An Ode to Frappuccinos
I’m 39 years old, and I have wanted children as long as I can remember. Despite my love of science and math, I am the quintessential girly girl – I played with dolls, I always wore dresses, and I dreamt of a knight in shining armor who would slay my dragons. And finally, after years of bad dates and worse relationships, I finally met the one who wanted the same things as me. (He doesn’t slay dragons, but he kills bugs, which is a more practical skill.)
Since we were both older when we finally got married (I was 39, and he was just shy of 44), it was a mad dash to get pregnant. My biological clock had been ticking LOUDLY my whole life, and it only got louder and louder as I approached 40. After we got back from our honeymoon, we started trying. I went on the fertility diet and took all sorts of supplements. And every month, I cried my eyes out because I couldn’t do this thing that women are supposed to be able to do.
And then on a Monday morning there were 2 pink lines.
After all of these years wanting a baby – no, vigorously praying for a baby – you would expect me to be thrilled to be growing this tiny little human inside my womb. You would be wrong. There is nothing worse than being pregnant because when you are pregnant you get morning sickness.
I am fortunate. I get terrible car sickness. After years of driving on winding mountain roads, I have developed an important skill: the ability to not barf. This skill has helped me immeasurably during these early weeks of pregnancy. But, I refused to settle for a life of saltine crackers and the inability to work. I ordered sea bands, ginger candies, and anti-nausea aromatherapy. I ate small meals (mostly consisting of refined carbohydrates). I popped Tums. I rested…a lot. When nothing worked, I began to pester my doctor.
The doctor first suggested that I take Unisom and B6 at night. And, I took it. I’m a good student, and I trust modern medicine. Despite my adherence to the directions, I was still nauseated the better part of the day. Coca-Cola was my new BFF. I begged for something better, and I was able to get a prescription for Diclegis. I immediately improved, but I was still dragging a bit, and I was struggling, especially in the morning. One random Sunday afternoon, I asked Andrew to get me a Frappuccino. And now I have the solution to morning sickness: Diclegis + a Grande Starbucks Frappuccino.
Diclegis is a prescription drug that combines doxlaymine (the active ingredient in Unisom) with B6. Bonjesta contains the same active ingredients, but it is time-released. Neither drug is covered by my insurance, but, with a coupon, you can get them for about $3 – $5 per pill. Currently, I need take one Diclegis before bed and one in the morning. It is worth every penny.
So why the Frappuccino? Well, my stomach is still a bit funny in the morning. I cannot let myself get too hungry, and I cannot tackle anything that is hard to digest early in the day. Without regular coffee, which aggravates acid reflux, I was going insane. (I’ve been drinking coffee since elementary school. Don’t judge.) But a Frappuccino is basically a coffee milkshake. It has a pregnancy-safe amount of caffeine in a smooth, sweet, frozen elixir. It tastes great (mocha is my personal favorite), and, miraculously, it does not aggravate my reflux. I call it, “Elixir of the Gods.”
If you are battling morning sickness, and especially it is worse than mine, I am so sorry. Maybe my tips can help you. And, if not, I hope you can find something that helps.