HER Foundation

Honor Maria
2022-11-25
Be a Voice for Maria! Join the global maternal health community in honoring Maria and her twins on Friday, November 25, 2022, the seventeenth anniversary of their deaths.
No mother should be silenced by HG, but Maria’s voice was silenced due to preventable complications. We all must be a voice for her.
Share a selfie with your right index finger in the air to indicate 1 MOM is 2 Many to die (or use this graphic).
Copy/paste one of these captions:

I’m raising my voice to honor Maria.
#1MOMis2Many to die.
#Iam1MOM who will speak for Maria.
#Iam1MOM who was not believed.
#IamMariasVoice because….[add your reasons].
Maria’s voice was silenced due to preventable complications of HG, so we all must be a voice for her.

Be sure to tag @1MOMis2Many and HER Foundation (@HGmoms). Use these campaign hashtags: #MariasVoice #Isupport1MOM #Iam1Mom #1MOMis2Many #HGaware

Giving Tuesday 2022
2022-11-29
22 Years of Helping Generations survive HG is made possible by the support of our community. Here at HER, we are ready for a BIG day in the nonprofit world: Giving Tuesday, November 29, 2022. Giving Tuesday is the largest giving day of the year, and we want to make this year’s global movement for giving our best yet!
YOU CAN MAKE IT HAPPEN. Support the HER Foundation this #GivingTuesday, and feel great knowing that you are part of a world-wide movement, working to raise awareness for philanthropy, especially as we gear up for an exciting work in 2023!

Will you join the global generosity movement and celebrate all acts of giving? Donate today: Hyperemesis.org/donate.

Thank you gifts:
Shoutout for $22/month
HER Tumbler for $220
HER/1 MOM Yeti for $2200

International HG Awareness Month 2023
2023-05-01 - 2023-05-31
Join the HER Foundation as we raise awareness about HG Reality during HG Awareness Month, May 2023. Follow the events calendar.
GET INVOLVED

JOIN the #HERDanceParty.
SHARE your HG story.
FUNDRAISE for HG education & research.
INVITE others to follow the HER Foundation and learn more about HG.
DONATE to the HER Foundation.
USE the hashtags on your social: #HGAM23 #HGAD23 #HGreality.

HER Foundation is the Global Voice of HG!
___
WHAT IS HG?
At least 1 million women are estimated to suffer from a serious pregnancy disease each year that takes the lives of thousands of babies (and some mothers) due to chronic malnutrition and dehydration from debilitating nausea and vomiting. The disease known as HG (hyperemesis gravidarum) is often misunderstood, unrecognized or assumed to be psychological, and thus is inadequately treated. This means women suffer to the point of being traumatized, choosing therapeutic termination, or having serious short and long-term health issues. The children, too often, are affected as well. With proper treatment, most issues can be minimized or prevented, and the impact can be reduced. Be HG aware, educate others, and donate to support education and research (HG research rarely gets grant funding!!).
*HG: hyperemesis gravidarum (hyper = excessive, emesis = vomiting, gravidarum = in pregnancy)
**Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG) is a debilitating and potentially life-threatening pregnancy disease marked by rapid weight loss, malnutrition, and dehydration due to unrelenting nausea and/or vomiting with potential adverse consequences for the mom-to-be and the newborn(s).

Your Invite to the #HERDanceParty!
2023-05-01
Get ready for the upcoming #HERDanceParty!
Join the party and help us create awareness for HG and the HER Foundation. Share your own dance videos with #HERDanceParty, and let’s create a wave of love, support, and cuteness!
Let’s make a difference together!

World Maternal Mental Health Week 2023
2023-05-02 - 2023-05-08

World Maternal Mental Health Day
2023-05-03
World Maternal Mental Health Day
World Mental Health Day is observed on the first Wednesday in May each year. This year, this theme is all about supporting each other through our worldwide journey in maternal mental health. Those who experience maternal mental health problems suffer in silence and often go undetected and untreated. Join us in destigmatizing mental health complications.
HG patients have significantly increased risk of maternal mental health diagnosis secondary to HG:

26% have suicidal ideations (Nana et al., 2022)
18% meet full criteria PTSD (Christodoulou et al., 2011)
~50% experience trauma
52% consider termination (Nana et al., 2022)
50% have a postpartum psychiatric diagnosis
>80% experience psychosocial struggles (Poursharif et al., 2007)

Please reach out if you need help:
🔹National Maternal Mental Health Line: 1-833-943-5746 (1-833-9-HELP4MOMS)
🔹Postpartum Support International
🔹HER HG Support Groups

If you or a family member needs postpartum mental health care, please contact your provider.

