After a very difficult start to the year Me and my HG Heroes are heading off into the Canadian Wilderness for 10 days to enjoy some much needed family time.
All in PSS Volunteers
Fifty shades of green
My glow was more a shade of pond green algae rather than the pregnant lady radiance I had hoped for.
It’s amazing how you know early on when everything's about to change and not just because your boobs are massive, it all proceeds with a puke.
PSS Volunteers - Steph Barnden
I have always found explaining Hyperemesis Gravidarum to people quite difficult, they hear the words vomiting and pregnancy and then move on, as if of no significance…. lots of women suffer with sickness in pregnancy, right? Only when I wrote a small description of my experience of having hyperemesis on Facebook did friends and family start to see that it is a lot more than just vomiting in pregnancy.
PSS Volunteers - Rachel Hawthorne
I've suffered severely with HG myself several times and know all too well the devastating impact of both the physical and mental symptoms. I believe HG changes a woman. Surviving it requires finding great inner strength and it leaves an emotional scar that only another sufferer understands.
Spotlight on PSS Volunteers - Claire Sceeny
I had only very vaguely heard of HG before my first pregnancy, a friend of a friend type story about someone who was so sick she lost weight. I remember giving it barely a passing thought, thinking she sounded lucky to have not put weight on.
PSS Volunteers - Lindsay Salmon
Following on from my series of HG Heroes recognising partners, healthcare professionals, friends and employers making a massive difference to hyperemesis sufferers i will be spending the next few weeks highlighting the vital work of the Pregnancy Sickness Sickness Support Volunteers.
Hyperemesis Ireland
It’s taken over a year to actually sort out a meeting but it’s finally happened… on Wednesday I flew to Ireland for the first meeting of a group of people who are soon to be the Trustees for Hyperemesis Ireland, a charity to support women and families affected by hyperemesis gravidarum in the Republic of Ireland.
Talking pants with Carol Smillie
When I was pregnant I wet myself almost every time I spewed up, which was A LOT... there I've said it, on the internet for all to see. And quite frankly, after pushing three kids out of my vagina, my day to day continence isn't what it once was regardless of the hyperemesis. So, imagine my delight when I saw Carol Smillie's pants last year... they are made for women like me. But over to Carol the Knicker Queen to tell you about her own run in with pregnancy sickness and her fabulous undies for leaky ladies...
UK's First National Pregnancy Sickness Telephone Counselling Service
Back in May of this year Pregnancy Sickness Support held its biennial Volunteer Conference in Bristol.
Michelle Nicholson presented her MSc Dissertation qualitative research detailing the beneficial effects of writing therapy for women who have suffered all levels of pregnancy sickness. (You can read more about this here)
Turning Sufferers into Supporters - Guest Post
As the Pregnancy Sickness Support Volunteer Conference gets closer we are confirming the details of the day and getting the word out to as many current and future volunteers as possible.
What research do you want to see?
I’m feeling a huge weight of responsibility at the moment. You see we have finally got so key funders interested in researching treatments for hyperemesis gravidarum… woohoo I hear you say! Except that it’s not quite as simple as that.
Using your experience to help others - Guest post
Pregnancy Sickness Support's third biennial National Volunteer Conference is coming up in May 2016 and i would love to see you there!
The focus for this year's conference is delivering a gold standard service with a full day of training and networking for volunteers to develop their skills and knowledge.
How to help a friend with HG
This post if for family and friends of women suffering hyperemesis gravidarum who don’t really know what is happening to their friend but would like to know more so they can help and support them… because that’s what family and friends do right… help and support each other!
Lets see some action
It's the Pregnancy Sickness Support conference on 11th October at the super cool Think Tank Science Museum in Birmingham. I'll be there, presenting on a range of topics and I'll have copies of our book which Amanda (who will also be there) and I can sign. And I want you there too...
Getting to the MADS
It's been quite a whirlwind the last couple of weeks with the news that the Duchess of Cambridge is suffering hyperemesis again and the associated media frenzy that came with it. I don't know if we're really making head way or not to be honest. The news that she was unable to go to Malta was reported without even the “acute” or “extreme” bit in front of the “morning sickness” she was reported to have. Sometimes it really feels like I'm banging my head against a brick wall.