Mental Health

Even the healthiest pregnancy is a time of mixed emotions and great change. The never-ending nausea and vomiting of HG only heighten this experience. You may be stuck at home for an extended period, unable to partake in normal activities, or do things you normally enjoy and that make you feel like yourself. Add to this, the widespread ignorance of the condition and its impact and you may find yourself feeling isolated, misunderstood and lonely. 

Hyperemesis Australia and the Centre of Perinatal Excellence (COPE) surveyed 574 individuals with experience of Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG) and/or Nausea and Vomiting in Pregnancy (NVP). The mental and physical toll of these conditions as well as the support they received from other settings was explored. The following are results obtained from this survey.

  • 95% said HG or NVP impacted their emotional health and how they felt day-to-day

  • 50% said HG or NVP negatively impacted their feelings towards their baby during pregnancy

  • 40% said they experienced depression during their pregnancy

  • 54% said they experienced anxiety during their pregnancy

Where to seek support

  • COPE

    The Centre of Perinatal Excellence has a number of online resources for all stages of family planning plus the eCope directory will help you find an accredited mental healthcare provider in your area

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  • PANDA

    Perinatal Anxiety and Depression Australia (PANDA) has online resources for expecting parents and healthcare providers, a helpline to call for immediate support, and an education hub with downloadable resources

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  • GIDGET

    The Gidget Foundation offers a free video counselling service for new and expecting mums who are struggling with their mental health and are unable to have a face-to-face consultation. Referrals are required

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  • BEYONDBLUE

    With lots of options for virtual points of contact - including online forums and real life stories - BeyondBlue are a great source of support when you’re struggling and can’t leave the house

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  • PREGNANCY, BIRTH & BABY

    The Pregnancy, Birth and Baby maternal child health nurses are available seven days a week over the phone or via video call between the hours of 7am and midnight (AET)

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  • LIFELINE

    Lifeline offer 24/7 crisis support via their online chat service, text or phone call

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Handling advice

Dealing with well-intentioned but ill-informed or unhelpful advice NVP or HG can be challenging, but it's important to prioritise your own well-being and trust your instincts. While friends and family may offer advice out of concern, it's crucial to recognise that not all advice is suitable for your unique situation. Instead of feeling pressured to follow every suggestion, consider politely acknowledging the advice while asserting your own needs and boundaries. Surround yourself with understanding and supportive individuals who respect your decisions and offer genuine empathy. Additionally, finding online communities or support groups of fellow HG survivors can provide a safe space to share experiences, exchange advice, and seek validation. Trust in your ability to advocate for yourself and prioritise self-care throughout your journey with HG.

Support in your pocket

Hyperemesis Australia partnered with the Centre for Perinatal Excellence to produce a special HG Edition of the Ready to Cope app. This free app ensures that you have access to quality information throughout your pregnancy and first year of parenthood - and the HG Edition is like having a dedicated HG cheerleader in your pocket.

  • Living with hyperemesis was harrowing, I felt like I ceased to exist. My doctors and midwives didn’t seem to care about my illness because my unborn child was not in any danger. I was just a vessel.

  • HG was like an all consuming black cloud. It was severely debilitating, depressing and isolating. It stripped me of all my valuable life roles right back to pure survival mode.

  • HG meant failing to find the positives to pregnancy. It meant losing all sense of self, wellness and not wanting my baby due to this overwhelming/debilitating condition.

  • It was a very much wanted pregnancy but I wanted it to go away every day. Two years on, I have lasting guilt and resentment and sadly the experience has put me off wanting to have another child.

  • You lose your inability to perform basic self care tasks. You can’t brush your hair, teeth, get out of bed or shower. Physically HG is hard but mentally, so much harder.

  • HG and Ptyalism left me isolated, lonely, depressed, unable to work and care for myself during pregnancy and more. HG left me with deep long-lasting wounds I needed to work on postpartum while looking after a small baby.

  • HG strips you of everything that makes you feel like yourself. Everything that brings you joy, excites you or makes you want to get out of bed every day. It reduces you to a shell of your former self - at what is supposed to be the happiest time of your life.

  • I felt so fragile that all I was physically capable of doing was stumbling from the bed to the nearest bucket. It’s a heartbreaking condition that you don’t see because we are hidden with our heads in a bucket.