Candle Lighting to Honor Jess and Baby Elsie
2023-05-03
Honor Jess and Baby Elsie
Join the HER Foundation and the worldwide HG community in honoring Jess and Baby Elsie who lost their battle with HG at 28 weeks. With permission from their family, we invite you to light a candle May 3, at 7 PM in your time zone.
How to participate:

Light a candle(s) at 7 PM in your time zone.
Post your pictures or videos on social media.
Use the hashtag #HonorJessandElsie.
Tag HER, so we can share your post.

We will shine a light on maternal mental health and HG across the globe and remember these two beautiful lives.

Funny Friday: HG Memes
2023-05-05, 2023-05-12, 2023-05-19, 2023-05-26
HG Memes are back for HG Awareness Month 2023. The HER Foundation invites you to be part of the fun on Funny Fridays throughout May! We all know the crazy things that happen during HG! We invite you to take your favorite kid pictures and make them into HG memes.

How to participate:

Send your memes to theHERFoundation@gmail.com and we will share them during Meme Mondays!
Or you can tag HER and use #HGmemes, so we can share your meme to our story.
The creators of the top three memes will receive a prize.
We won’t be able to share memes with triggers.

We hope you’ll join the fun!

International Bereaved Mother's Day
2023-05-07
International Bereaved Mother’s Day is the first Sunday in May each year. This is a day for mothers and parents to remember the children they have lost. HG increases the risk of miscarriage, unwanted termination, stillbirth, and neonatal loss. We know the grief is great, but all of us at the HER Foundation are here for you. You are not alone.
HER resources:

HER memorial page
HER Loss Support Group
Grief Information

Child Mental Health Week 2023
2023-05-07 - 2023-05-13
Accept, Advocate, Act – Because Awareness Is Not Enough

Update: #HERDanceParty!
2023-05-08

#HERDanceParty Day!
2023-05-15
The Big Day is here! Watch the #HERDanceParty!
Let’s make a difference together!

PTSD Awareness Day 2023
2023-06-27
With the advances in nutrition and fluid replacements, most patients survive hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) with few life-threatening complications. However, the stress, pain, and helplessness of HG cause persistent psychological distress for many women.
PTSS is common following HG pregnancies and is associated with negative life outcomes including inability to breastfeed, marital problems, financial problems, and inability of self-care.
Source: Posttraumatic stress symptoms following pregnancy complicated by hyperemesis gravidarum. — The Journal of Maternal-Fetal and Neonatal Medicine, 2011.
Learn about trauma after HG here.

BIPOC Mental Health Awareness Month 2023
2023-07-01 - 2023-07-31
BIPOC Mental Health Month 2023 theme is Culture, Community, and Connection.
Read our blog post here.

Black Maternal Mental Health Week 2023
2023-07-19 - 2023-07-25
July 19-25 is Black Maternal Mental Health Week. At the HER Foundation, we are dedicated to providing research, resources, and support for all affected by HG. We know that BIWOC (Black, Indigenous and Women of Color), particularly Black women, have additional systemic hurdles to overcome to gain quality HG treatment and specialized medical care during pregnancy.
🔹Learn more in our blog.
Black Maternal Mental Health Week is an annual awareness event, but employers and business leaders can create shift all year long. Thank you to Shades Of Blue Project for their leadership in #BMMHW2023.

World Breastfeeding Week 2023
2023-08-01 - 2023-08-07
Each year, the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action promotes World Breast Feeding Week from August 1-7. The 2023 theme is Enabling breastfeeding: making a difference for working parents. While there are benefits for breastfeeding, not all HG survivors are able to breastfeed. Learn more about breastfeeding across the globe from the World Health Organization (WHO).

Any conversation about breastfeeding includes the benefits of breastfeeding. The conversation must also acknowledge health and other factors in a mother’s ability or decision to breastfeed. “Breastfeeding is not an option for every mother. Women who have struggled with hyperemesis gravidarum (HG), who are facing malnutrition, trauma, and other complications may have greater difficulty successfully breastfeeding or may decide to nourish their baby with formula. Whether or not to breastfeed can be a complex, personal choice. In the end, the best choice for you is the one that ensures the well-being of you and your child.”

Learn more about breastfeeding across the globe from the World Health Organization (WHO).

#WBW2023

HG is hyperemesis gravidarum: a potentially life-threatening pregnancy disease that may cause malnutrition, dehydration, and debility due to severe nausea and vomiting, and may cause long-term health issues for mom and baby.

