About us
Our Mission
Our Team
Our Trustees
Our Community
Our Mission
To improve the experience and alleviate the suffering of all those affected by pregnancy sickness, including hyperemesis gravidarum (HG). We exist to champion the needs of those suffering with nausea and vomiting in pregnancy and HG, and to empower healthcare professionals via evidence based research to provide the standard of care and treatment that all sufferers deserve.
Dr Barnie-Adshead Patron
Dr Roger Gadsby – Patron
Our History
Dr Barnie-Adshead first became interested in pregnancy sickness and hyperemesis gravidarum in the 1960’s as a GP and did some research trying to find the cause. When Dr Gadsby joined the practice in 1979, he too became involved in developing the research. It was clear that the condition was generally under-researched and not fully appreciated & that the natural history of the condition was not well described. Funding was obtained to do a prospective community study, describing the features of pregnancy sickness in 363 women, each of whom delivered a healthy baby. This study was published in 1993 and it has become widely quoted.
In 1998, Dr Gadsby was invited to talk about this research at the first international conference on nausea & vomiting in pregnancy held in Toronto. There he met people from “motherisk” based at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, who run a telephone support line for women experiencing pregnancy sickness and hyperemesis. He thought it would be wonderful to be able to provide a similar service here in the UK. Since then Dr Barnie-Adshead and Dr Gadsby have been raising funds and as a result, Pregnancy Sickness Support was registered as a Charitable Trust in 2002.
OUR AIMS AND DEVELOPMENT
- The provision of a free helpline to give information and support.
- To provide high quality peer support to those suffering.
- The production of information to explain the condition and its treatments through various platforms.
- Providing resources and information to inform and educate doctors and healthcare professionals about the condition via a range of platforms.
- Raising awareness of pregnancy sickness and hyperemesis gravidarum amongst the general public through media articles and information.
- Encouraging further research into the condition, its impacts and treatments.
- Engaging in, providing and promoting the patient voice within research into the condition.
- Continue to be a leader in the international HG scientific medical research community.
- Providing a model and support for sister charities developing nationally and internationally meeting their specific cultural needs.
- To engage in quality improvement by auditing core demographic information to ultimately improve accessibility.
Our Journey
Since the charity’s inception in 2002 we have grown from a small humble charity to a national service that is dedicated to supporting women and birthing people who suffer from pregnancy sickness and hyperemesis gravidarum (HG).
We have established an excellent peer support service which evaluation has shown to significantly improve people’s experiences while suffering varying degrees of pregnancy sickness and hyperemesis gravidarum. We have extended this service to the partners and carers of those who are going through this debilitating condition, as we understand that support for families is also critical in improving overall care for the people at the heart of our mission.
The future sees the development and progression of the HG counselling service which launched early 2023 and aims to bring accessible, condition specific support to those who need it most; whether it is during a pregnancy or after.
Our Team
PSS TEAM
COMING SOON
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Bio coming soon….
LUCY WRIGHT
MARKETING MANAGER
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Lucy joined the team in June 2025 after experiencing how debilitating HG can be, and discovering the invaluable PSS Peer Support scheme during her pregnancies.
She is a Chartered Marketer, who is passionate about advocating for those suffering with HG, and is determined to use her skills and knowledge to support the charity in their mission to provide Empathy, Expertise and Support.
MARIANNE ELDRIDGE
HELPLINE & SUPPORT MANAGER
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Having been a volunteer with the charity since April 2021, Marianne joined the support team in March 2023 as a point of contact for people contacting the charity via our digital helpline channels for information about nausea and vomiting in pregnancy and HG. Her role soon developed in to managing the peer support programme and her enthusiasm, professionalism and dedication soon saw her being promoted in 2024 to Helpline Manager.
Having suffered with HG in three out of her four pregnancies, Marianne has a good understanding of the condition, and is passionate about working with the charity to improve knowledge and care for those suffering. Marianne was previously a primary school teacher before taking some time off to be with her family, and is now excited to have officially joined the team here at Pregnancy Sickness Support.
