Extreme Sickness, Intrusive Thoughts - Hyperemesis, Hallucinations and Healing: Sarah Edge (Part 2)
Description
In the follow-up to Episode 35 (Part 1), perinatal psychotherapist Sarah Edge shares her contrasting experience with her second pregnancy. Her debilitating experience with Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG or extreme sickness) took a significant toll on Sarah’s mental health. Sarah developed postnatal depression and terrible anxiety after the birth, leading to intrusive thoughts and hallucinations. The experience was terrifying. Now recovered, Sarah talks about how she has used it to inform her own therapeutic practice. She provides practical advice for others suffering from similar conditions and highlights the importance of seeking help early.
*Trigger Warning* Extreme vomiting, feelings of suicide.
In This Episode We Discuss:
[00:00 ] Teaser quote
[01:53 ] Introduction to Sarah
[03:49 ] Understanding Hyperemesis Gravidarum (H.G.)
[06:25 ] How H.G. contributed to Sarah’s difficulty bonding with her daughter
[08:09 ] Getting support and medication – the importance of being taken seriously
[12:46 ] Advice for mums experiencing sickness in pregnancy. How Pregnancy Sickness Support helped Sarah
[16:00 ] Much needed support from Sarah’s husband and her work
[19:58 ] Her second birth – no immediate ‘rush of love’
[22:39 ] Feeling ‘high’ then a crushing low – severe anxiety, intrusive thoughts and hallucinations
[29:30 ] A desperate visit to Accident and Emergency (A+E)
[35:47 ] Starting medication
[38:13 ] Building a bond with her daughter
[42:52 ] Turning personal struggles into a professional passion – the importance of shared experiences
[50:10 ] Matrescence
Key Takeaways:
1. Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG) is a severe form of pregnancy sickness, affecting around 1-3% of pregnancies and causing incredibly debilitating symptoms.
2. A 2020 study by Imperial College, London found that “women with HG are around 8 times more likely to suffer antenatal depression and 4 times more likely to have postnatal depression”.
3. For help with HG, go to Pregnancy Sickness Support. They are a charity dedicated to alleviating the suffering of all those affected by pregnancy sickness. They offer peer support and a helpline, 0800 055 4361.
4. The HER Foundation is another great organisation, dedicated to helping those suffering hyperemesis and those who have survived it. Providing education, research, support and advocacy globally, to improve the management of HG.
5. Listen to Episode 18 with Dr. Andy Mayers ‘Bonding, Guilt and Pyschosis: An Expert View’, to learn more about mother and baby units.
6. You can learn more about Sarah’s therapeutic process through her Instagram page, MaternalMentalHealthWellbeing.
7. Sarah has a Maternal Mental Health Journal, which can be purchased through Amazon.co.uk. It’s a guide designed to support mental health during pregnancy and in the postnatal period.
8. Matrescence is “the process of becoming a mother. Those physical, psychological and emotional changes you go through after the birth of your child.” (Cambridge Dictionary)
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Next Episode:
Next time I speak to Kavita Trevena, founder of ‘The Unlikely Mummy’, a non-profit organisation and community supporting parents and families. Kavita talks movingly about her own experience of postnatal depression and post-traumatic stress disorder following the births of her two children, and how she has used this experience to help others.
You are not alone and will not feel this way forever.
We hope these support services are helpful (please note we do not check or monitor them individually).
Action on Postpartum Psychosis (APP)
Moderated Forum, click here to find out more.
Email: app@app-network.org / Tel: 020 3322 9900
AIMS for better birthing.
Email: helpline@aims.org.uk
This email will go to a group of AIMS volunteers and someone will respond as soon as possible. / Telephone: +44 (0) 300 365 0663 (leave message)
Andy's Man Club
A non-judgemental talking group for men
https://andysmanclub.co.uk/club-information/clubs/ info@andysmanclub.co.uk
Association of Postnatal Illness
Helpline: 10am – 2pm – 0207 386 0868 / Email: info@apni.org (Live chat online facility)
Free NHS-accredited Baby Buddy app offering 24/7 App support for new parents
Email: support@birthtraumaassociation.org.uk
Contact CALM on their national helpline: 0800 58 58 58 (5pm-midnight)
Email: lwise@talktalk.net (Liz Wise) / Mobile: 07773 283556
Contact: for families with disabled children
Support, advice and information for parents with disabled children.
- helpline: 0808 808 3555
- website: https://contact.org.uk/
Contact a Family
www.cafamily.org.uk
Contact a Family offer support for all childhood conditions, are also able to put families in touch. Featuring a directory of conditions and rare disorders online.
Helpline: 0808 808 3555 (lines open Monday – Friday 9.30am – 5pm)
Support dads to have successful relationships with their families, with mental health and accessing services through peer support and signposting.
kierananders@homestarthost.org.uk
0161 344 0669
Offers support and knowledge through a community of dads on practical parenting and fatherhood.
A digital safe space for fathers who wish to discuss their experiences of being black, a parent and masculinity in the modern world. hello@dopeblack.org
Family Lives
An organisation providing immediate help from volunteer parent support workers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Helpline: 0808 800 2222 / www.familylives.org.uk
Family Rights Group
Support for parents and other family members whose children are involved with or need social care services. Helpline: 0808 801 0366 / www.frg.org.uk</a
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