Breastfeeding After HG with Susan Fuchs
2023-08-13 17:00 - 18:00 (America/Los_Angeles)
​Join our Instagram Live with Susan Fuchs, MS, IBCLC, “Reclaiming Your Power Through Breastfeeding” on Sunday, August 13th, 2023, at 5pm Pacific. Hear Susan share her HG journey and expertise on breastfeeding in a conversation with Kimber MacGibbon, RN.
Learn more about:

How breastmilk adapts to baby’s needs.
How breastfeeding impacts our health.
How breastfeeding affects mental health.
How breastfeeding and weaning are affected by HG.
35% of HG patients do not breastfeed compared to 11% of controls.

Submit your questions here.
Breastfeeding is not an option for every mother. Those who have struggled with hyperemesis gravidarum (HG), who are facing malnutrition, trauma, and other complications may have greater difficulty successfully breastfeeding or may decide to nourish their baby with formula. Whether or not to breastfeed can be a complex, personal choice. In the end, the best choice is the one that ensures the well being of you and your child. Read our blog.
Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG): a potentially life-threatening pregnancy disease that may cause malnutrition, dehydration, and debility due to severe nausea and vomiting, and may cause long-term health issues for mom and baby.
SHARE THE FACTS

HG, hyperemesis gravidarum, is a pregnancy disease marked by rapid weight loss, malnutrition, and dehydration due to unrelenting nausea and/or vomiting.
HG is not the “morning sickness” of healthy, normal pregnancies. It is a distinct diagnosis marked by severe and relentless symptoms that pose significant risks to the health of both mother and baby. Over 1/3rd of HG babies do not make it to term.
HG babies are at increased risk for low birth weight, small size for gestational age, and preterm birth. In utero exposure to HG is linked to a 3.6-fold increased risk of emotional/behavioral & developmental disorders.
Nearly 20% of HG pregnancies are lost to therapeutic terminations, citing “no hope for relief.” Current treatments are not adequate to prevent termination of these planned, wanted pregnancies.
Mothers with HG’s most severe forms can experience pneumothorax, organ rupture, retinal detachment and blindness, eardrum and jaw damage, rib fractures, esophageal tears, the neurological syndrome Wernicke’s encephalopathy, or even death.
18% of women report full criteria of post-traumatic stress syndrome (PTSS) following an HG pregnancy. More than half of mothers have post-traumatic stress symptoms.
In 2009, inpatient treatment for HG in the U.S. cost more than $250,000,000. HG is the leading cause of hospitalization in early pregnancy, and is second only to preterm labor as the most common overall cause of hospitalization during pregnancy.

Black Breastfeeding Week 2023
2023-08-25 - 2023-08-31
The 2021 theme for Black Breastfeeding Week 2023: We Outside! Celebrating Connection & Our Communities! #WeOutSide

Read why Black Breastfeeding Week is important.

Breastfeeding Techniques with Hoda Shawky
2023-08-25 17:00 - 18:00
Join us live on Friday, August 25th at 5 PM Pacific for Breastfeeding Techniques. Hoda Shawky, MSN, CPNP, PMHS, IBCLC, HER Advisory Council, and Kimber MacGibbon, RN, HER Executive Director, will discuss breastfeeding techniques, support options, and more.

Sepsis Awareness Month 2023
2023-09-01 - 2023-09-30
September is Sepsis Awareness Month. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), sepsis is a leading cause of maternal mortality. Hyperemesis Gravidarum significantly increases risk of sepsis because of reduced immune function, invasive procedures, and urinary tract infections. If you suspect sepsis, get immediate care. Every hour matters.
Sepsis is when the body’s response to an existing infection injures its own tissues and organs. Signs of sepsis include fever (higher or lower than normal), diarrhea or vomiting, abdominal pelvic pain/tenderness, confusion, and signs of infection.
🔹Learn more.
🔹Signs of sepsis.

Prematurity Awareness Month
2023-11-01 - 2023-11-30
November is Prematurity Awareness Month. Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG) is one of the leading causes of prematurity and results in babies that are small for gestational age and growth restricted.
Support HER Foundation’s efforts to improve the care of HG mothers and prevent prematurity through research and education.
What you can do to raise awareness:

Talk about it. Share your story or the stories of others with your friends, family, and community. The more people who know about premature birth and HG, the more likely they are to support awareness and research.
Get involved the HER Foundation. Sign up to volunteer for the HER foundation to raise awareness of HG and premature birth. You can volunteer your time, donate money, or simply spread the word about our work.
Use social media. Share information about premature birth and HG on your social media accounts. Use relevant hashtags, such as #PrematureAwarenessMonth and #HGAwareness, so that your posts can reach a wider audience.