TERRI NASH
HEAD OF COUNSELLING
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Hi, I am Terri and I am an Integrative trauma informed counsellor with over 10 years of experience of working with people who have experienced traumatic life events. Since becoming a mother, myself I have become very passionate about Maternal mental health and the impact someone’s care can have on their recovery. I am passionate about supporting mothers through their journeys especially when faced with debilitating hurdles along the way such as pregnancy sickness and hyperemesis gravidarum. Whilst we cannot yet cure HG, I believe that a safe, non-judgemental space to explore its impact can be vital in supporting women through the challenges they face with this condition.
Alongside offering HG specialist counselling sessions, Terri will be providing supervision to our volunteer counsellors, providing clinical oversight to the service and its development, training counsellors in understanding the effect of NVP/HG can have on someone’s mental health and contributing to the charities safeguarding policies, procedures and practice.
LINDSAY SALMON
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT MANAGER
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Lindsay has been involved with Pregnancy Sickness Support since 2014 doing all things volunteering from moderating the forum to fundraising and from peer support to talking to student midwives about HG.
She then stepped into the role as Project Coordinator, developing strong links with other organisations, reinventing our Healthcare Professionals Training, and building a strong community element to the Pregnancy Sickness Support family. After a successful year with us Lindsay was promoted to Community Engagement Manager in 2023! Lindsay has a background in teaching and Special Educational Needs coordination in primary schools, but after two HG Pregnancies, she choose to retrain as a Counsellor having experienced the huge benefits that Counselling can bring.
Lindsay’s enthusiasm and passion for supporting women with HG and those recovering from HG has been a driving force in her volunteer work for Pregnancy Sickness Support in her belief that women with HG deserve better, more consistent care.
TUESDAY MCEWAN
VOLUNTEER & CLIENT SERVICES MANAGER
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Having been a volunteer for the charity for over 3 years, Tuesday became our Peer Support Coordinator and in 2023 progressed into the role of Volunteer Manager.
Tuesday has come from a background of working with challenging behaviour within the education sector, but having suffered a difficult pregnancy with her third son, her passion now lies with the charity and their mission.
JASMINE ROSS
FUNDRAISING & SUPPORT COORDINATOR
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Jasmine has been campaigning for changes to HG care since her third pregnancy in 2018. In 2021, she joined Pregnancy Sickness Support as a Peer Supporter, progressing to become a mentor and fundraiser for the charity in her few years of volunteering. In January 2024 she was awarded Fundraiser of the year before joining the HQ team in the new role of Fundraising & Support Coordinator in March 2024.
Jasmine comes from a helpline and business background, running her own businesses prior to covid and then working in the 119 response throughout the heights of the pandemic. Her passion lies in helping effect change for better treatment of HG sufferers across the UK.
CATHARINE CHAPPELL
HELPLINE OPERATOR
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Catharine has a background in advice and guidance and has also had Hyperemesis Gravidarum. She joined the charity in 2023 and is hitting the ground running fulfilling her dream of helping women and birthing people through the condition that tormented her second pregnancy.
Our Trustees
DR SHAZIA ZAFAR
Chair & ED&I Lead
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Dr Shazia Zafar is a research scientist specialising in applied health research. She has worked on large National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) programme grants, including projects in collaboration with Public Health England working with ICBs, clinicians and vulnerable people. Dr Zafar has led and contributed to research at both national and international levels.
Her research uses mixed-methods approaches, combining qualitative and quantitative methodologies to investigate issues with direct benefits to the public. These include maternity, abuse and violence, mental health, end-of-life care, and hyperemesis gravidarum (HG). Dr Zafar is focusing current HG research in key areas of the HG priority James Lindt alliance questions.
Dr Zafar first became aware of Pregnancy Sickness Support after experiencing severe hyperemesis gravidarum herself. After learning about the charity’s work supporting women affected by HG, she became a volunteer, motivated to contribute her scientific expertise and research experience to the organisation’s mission.
She also serves as the charity’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Officer, supporting inclusive practice across its work.
caroline adshead
vice chair
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Caroline is the daughter of Dr Tony Barnie-Adshead. She suffered from hyperemesis gravidarum and was lucky to benefit from the knowledge of her father.
