Managing NVP and HG While Breastfeeding

This month, we are excited to share an important new resource: the ‘Nausea and Vomiting in Pregnancy While Breastfeeding, Including Hyperemesis Gravidarum’ factsheet, now live on The Breastfeeding Network website and fully endorsed by Pregnancy Sickness Support (PSS).

To help spread the word, Marianne Eldridge, PSS Helpline & Support Manager, spoke with Sam Morris, Pharmacist Helper and Clinical Supervisor at the Drugs in Breastmilk Information Service (DiBM), and a longtime volunteer for The Breastfeeding Network.

In this episode, we take you through all lines of medication for nausea and vomiting in pregnancy (NVP) and hyperemesis gravidarum (HG), while also discussing the crucial role of advocacy, knowledge, and evidence-based information in managing symptoms and continuing your breastfeeding journey.

Why you should listen:

• Understand which medications can be used for NVP and HG while breastfeeding
• Gain expert insights from Sam Morris on medication safety and support
• Learn about the Drugs in Breastmilk Information Service, which provides guidance to parents and healthcare professionals 365 days a year

The DiBM offers tailored information on medication compatibility with breastfeeding, helping families make informed decisions based on current evidence. The service operates from 8:30am to 8:30pm daily, and you can reach a pharmacist helper via email or their Facebook page.

You can access the DiBM here and here is a direct link to the 'Nausea and vomiting in pregnancy while breastfeeding, Hyperemesis Gravidarum' factsheet.

If anyone has any questions or wants to speak to someone at Pregnancy Sickness Support, please head to our website here.

This episode is full of essential information—do not miss it.

This week Marianne Eldridge, PSS Helpline & Support Manager, is joined by Sophie Mumby aka The Pregnancy Nutritionist. Sophie is a Registered Dietitian based in Nottingham, UK.

Her post-graduate qualifications in eating disorders have allowed her to work with people with mental health difficulties and eating disorders in the NHS for nearly 10 years and has been running her private practice alongside this for the past 5 years.

Two years ago, whilst pregnant with her son, she developed hyperemesis gravidarum (HG). After several trips to the hospital and a diet consisting of noodles and crisps, she started to research the effects of maternal diet on both the mother and infant.

Even as a dietitian she wasn’t aware of just how big an impact diet had on health and symptom management and couldn’t understand why it wasn’t being talked about more!

In this episode, Marianne and Sophie explore the difficulties of nutrition and HG, how supplementing with vitamins could be the answer, and share tips on how all women who struggle with pregnancy sickness can try to take back some control of their dietary needs when pregnant.

A must-listen if you want advice on vitamins, possible food choices whilst feeling nauseous and/or sick and general advice on eating when pregnant.

You can find Sophie at https://thepregnancynutritionist.co.uk/
You can find Pregnancy Sickness Support at https://pregnancysicknesssupport.org.uk/ 

In episode 3 of ‘PSS in conversation’, Marianne Eldridge, Helpline and Support Manager at Pregnancy Sickness Support, speaks to Jen Campbell, Co-ordinator at The Pelvic Partnership – a charity dedicated to supporting women through Pelvic Girdle Pain in Pregnancy.

Jen talks to Marianne about suffering from Pelvic Girdle Pain and what that was like after also experiencing Hyperemesis Gravidarum in her most recent pregnancy. We discuss not only the physical impact, but also the impact conditions such as PGP and HG can have on your mental health and the sorts of issues that arise when trying to access treatment.

Jen talks to us about the work that The Pelvic Partnership do, and we move on to learn about early intervention and coping strategies, whilst also discussing the complexities of suffering with both HG and PGP and how challenging it can be to navigate a pregnancy in which the reality is far from what you hoped and expected it would be. 

Find out more about Pelvic Partnership at www.pelvicpartnership.org.uk or follow them on Instagram @ThePelvicPartnership or Facebook @PelvicPartnership

In Episode 2 of 'PSS in conversation' with, Lindsay Salmon, Community & Engagement Manager speaks to Laura Spence aka - The ADHD Midwife.

In this episode, Lindsay and Laura discuss what it is like to be a late-diagnosed female with ADHD and how this affects women in general and their health.

Moving on to exploring some of Laura's recent research and publications and delving into the world in general of "under-represented" women's health conditions.

Bringing the conversation back around to what sufferers of HG may struggle with on top of the complexities of this already horrendous and difficult-to-manage, pregnancy-related condition.

A great episode to explore neurodiversity and women's health. You can follow Laura on Instagram @the_adhd_midwife 

In Episode 1 of PSS in Conversation with, CEO of Pregnancy Sickness Support speaks to Dr Asli Ucyigit - Obstetrician & Gynaecologist at Epsom & St Helier Hospitals.

Dr Asli Ucyigit suffered with Hyperemesis Gravidarum in both of her pregnancies and was shocked to learn that despite her clinical training, experience and quite literally working within maternity, her access to care, treatment and empathy was no different to other sufferers....poor.

Dr Asli Ucyigit talks briefly about her experience with HG and her decision to spearhead a new Ambulatory Hyperemesis Unit within the hospital. A collaborative effort born from her A&E Department colleagues who were desperate to move Hyperemesis care out of the emergency department, she started work quickly, looking at data and stats and presenting to the hospital board the idea.

The service was launched in 2024 and is available to anyone who has been diagnosed with Hyperemesis or who has had a previous Hyperemesis pregnancy.

If you are interested in starting your own Ambulatory Hyperemesis Unit check out their  website of contact us [email protected] and we can help.

https://www.epsom-sthelier.nhs.uk/early-pregnancy