Share the Facts:

Preterm birth is delivery prior than 37 weeks.
Women with a history of HG were likely to have an increased risk of preterm birth, regardless of ondansetron exposure (M.S. Fejzo et al., 2016).
HG is also associated with poor fetal/child outcomes including a 4-fold increased risk of preterm birth (R. Tian et al., 2016).

Prematurity Awareness Day
2023-11-17
November 17th is Prematurity Awareness Day. Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG) is one of the leading causes of prematurity and results in babies that are small for gestational age and growth restricted.
Support HER Foundation’s efforts to improve the care of HG mothers and prevent prematurity through research and education.
What you can do to raise awareness:

Talk about it. Share your story or the stories of others with your friends, family, and community. The more people who know about premature birth and HG, the more likely they are to support awareness and research.
Get involved the HER Foundation. Sign up to volunteer for the HER foundation to raise awareness of HG and premature birth. You can volunteer your time, donate money, or simply spread the word about our work.
Use social media. Share information about premature birth and HG on your social media accounts. Use relevant hashtags, such as #PrematureAwarenessMonth and #HGAwareness, so that your posts can reach a wider audience.

Share the Facts:

Preterm birth is delivery prior than 37 weeks.
Women with a history of HG were likely to have an increased risk of preterm birth, regardless of ondansetron exposure (M.S. Fejzo et al., 2016).
HG is also associated with poor fetal/child outcomes including a 4-fold increased risk of preterm birth (R. Tian et al., 2016).

Expert Insights: Nutrition During HG with Kris Mogensen
2023-11-19 14:00 - 15:00
​Join Kimber MacGibbon, RN, and Kris M. Mogensen, MS, RD-AP, LDN, CNSC, for a live Instagram discussion on nutrition during hyperemesis gravidarum (HG).
Kris M. Mogensen is a registered dietitian and Certified Nutrition Support Clinician in the Brigham and Women’s Hospital Department of Nutrition. She is a national leader at ASPEN and specializes in managing parenteral (intravenous) and enteral (tube feeding) nutrition, malnutrition, and home infusion.

We’ll discuss:

When is nutritional therapy needed for HG?
How can we reduce the risk of complications from intravenous therapy (IV)?
What are the risks of nutritional therapy for HG?
How is refeeding syndrome prevented?
How does malnutrition affect mom and baby?

Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG): a potentially life-threatening pregnancy disease that may cause malnutrition, dehydration, and debility due to severe nausea and vomiting. It can also lead to long-term health problems for mom and baby.
Register to Receive Reminders
GIVEAWAY
One lucky live participant will be randomly chosen to receive a special gift from us! 🎁

Join and engage with us during our Instagram Live on Sunday, November 19th, 2023!
Ways to engage with us during the live:
🙋 Ask a question!
📝 Share a quick experience related to our topic.
🌎 Let us know where you’re joining from!
🤰 Share where you are in your journey.
After the live, we’ll choose someone and DM the lucky winner! Don’t miss out – see you there!
SHARE THE HG FACTS

HG, hyperemesis gravidarum, is a pregnancy disease marked by rapid weight loss, malnutrition, and dehydration due to unrelenting nausea and/or vomiting.
HG is not the “morning sickness” of healthy, normal pregnancies. It is a distinct diagnosis marked by severe and relentless symptoms that pose significant risks to the health of both mother and baby. Over 1/3rd of HG babies do not make it to term.
HG babies are at increased risk for low birth weight, small size for gestational age, and preterm birth. In utero, exposure to HG is linked to a 3.6-fold increased risk of emotional/behavioral & developmental disorders.
Nearly 20% of HG pregnancies are lost to therapeutic terminations, citing “no hope for relief.” Current treatments are not adequate to prevent the termination of these planned, wanted pregnancies.
Mothers with HG’s most severe forms can experience pneumothorax, organ rupture, retinal detachment and blindness, eardrum and jaw damage, rib fractures, esophageal tears, the neurological syndrome Wernicke’s encephalopathy, or even death.
18% of women report complete post-traumatic stress syndrome (PTSS) criteria following an HG pregnancy. More than half of mothers have post-traumatic stress symptoms.
In 2009, inpatient treatment for HG in the U.S. cost more than $250,000,000. HG is the leading cause of hospitalization in early pregnancy and is second only to preterm labor as the most common overall cause of hospitalization during pregnancy.