She says “It is difficult for people who don’t suffer to understand how unpleasant it can be. I think that the work of this charity is important as it is providing support and information for sufferers and carers”.
Caroline is the previous charity secretary.
DR MARGARET O’HARA
treasurer
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Dr Margaret O’Hara has a background in physics teaching and medical physics research. She is currently the Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement in Research Lead for University Hospital Birmingham based at the Institute of Translational Medicine.
Having observed several relatives suffer with Hyperemesis Gravidarum, she conducted her own research on treatment protocols before becoming pregnant and found a clinician who prescribed antiemetics as soon as her HG started.
After her pregnancy with her daughter, in 2010 she set up the website www.pregnancysicknesssos.co.uk to disseminate the information that she had gathered and to assist other women to obtain treatment. Using the website, she has conducted surveys of women’s experiences of HG in the UK.
She has been a volunteer for PSS since 2011 and is a co-author on the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists clinical practice guidelines for Nausea and Vomiting of Pregnancy and Hyperemesis Gravidarum.
Our Medical Advisory Board
PROFESSOR NELSON-PIERCY
CONSULTANT OBSTERIC PHYSICIAN
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Professor Cathy Nelson Piercy, who is a consultant obstetric physician at Guy’s and Saint Thomas Hospital Trust and the lead Obstetric Physician for the Southeast London Maternal Medicine Network.
In 2010 she was awarded the title of Professor of Obstetric Medicine at King’s College London. She is a member of the Pregnancy Sickness Support Medical Advisory Board and supports the research, direction and service development of the charity, ensuring the information we provide is gold standard.
Professor Nelson Piercy has been involved in the development of several evidence based national guidelines, most notably the RCOG Green top guidelines on the management of nausea and vomiting of pregnancy and hyperemesis gravidarum, most recently published in February 2024.
DR MELANIE NANA
OBSTETRIC MEDICINE REGISTRAR
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Dr Nana is an Obstetric Medicine Registrar and is trained as a Physician.
She is an endocrinologist but has been sub-specialising in obstetric medicine and medical complications in pregnancy for the last five years. She is currently undertaking a PhD at Kings College London, which is focused on trying to determine what the nutrient levels are in women who have hyperemesis and the effect that has on both the patient and their baby.
MARIE MITCHELL
PRACTICE DEVELOPMENT MIDWIFE
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Marie works as a midwife for East Cheshire NHS Trust. She qualified in 2003, and has a broad experience across all areas of midwifery, including antenatal care, postnatal care, and intrapartum care. After a five-year career break in 2011, she successfully returned to clinical practice and have since continued to develop professionally.
She is currently embarking on a new role as a Practice Development Midwife, where she is committed to advancing the quality and safety of maternity care. She has a particular passion for improving support for women and birthing people experiencing nausea and vomiting in pregnancy (NVP) and hyperemesis gravidarum (HG).
DR BETH LAVERICK
CONSULTANT OBSTERICIAN
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Beth is a Consultant Obstetrician and a Lead Obstetrician for maternal medicine in East of England Maternal Medicine Network, with a special interest in NVP/HG.
She has led services for women with NVP/HG in London and Norfolk.
Beth was on the winning team for the Green Maternity Challenge 2025 for a project which improved care for women with nausea and vomiting in pregnancy by taking an ambulatory approach.
The project demonstrated improvements in the quality of care for women with NVP as well as social, financial and environmental benefits.
Beth is passionate about improving access to effective care for women and their families and she has seen the difference that the availability of the PSS peer support service and subsidised psychological support has made.
DR YUSRA KHAN
GENERAL PRACTITIONER – CHAIR OF MAB
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Dr Yusra Khan MRCGP, MBChB (Honours), PGCert Primary Care (Distinction), DRCOG.
Is a GP Partner for The Stokes Medical Group in South Gloucestershire. She is also a Medical Examiner for the MRCGP. She suffered from Hyperemesis Gravidarum in both of her pregnancies hence is extremely passionate about delivering education to improve the diagnosis and management of NVP/HG.
She has performed interviews with the BBC, presented at the RCGP Women’s Health Conference, written articles for RCGP InnovAIT and updated regional guidelines.
