The Hyperemesis Files

This is the last episode of Series 3 and the last ever episode of the Hyperemesis Files Podcast (although I never say never). On today's show I am joined by Rowan. Rowan is 25 and lives in Lancashire with her husband Alex and her 18 month old daughter Olia Daisy.Rowan is an exceptional guest speaker and details her journey with such elegance and openness. Together we discuss her initial thoughts about her sickness, from "I am just too weak to do this," to "This is just normal though?" al...

On this week's show I am joined by Jess who lives in Canberra in Australia. Jess has suffered from two Hyperemesis pregnancies with her sons. She left 5 years between the two as it took her that long to mentally prepare for another pregnancy.Her story is a great listen if you are thinking about having a second and want tips and advice on how to prepare.What isn't so great is how much she suffered with her first with ineffective and upsetting routes to treatment, being fed at one point by a tu...

On this week's podcast I am joined by Danika. Danika is a mother of one from Somerset in the UK. Danika's story is really telling of just how bad the treatment of HG women in certain areas/hospitals/post codes in the UK can be!Her treatment ranged from being told they were going to check her for alcohol and drugs to make sure that is why she wasn't being sick to being left in A&E for hours to being admitted to the Frailty ward!In this episode we talk about termination, access to medicatio...

On this week's podcast I am joined by Jeenie, a mother of three from Canada. Jeenie is the CEO and Head Trainer of KeepFit Women a fitness and health brand. In our chat we spoke predominantly about her third pregnancy (her first two being milder versions of the severe Hyperemesis she would go on to endure) and how she battled with her own identity.Whilst Jeenie's care was over all really very good, this didn't detract from some of the feelings and intrusive thoughts we all get with Hyper...

On this weeks podcast is Danea. A mother of two from California, USA. Her two Hyperemesis experiences were 11 years apart, and her second pregnancy was a complete surprise after failed IVF attempts with her new husband. Whilst they both had children from a previous relationship they were desperate to have a child together.Danea's second pregnancy took place right at the height of the Global Pandemic, and whilst she remembers being able to get through her first pregnancy with the help of ...

This week I am joined by Megan who is currently living in Australia and has suffered with Hyperemesis twice with both her pregnancies. Originally from America Megan has experienced pregnancies in both countries,Megan's symptoms were horrendous and at one point went in to early kidney failure and was told at one point that if she went home from hospital she might suffer a cardiac arrest.Megan's pregnancies were very close together and of course one of them being recent meant that she was...

This week my guest is a mother of two daughters. She has had four Hyperemesis pregnancies two of which ended with a termination.As my final guest of 2020, I am honoured that she has decided to share her story with me and the rest of the Hyperemesis community, especially as we all know that termination is still a subject that is taboo.Please do listen to this episode to learn more about why Hyperemesis sufferers sometimes have to make this decision. My guest interestingly has had two terminati...

This week my guest is Lara, a mother of two who works as an art psychotherapist in a hospice. Lara's story is very complex and raises lots of important issues.Her first pregnancy was a typical "HG pregnancy", not being told about medication, being offered it but then being told not to take it and being dismissed by health professionals and maternity workers.We speak about how she managed to block out her first pregnancy as she longed so much for more children.Her second pregnancy was a nightm...

This week on the Hyperemesis Files Podcast I chat to Camilla, a mum of one from London. Camilla saw more GPs, Consultants and Obstetricians than she could remember, desperately searching for an answer to her pain and suffering.What is interesting about Camilla's story is that she sought help from Private Health Care professionals and hospitals but sadly the outcome was always the same "this was just morning sickness." In our chat we cover many different subjects and scenario, like the di...

This week I talk to Kimberly, mom to a daughter who live in Dallas, Texas. Kimberly suffered with one of the worst Hyperemesis cases her doctors had ever seen. So much so, she has decided to not have anymore children, something her husband supports as he cannot see her suffer again.Kimberly lost a huge amount of weight over 25lbs and was in the terrible position of not wanting to be admitted into hospital, but if she lost just 1lb more she would have been.Torn between trying to keep out of ho...