Learn more: HG Fact Sheet

Honor Maria
2023-11-25
Be a voice for Maria! Honor Maria!
Join the global maternal health community in honoring Maria and her twins on Friday, November 25.
No mother should be silenced by HG, but Maria’s voice was silenced due to preventable complications. We all must be a voice for her.

Share a selfie with your right index finger in the air to indicate 1 MOM is 2 Many to die (or use this graphic).

Copy/paste one of these captions:

I’m raising my voice to honor Maria.
#1MOMis2Many to die.
#Iam1MOM who will speak for Maria.
#Iam1MOM who was not believed.
#IamMariasVoice because….
Maria’s voice was silenced due to preventable complications of HG, so we all must be a voice for her.

Be sure to tag @1MOMis2Many and HER Foundation (@HGmoms). Use these campaign hashtags: #MariasVoice #Isupport1MOM #Iam1Mom #1MOMis2Many #HGaware
Learn more about honoring Maria

Watch 1 MOM is 2 Many Campaign Video

Read Maria’s Story

Giving Tuesday - 2023
2023-11-28
Celebrate Giving Tuesday with Us!

Here at HER, we are ready for a BIG day in the nonprofit world: Giving Tuesday, November 28, 2023. Giving Tuesday is the largest giving day of the year, and we hope you’ll join us in celebrating 23 years of HER providing help and hope for families with hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) across the globe.
YOU CAN MAKE IT HAPPEN. Support the HER Foundation, and feel great knowing that you are part of a worldwide movement, working to raise awareness for HG with our exciting work in 2024!
On Giving Tuesday, we ask for your support to help us continue our work. Your donation will help us to:

Fund research into HG to find better treatments and a cure.
Provide support and guidance to affected mothers and families.
Advocate for HG awareness and recognition.
Educate healthcare professionals.

Will you join the global generosity movement and celebrate the act of giving? Donate today: Hyperemesis.org/donate.

Hyperemesis Gravidarm (HG) is a debilitating pregnancy condition that causes severe nausea, vomiting, and weight loss. It can be so severe that it can lead to hospitalization and even miscarriage. The HER Foundation is the leading global organization dedicated to raising awareness of HG and providing support to affected mothers and families.

World Folic Acid Awareness Week
2024-01-01 - 2024-01-07
January 1-7 marks World Folic Acid Awareness Week. Shedding light on the significance of folic acid (FA) in our lives, particularly for those with HG.
What do you know?

Folic acid is the synthetic form of folate (vitamin B9).
Enriched foods, such as cereals, incorporate folic acid.
Most people do not get enough folate in their diet which increases health risks.
Obtaining sufficient folate from food proves challenging, necessitating the use of a pill.
Those who may become pregnant should take it daily.
FA pills are critical during the first trimester to prevent defects in the baby’s brain and spine, and throughout pregnancy to reduce pregnancy complications.
At least 600 mcg per day is required during pregnancy, but more may be helpful during HG.
Most prenatal vitamins have FA, but the pills are easier to tolerate when sick.
FA can be given by IV and may be needed when intake is limited for more than a few weeks.
Those with the gene variants, like MTHFR, may need active or methylated folate. (Methylfolate)
#WFAAW24

Additional Links:

Preparing for HG
Receive Support
Clinical Tools
Current Research Opportunities
Volunteer with HER
Share your HG Story

Maternal Health Awareness Day
2024-01-23
On Maternal Health Awareness Day, we join ACOG and the maternal health community to highlight maternal morbidity and mortality, and its consequences for the next generation.
Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG)* is not morning sickness. HG is a serious medical condition with a far-reaching impact that can last, not just for the term of a pregnancy, but for the remaining lives of mother and child(ren). Mothers can suffer from include neurological disorders, gastrointestinal damage, malnutrition and dehydration, and even organ failure. Children can suffer from low birth weight, intracranial hemorrhage (caused by vitamin K deficiency), intrauterine growth retardation, stillbirth, brain damage, infant disorders (neurological, respiratory, and circulatory), and abnormal development of some organs. One in three babies does not make it to term.
However, while the devastating complications of HG are numerous, the silver lining is that a great many of them are preventable with timely, effective, adequate medical care. To this end, the HER Foundation launched the 1 MOM Is 2 Many campaign.
Learn more about how you can help eliminate preventable complications of HG.

HG tools for Maternal Health Awareness Day:

Clinical Tools to understand how to manage HG treatments.
Get Help Now
About HG for Family
Maternal & Child Outcomes research
Support Groups
