Pregnancy Place

iknowles · Joined: 04 May 2005 Posts: 6 Location: Thailand

I'm an Australian born male with a Thai wife living in Thailand.

We've been blessed with our first child. 6 weeks along now. But my wife is very very sick. She has been ill for 3 weeks now 24/7. Can't eat or drink, throws up 10+ times a day. She's getting very skinny and dehydrated. If we were in Australia the hospitals could care for her. But here in Thailand the doctors don't want to know about pregnant women until they are at least 3 months pregnant! The theory is, the greatest threat of miscarriage is within the first three month so they don't want to spend any time, money or resources on a baby that might die anyway. So there's no help here. Everything I've found on the internet is about American women who have the very best health care. But I can't find anything for Thai people. Ginger and crackers don't work here! What can I do?

I'm really scared, not only for the baby, but I'm worried my wife will die.

Tanisha · Joined: 03 Mar 2005 Posts: 89

I know you said the doctors don't want to see her but she needs to get to an ER before she totally dehydrates herself. Have you brought her to a hospital yet?

Smurfette · Posted: Wed May 04, 2005 6:09 pm Post subject:

Try oranges, ginger ale, there is the vitamin b6 that is suppose to help. Tell her not to gulp the water but just sip on it. You really do need to get her to an ER and if the case is that you do not mention the pregnancy maybe they will just put her on IV and get her rehydrated. I wish you all the luck and please let us know how things turn out.

Alexis

iknowles · Joined: 04 May 2005 Posts: 6 Location: Thailand

We've been to two hospitals already. The first one gave her a second pregnancy test and said to get some rest. The second one said "Oh you need to see the baby doctor who only comes on Mondays and Thursdays, but she wont see you until you are 3 months pregnant". Today is thursday so I might try again, and INSIST STRONGLY that they help her.

iknowles · Joined: 04 May 2005 Posts: 6 Location: Thailand

Still no luck seeing a doctor!

We spent 4 hours and traveled 140Km to two different hospitals again. The first hospital told us the doctors were at lunch and we were to wait. After two hours of waiting we were told that today is a holiday and there are no doctors. The second hospital also had no doctors and the stray cat running the 24hr emergency reception desk wasn't at all helpfull (yes, a CAT, whiskers and tail).

We did get some pills from a pharmacy. B6 and multivitamin and something called dimenhydrinate.

Tanisha · Joined: 03 Mar 2005 Posts: 89

You should check the internet to see if that medication is safe for her to use during pregnancy as I do not know. I can't beleive the way other countries run. It shocks me. I wish I could help, just tell her to keep sipping on water little by little, no big gulps, get plenty of rest, no moving around alot as that can upset her tummy more. Try plain bread with maybe a little tiny bit of butter(not alot). Some kind of cracker, she has to try to get some nutriants into her. I am sorry I can not be of further help.

Smurfette · Posted: Thu May 05, 2005 10:06 am Post subject:

This is what I found on the internet I hope it helps you out somewhat...I will continue to talk around here at my office, I work with RNs and LPNs so I am going to see if I can find out more information for you.

Vitamin B6 - 50 mg. daily. Vitamin B6 has been scientifically shown to help morning sickness. You can find Vitamin B6 at your local drugstore or health food store. Just recently, companies have started to incorporate therapeutic doses of Vitamin B6 into their products to help you cure your morning sickness. One is B-Natal TheraPops are cherry flavored lollipops which have been shown to help cure morning sickness for many women. Another Vitamin B-6 enriched product is called Morning Sickness Magic. Morning Sickness Magic is a herbal remedy containing Ginger, Chamomile, Vitamin B-6, Red Raspberry Leaf and Folic Acid.

Avoid warm places as heat can increase the nausea feelings.

Take naps during the day (but not right after eating). Tiredness plays a big part in morning sickness.

Get enough sleep at night.

Get out of bed slowly in the morning.

Try eating plain crackers or dry cereal before you get out of bed in the morning.

Open windows or turn on exhaust fans when cooking and after meals.

Cooking in the microwave usually produces less odors.

Ginger in capsules form 250 mg. three times daily can be beneficial. Ginger has long been associated with alleviating nausea. You can also get the benefit of using ginger by chewing on crystallized ginger or sucking on ginger hard candies.

Silly as it sounds, carry a handkerchief with a few drops of a non nausea causing essential oil (lemon for example) in it and breath through it if you can't get away from the smell that is bothering you.

Avoid greasy or spicy foods as they often cause nausea or heartburn.

Eat what you want when you want it. Your cravings will not lead you the wrong way.

Have frequent protein snacks. (Low fat meats and seafood, nuts, eggs and beans are high protein.)

Eat smaller meals every two hours or so.

Eating something salty before a meal can help you "make it through" a meal.

Do not drink fluids with your meals.

Non caffeinated teas like peppermint and ginger can help came nausea.

Drink small amounts of fluids regularly though out the day to avoid dehydration.

Do not skip meals if you can help it.

Try taking your prenatal vitamins later in the day. Pregnancy Plus prenatal vitamins are smaller in size and are less likely to upset your stomach. You may also want to consider taking your prenatal vitamin at night before you go to bed to give it a chance to be absorbed overnight.

Avoid spicy and fried food - both eating and smelling it can increase your nausea.

Cold food may have less nausea inducing smells associated with them.[/b]

Smurfette · Posted: Thu May 05, 2005 10:20 am Post subject:

I also found these articles on the net, I am really hoping that your wife gets better. Just take a deep breath and relax otherwise you are going to get her all worked up and that is not good. Please keep us updated on things.

Alexis

http://www.gentlebirth.org/archives/nausea.html#B6

http://www.parentsnest.com/home.php?page=index-nv.html&board_id=303&row_offset=0&id=236667&PHPSESSID=e459f95f49d6087b341966bb9cdc2401#236667

http://www.vitaminevi.com/Concern/Morning_Sickness.htm

iknowles · Joined: 04 May 2005 Posts: 6 Location: Thailand

Thank you very much for all your help.

I'm still trying to get my wife into a hospital. There's some good ones in Phuket where lots of forieners live. Its a bit hard because we don't own a car, only a motorbike. (the tsunami was financially devistating for us). I'm trying to borrow a car from someone now.

Tanisha · Joined: 03 Mar 2005 Posts: 89

PLease keep us updated

csherm4415 · Joined: 06 May 2005 Posts: 2 Location: New Haven,CT

Ask your doctor, when you seen one to prescribe zofran. I heard it works. Check the message board.

iknowles · Joined: 04 May 2005 Posts: 6 Location: Thailand

Hi all.

I've taken her back to her home village. We're living here in TaKhun for the while. Her father and sister are helping me care for her. We got a good doctor to come to the house and she's on an IV drip now. She's feeling a little better. Still not eating much, but she can seem to eat watermellon.

csherm4415 · Joined: 06 May 2005 Posts: 2 Location: New Haven,CT

Keep her eatting the watermelon, strangely as it sounds, she's able to eat and she getting something in her. after while, she'll be up and running again. GOD BLESS! Laughing

Tanisha · Joined: 03 Mar 2005 Posts: 89

I am glad she is doing better. Like it was said, keep her eating that watermelon. Its a lot better then nothing.

Smurfette · Posted: Mon May 09, 2005 11:17 am Post subject:

Great to hear, keep us updated on how she is progressing.

Alexis