1/11 This is a bit of a personal (& long) thread following my experience of #Hyperemesisgravidarum #HG in pregnancy. At 21 wks, for me the worst has passed & was managed at home. But this isn’t the case for all. I wanted to share some thoughts/info... pls read on if interested

2/11 HG affects 1-3% of pregnant women. Symptoms can incl. extreme, constant nausea & vomiting, headaches & fatigue. It can continue past the 1st trimester (sometimes until birth). It can get very serious & some women with HG feel they have no choice but to end their pregnancy.

3/11 We often don’t talk about morning sickness (a real misnomer!) until it passes. I think I imagined I’d go about normal day-to-day life, perhaps with the odd covert trip to the loo! But 30% of pregnant women who work need time off for nausea & vomiting in pregnancy (NVP).

4/11 For some, NVP becomes debilitating. Many women are told their NVP is ‘normal’ when it isn’t, and some doctors can be reluctant to prescribe medications in pregnancy. But safe treatments for extreme NVP and HG do exist. I'm taking two tablets, safe for baby and me.

5/11 My Mum was told by a doctor 35 years ago to “stop this nonsense now”. She was, in that moment, in hospital, 16 wks pregnant, dehydrated & v. anaemic with HG. 35 years later, thankfully, this wasn’t my experience - but I did feel isolated & dismissal & downplay still happens

6/11 I was shocked how much isn't known about HG. It’s on a long list of women’s issues historically under-researched and de-prioritised. Long-standing attitudes to health issues disproportionately affecting women have prevailing effects on clinical options and social responses.

7/11 They do know there’s a hereditary factor to HG, though I learned this recently & family history of HG is not something I think I was asked about or advised on pre-or-during maternity care. And, if you have it once, you’re also likely to have it in subsequent pregnancies.

8/11 My husband & I have options to work from home, giving me flexibility & enabling him to care for me when HG was at its worst. I also had support of my employer and felt I could tell them early on. But many don’t have my privileges - the main reason I’m sharing this.

9/11 If you or someone you know is struggling with NVP or HG, don’t accept dismissal from healthcare providers or anyone else. With HG, it’s not possible to follow the usual pregnancy advice. It won’t feel relevant and can be upsetting and lead to guilt. Please don’t add to this.

10/11 Rest is vital, as is avoiding smells (of anything, at all), pictures of, or talk of, food. If eating is possible, don’t feel bad about the limited menu, just eat what you can - I’m told baby is doing fine despite the 8 wks+ of only white bread and chocolate digestives.

11/11 I got advice and peer support from amazing women at @HGSupportUK. At first I thought I wasn't bad enough to deserve this, but for the few weeks I was at my worst, they helped me cope & self-advocate for treatment that hugely benefitted me. More at http://pregnancysicknesssupport.org.uk