DR LIZ STRANGE
GENERAL PRACTITIONER
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Liz is a General Practitioner based in Kent. She qualified as a doctor in 2016 and has always had a particular interest in women’s health.
Liz joined the medical advisory board at Pregnancy Sickness Support after experiencing hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) during her own pregnancy. Her personal experience of the physical and emotional toll of severe pregnancy sickness has given her a deep understanding of how isolating and misunderstood the condition can be.
As both a GP and someone with lived experience, Liz is passionate about raising awareness of HG among healthcare professionals and offering support to those affected.
DR SUZANNE BLYTHIN
PERINATAL CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST
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Suzanne is an experienced Clinical Psychologist, who has worked in a variety of NHS and private mental health care settings. She also has lived experience of Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG).
As such, Suzanne brings a unique dual perspective to her work. Having experienced HG through four pregnancies, she understands first-hand the devastating physical and psychological impact this condition has on individuals and families.
This lived experience, combined with her clinical expertise, fuels her passionate advocacy for improved recognition, treatment, and support for HG sufferers.
In her clinical practice, Suzanne regularly works with individuals affected by HG, witnessing how inadequate support and misunderstanding can have profound impacts on mental health, pregnancy experiences, and postnatal wellbeing.
Suzanne believes comprehensive education throughout healthcare systems and society is essential to ensure HG sufferers receive both appropriate and compassionate care. Additionally, she is dedicated to improving the mental health outcomes for HG sufferers. She is therefore committed to developing and implementing evidence-based psychological interventions for all those affected by HG.
Through her work with Pregnancy Sickness Support’s medical advisory board, Suzanne aims to advance understanding, recognition and support for those affected by HG.
Suzanne is excited to contribute her clinical expertise and lived experience to Pregnancy Sickness Support’s vital mission of alleviating suffering and improving the experience of those affected by pregnancy sickness.
COMING SOON
READ MY BIO
Bio coming soon….
Our Community
CHARITY AMBASSADORS
MICHELLE OWEN
SKY SPORTS PRESENTER
During my pregnancy I suffered from HG and felt so alone until I found PSS. They helped me with a Peer Supporter and were so useful with medical information. It was the worst time of my life in what should have been the happiest. Somehow we got through and have a beautiful baby boy but not everyone is so fortunate, HG is a killer that’s the truth. I want to help women suffering right now who feel isolated, awful and helpless and also raise awareness. The amount of times I got told it was morning sickness was infuriating, we need the world to understand what a horrendous disease this is.”
Michelle will be working with the Pregnancy Sickness Support team to help raise awareness.
AFSHAN AZAD
ACTRESS & PUBLIC FIGURE
Afshan has taken on the role of ambassador for Pregnancy Sickness Support to share her story, shine a light on the realities of HG, and support others going through similar experiences. Through her advocacy, she hopes to break the silence around severe hyperemesis and ensure more women feel seen, heard, and supported.
Partnerships
Pregnancy Sickness Support recognises the need for inter-organisational working to further the agenda for pregnant women suffering nausea and vomiting in pregnancy and hyperemesis gravidarum. Since our inception we have worked hard to establish good relationships with a number of professional bodies, other charities and organisations with mutual aims. Here are some of the organisations we are proud to partner with.
Pregnancy Sickness Support is a member of the Pregnancy & Baby Charities Network and works alongside other charities.
The Network represents UK charities whose focus includes one or more of the following:
- to reduce the number of babies who die during pregnancy, birth or in the early weeks of life;
- to reduce morbidity in newborn babies and improve care for these babies and their parents;
- to improve care throughout the path to parenthood: before, during and after pregnancy and after losing a baby or pregnancy.
The PBCN is governed by agreed Terms of Reference. Read their Manifesto 2021 setting out key priorities, and Expanded Manifesto with added background information.
We are also a Helplines Partnership Member, meaning we are committed to continually deliver best practice on our freephone support helpline.
“I called the helpline at a time of despair and was met with kindness and validation. They were the first person to tell me that what I was feeling was not normal and that there is help for me“.
Kelly Jones | London