Pregnancy Sickness Support

Pregnancy Sickness Support (PSS) is the UK charity supporting women experiencing nausea and vomiting in pregnancy and Hyperemesis gravidarum.

The Pregnancy Sickness Support Logo

History

PSS was registered as a Charitable Trust in 2002 by founders Dr Anthony Barnie-Adshead, his daughter Caroline Adshead and colleague Dr Roger Gadsby.

Dr Barnie-Adshead had become interested in pregnancy sickness and hyperemesis gravidarum in the 1960s during his career as a GP and initiated novel research trying to find the cause.[1]

In 2011, PSS held a supporters conference following which a number of new Trustees joined the charity.

The helpline was originally set up as an answer phone call back service but following the opening of the Charity's office in 2015 a manned helpline was opened in 2016 and calls are now answered during office hours.[2]

Aims

The charity's aims are to help those experiencing nausea and vomiting in pregnancy and hyperemesis gravidarum by:

  • The development of a help line to give information and support.
  • The production of leaflets to explain about pregnancy sickness with helpful information for sufferers and carers.
  • Offering information about treatments available for pregnancy sickness and hyperemesis gravidarum
  • Providing resources and information to inform and educate doctors and health care professionals about the condition.
  • Raising awareness of pregnancy sickness and hyperemesis gravidarum amongst the general public through articles and information.
  • Encouraging further research into the condition, its impact and its treatments.[3]

Patrons

Following his retirement as a Trustee, Dr Barnie-Adshead accepted a patronage for the charity in addition to Baroness Julia Cumberledge who joined the charity as a patron in 2015.

Awareness Raising

In addition to the helpline and support network the charity works to raise awareness of the condition via research and media liaison.

Since the Duchess of Cambridge suffered hyperemesis gravidarum in 2012, media interest in the condition has grown significantly. Chairperson Caitlin Dean has spoken on BBC Breakfast News, Radio 5Live, BBC Scotland, Woman's Hour and This Morning representing the charity.[4]

In 2015 the charity produced a joint report with the British Pregnancy Advisory Service which addresses the issue of women terminating for hyperemesis gravidarum and the difficulty they face in accessing treatment.[5]

Awards

In 2015 chairperson Caitlin Dean won the Third Sector Awards Chairity Chairperson of the Year.[6] That year the Charity was also shortlisted for "Small Charity, Big Achiever" and "Charity Partnership" for their collaboration with BPAS.

References
  1. Gadsby, R.; Barnie-Adshead, A. M.; Jagger, C. (1993-06-01). "A prospective study of nausea and vomiting during pregnancy". Br J Gen Pract. 43 (371): 245–248. ISSN 0960-1643. PMC 1372422. PMID 8373648.
  2. "The Helpline". www.pregnancysicknesssupport.org.uk. Retrieved 2016-06-03.
  3. "Aims of Pregnancy Sickness Support Trust". www.pregnancysicknesssupport.org.uk. Retrieved 2016-06-03.
  4. "In the Media". www.spewingmummy.co.uk. Retrieved 2016-06-03.
  5. Pregnancy Sickness Support and, bpas (2015). I could not survive another day: Improving treatment and tackling stigma: lessons from women's experiences of abortion for severe pregnancy sickness. Joint Charity Report.
  6. "Third Sector Awards 2015: Charity Chair of the Year - Winner: Caitlin Dean, Pregnancy Sickness Support". www.thirdsector.co.uk. Retrieved 2016-06-03.
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