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(HealthNewsDigest.com) – I am an emetophobe. Don’t know what that is? Consider yourself fortunate because it likely means you are not one of us.
An emetophobe is a person with emetophopia or the excessive fear of vomit or vomiting.
Nobody likes vomit or vomiting (at least most people don’t), but that is a far cry from being absolutely terrified of it. Trust me.
Pregnancy and motherhood are scary turf for anyone — especially us emetophobes. Besides all of the emotional and physical ups and downs that come with conceiving, pregnancy, labor and delivery, and child rearing, there is also the fear of morning sickness and uber-contagious stomach viruses.
I am happy to report that I got through two pregnancies and am now raising two boys, aged 4 and 20 months. I am still an emetophobe, but I have learned a few lessons over the past five years.
Kids vomit.
They vomit a lot. They vomit when the cough, gag, or go for a long (or even very short) car ride. They vomit when they eat chocolate too early in the morning, drink tepid milk or (if they are like my boys) whenever a new or semi-new babysitter comes to the apartment.
Morning sickness is not a given.
Wear seasick bands starting at conception or even possible conception. I will never know if I was one of the lucky ones who never felt nauseated during pregnancy, or if these bands really work, and I am 100% comfortable with that. You can buy these bands at any drug store, and they even come in festive colors.
(If you do have really bad morning sickness, talk to your obstetrician because there are treatments available that can help –especially if you literally can’t keep food down. Other tips: The BRAT diet –bananas, rice, applesauce and toast — may help with morning sickness. Prenatal vitamins are essential to a healthy pregnancy, but they can trigger intense nausea (especially if they contain omega-3 fish oil). Take them at night instead of the morning.
Spit up is Different Than Vomit
I always thought spit-up was sort of a gross, but inert given in newborns. I quickly learned that it can be forceful and it can be plentiful. The difference between spit-up and vomit is simple. It’s all about frequency, not forcefulness. Spit up can be forceful, so can vomit (remember the Exorcist). Vomiting is all about frequency. If your baby is vomiting as opposes to spitting up, it will come every 30 or 45 minutes regardless of feeding. (Why is this important? If you are an emetophobe, you don’t have to ask. Spit up is not contagious!)
If your baby is a spitter upper (mine were), it could be reflux. Talk to your pediatrician. Certain benign medications can help.
Invest in Hand Sanitizer and Lysol
Use antibacterial wipes and gels. Wash your hands frequently with soap and water, and encourage your preschool aged children to do the same after eating, changing a diaper, going to the bathroom, coughing or sneezing. Need more guidance? Check out the CDC’s handy hand-washing guidelines (http://www.cdc.gov/cleanhands/). Whatever your child or his peers has may not contagious, but hey, better safe than sorry!
Don’t go looking under rocks
If your child has to vomit, you will find out soon enough. Trust me on that. Asking toddlers if their tummy hurts on a road trip or who was out of school due to a stomach virus (so you can avoid making play dates with patient zero) is probably not helpful. I’m not saying I don’t’ do it. I’m just saying these habits are probably not helpful or healthy for anyone.
Join an on-line support group
I am lucky to have a few good friends (you know who you are!) with the same exact phobia who are in the same exact place in life as me. Not sure if it is because emetophobia is so common or that birds of a feather flock together. If you don’t have anyone who “gets it,” seek virtual support via The International Emetophobia Society (http://emetophobia.org/index.php).
Be Proactive
The best way to beat a potential stomach virus? Act like you already have it. If you think one may be brewing your home, drink ginger ale and eat saltines. The incubation period is usually 72 hours, so after three days, you are likely all clear.
Don’t Panic
This is easier said than done when facing your biggest fear. Emetophobia can absolutely be passed on to your kids. Try to remain calm when your kids vomit, and they will vomit. Of course, you could always seek treatment for the phobia. There’s always that.
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