my visit this week I spoke to the actual doctor and she said that there is 3 things that could cause this one was hormones but if you do not normally have headaches before your period or anything that is probably not it (which I don't). The second option was a lack of protein, I never made it to find out what the third option was because I knew it was the second! I have the hardest time eating with this pregnancy, I am not nauseous but there is nothing (food wise) that sounds remotely tolerable. So she told me to drink some ensure shakes or something like that when I have a headache just make sure they are huge in protein. I was amazed to find out that it worked almost instantly!! I have also found that the pre made chocolate milk (although not the best for you) has like 13 grams of protein and that does the trick too.

I don't know what to tell you about the nauseousness but for the headaches try adding protein, maybe a protein bar something.

Good luck

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J.D.

answers from Dallas on

See if your dr can get you a prescription of zofran for the nausea. Tylenol works better if you have something in your stomach. For my nausea, I would drink salted lemonade and crunch on ice from Sonic. Also, go buy you Boost supplement drinks. They will provide you the nutrients and aren't as hard to swallow or keep down.

BTW, you can take tylenol PM if you aren't getting enough sleep. The ingredients are considered safe for pregnancy.

GL! This will all pass! :)

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M.S.

answers from Minneapolis on

I obviously have no concrete evidence of this, but with my 2 pregnancies, I had migraines with both. The first was controlled with meds, I forget the name, but the 2nd was not. The first turned out to be a boy, the second a girl. My conclusion is that the female hormones of baby through mine way off the charts, making the headaches uncontrollable. Just a guess, not to say that you're having a girl.....

I forget what the meds were that I was prescribed, but it was a blood pressure med, maybe ask your caretaker if it's something to look into for you? As far as food, keep it simple - crackers, almonds, nutrition shakes (not weight watchers type, but Ensure or Boost), nutrition bars - Luna, Cliff, etc... It will get better - just keep focused on the end product - a beautiful baby!

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T.V.

answers from Dallas on

For your headaches I would suggest going to a chiropractor. They helped me with my headaches and my pains throughout my pregnancy. For sleep, you can take benadryl or tylenol pm. I would talk to your doctor about not being able to keep anything down. I hope some of this helps you out!! I know that pregnancy can be hard, but it is worth it at the end. Hang in there :)

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C.T.

answers from Dallas on

I learned the hard way to always keep food in my stomach during those months of morning sickness. Try crackers, nuts, pretzels and ginger ale. Use Tylenol for headaches. I've never heard of back pains this early in a pregnancy. Could something else be causing them? The Tylenol and a warm shower might help those, too.

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M.L.

answers from Dallas on

Tell your OB about the headaches- i had pregnancy headaches adn they are terrible- she/he can prescribe a headache medicine that is safe for pregnancy and works better than tylenol.
I lived on saltines/soda crackers and ginger ale the first half of my pregnancy. Mint tea with a little honey. MInt or Ginger Altoids breath mints helped my stomach.
Make sure you have enough pillows to support and be comfortable- I slept with a big body pillow to "hug" and support my front, and a wedge pillow in my back. I was able to relax that way.

It does get better! Congratulations on your pregnancy!

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K.P.

answers from Dallas on

Ondansetron (generic version of Zofran) worked for me.
Definitely ask your doctor about it.

Also ginger ale helps with nausea.

For backpains, I used a heating bag called "Bed Buddy" - available at Walmart. It's filled with sand I think. You heat it in the microwave for 1.5 minutes and apply to the area that hurts. Worked for my backaches as well as wonderful for cramps in the legs - stops the cramps in no time.

Good Luck!

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M.W.

answers from St. Cloud on

Try going to a chiropractor. It should for sure cure the back pain and may help ease your nausea too.

D.B.

answers from Detroit on

I had much of the same at that time and it lasted into the third trimester. I was also quitting smoking and eliminating most of my caffine so that lead to more headaches with the withdrawals I was going through.

Talk with your OB, as they might be able to provide you with something to help you get through it. I was taking Tylenol and I might as well have been munching M&Ms for all the good they did. I remember sleeping constantly but it sometimes made the headaches even worse. Sometimes the nauseau made them worse too, so try to eat REALLY small little meals as that might help you keep food down a little easier.

Good luck to you and congratulations. With all the changes your body is going through, it really takes a huge toll on your body.

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A.T.

answers from Dallas on

I have 5 children and have been very sick and nauseated with each pregnancy. Finally, for my last pregnancy my ob/gyn prescribed Zofran. This is a powerful anti-nausea drug that is typically given to patients receiving chemotherapy. It did me wonders!!!! I went from unable to keep anything down to....a new woman. There is a tablet version that dissolves under your tongue so if you are worried about even keeping a pill down, this will take affect almost immediately.

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