This week on the Hyperemesis Files podcast you are in for a treat. This weeks guest is Kay, a mum of 2 boys who made a change in her career from an Oncology Nurse to a Sister on an Early Pregnancy Unit after suffering with Hyperemesis in both her pregnancies. She now manages a day unit for Hyperemesis sufferers within that unit and is constantly looking at new ways to grow the unit and help more women.Kay talks us through both her pregnancies and we discuss everything from what it is like to ...

This week I speak with Alethiea, a mother of two from the UK. Alethiea suffered with 3 Hyperemesis pregnancies and has two children.In this episode we talk about her history with Hyperemesis (her mother wasn't diagnosed with HG, but we do this for her!) and the reason why she is an only child.We walk through each of her HG pregnancies and talk about her 2nd pregnancy which sadly ended when she suffered a miscarriage, and how cruel the experience was with the Hyperemesis not disappearing insta...

As series 2 continues, I want to explore deeper in to women's stories with hyperemesis. As a community we have to create a safe space for everyone to share. This week Victoria talks to me about her two hyperemesis pregnancies and how the result of not being informed about taking medication in pregnancy, she refused both times and continued her pregnancies without any.Victoria talks about alternatives to medication to help manage her hyperemesis as she didn't feel able to take what was being o...

On Episode 2 - Series 2 of the Hyperemesis Files podcast I am joined by Stefanie, a mum of one from London. Stefanie and I walk through her journey with Hyperemesis which began almost immediately. At 5 weeks pregnant she was already admitted to hospital and her journey continued with numerous hospital admissions, the longest being 8 days.We also talk about her mental health referral at 12 weeks pregnant, and how she had to join a University trial to get the mental health care she needed.Stefa...

The Hyperemesis Files podcast is back for series 2. This week I am joined by Jyoti who is a mum of one from London and the co-host of her own podcast the Native Immigrants.Jyoti and I talk through her HG journey both physical and mental, with more emphasis in this episode on the mental health journey for an HG sufferer.Jyoti and I also speak very openly about our decision to not have any more children and the grief we have experienced from making that decision, but also how our decision will ...

This is a bonus episode of the Hyperemesis Files Podcast. I was lucky enough to interview for social media the wonderful Michelle Nicholson MBACP (Snr Accred) BACP Registered and Senior Accredited Counsellor. Michelle us the only HG Counsellor in the UK and offers specialist counselling support by telephone to anyone living with or recovering from pregnancy sickness. This episode is the audio file from the social media video interview I recorded with her. Michelle has suffered with Hyperemesi...

The final episode in Series 1 of the Hyperemesis Files Podcast (although there is a cheeky bonus one next week) A podcast presented by Hyperemesis Campaigner Charlotte Howden. Each episode Charlotte talks to HG survivors about their personal story with Hyperemesis. In this episode, Charlotte talks to Ashleigh, a mum of 2 from the US. Ashleigh has had a really tough time of it. Not only did she suffer with infertility problems, a cancer scare and a diagnosis of a rare for of endometriosis, she...

This is the eighth episode of the Hyperemesis Files. A podcast presented by Hyperemesis Campaigner Charlotte Howden. Each episode Charlotte talks to HG survivors about their personal story with Hyperemesis. In this episode, Charlotte talks to Danielle, a mum of 2 from the UK. Danielle works as an employment solicitor and is part of the legal team for the Pregnant Then Screwed Charity. She has set up legal clinics along the North West to help women who find themselves discriminated again...

This is the seventh episode of the Hyperemesis Files. A podcast presented by Hyperemesis Campaigner Charlotte Howden. Each episode Charlotte talks to HG survivors about their personal story with Hyperemesis. In this episode, Charlotte talks to Petra, a Swedish Londoner mother of 2 girls, who suffered with Hyperemesis in both her pregnancies. Her second daughter was born just 6 weeks ago so her experience is obviously still very raw. Petra is a freelance producer and writer and has spent the l...

In 2018 Charlotte interviewed Dr Marlena Fejzo for the Sick - The Battle Against HG Documentary. Marlena is a faculty researcher with joint appointments in the department of Medicine at UCLA and the department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at USC. Her primary focus is in improving women’s health. She has published papers on her genetic studies of many diseases of women including ovarian cancer, breast cancer, and multiple sclerosis and she discovered the first genes linked to nausea and vomiti...