A NI mum is helping others after suffering hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) which she has described as "horrific".
Newtownards woman Sarah Eames suffered with the condition during three pregnancies.
The 33-year-old is now making care packages for other mums going through similar.
Read more: NI GP on the symptoms to look for amid rising Scarlet fever and Strep A cases
The NHS state that HG 'is much worse than the normal nausea and vomiting of pregnancy'.
The mum of Arthur, 6, and six-month-old Mathilda, who was born five weeks premature, said: "I've had four pregnancies but I've had [hyperemesis gravidarum] in three of my pregnancies.
"I had it with my little boy - and that lasted throughout the pregnancy but not to the same extent as it did with my most recent one.
"In my little boy's pregnancy, I lost his twin.
"Then I had a pregnancy in 2020. I had a miscarriage and there was no sickness in that. I miscarried in March 2021 and I had hyperemesis then too.
"My sickness with my most recent pregnancy started in November last year, it started at week 5 of my pregnancy and escalated at week 6."
In this pregnancy a few months later as things got worse, Sarah was diagnosed with hyperemesis gravidarum.
"They were managing me with different anti-sickness tablets and then I ended up, I had a steroid treatment," she said.
Sarah said she was then diagnosed with steroid-induced diabetes which has since resolved.
"I was on insulin throughout my pregnancy... there was quite a lot going on.
"Even when I had my C-section I was retching.
"Within about ten minutes of my baby being taken out of me, everything just started to subside," she said.
The Newtownards woman described what her life was like during this pregnancy.
Sarah said: "As soon as I woke up, I vomited, I was sick all throughout the day. You just spent the day trying to keep yourself hydrated and fed. I could only really maybe eat a few foods, such as plain bread.
"[I also had] hypersalivation... My mouth was constantly filled with spit. It was pretty undignified and horrendous.
"Lot's of women get what they would call typical morning sickness... but hyperemesis is a totally different level of sickness."
Sarah said she received support from midwives but also from UK charity Pregnancy Sickness Support.
"My mental health dropped really badly because I wasn't able to go to work. I couldn't do anything, I couldn't go out of my house, I couldn't take my son to school and I couldn't cook a meal for my family.
"I could barely wash or dress myself everyday.
"Pregnancy Sickness Support were my lifeline basically, they kept me going.
"I had a peer supporter who talked to me nearly every day and they were amazing," she explained.
Sarah added how "nobody knew about them" so she decided to help others and begin creating care packages.
The 33-year-old said: "If I could tell women about Pregnancy Sickness Support, the charity and help them, it might help them get through their pregnancy...
"It's just to help women feel less alone. Each care package has hair bobbles, lip balm, we've tried to make it so it doesn't smell or taste [as they] can be real triggers.
"It's just got simple things to help with nausea, little eye masks... a notepad with a pen, as someone with hypersalivation [may] struggle to speak...
"Fluffy socks, just for comfort, a little face cloth as well...
"We've got a little leaflet in about Pregnancy Sickness Support. I also made a little affirmations card."
The Co Down woman added how she feels she "missed a year" of her life.
"It is just such a horrific thing and I think it is quite a misunderstood illness. I am so thankful that I got to the end but it was a really dark and lonely time.
"Even now when I'm going out and about, I feel I've missed a year of my life," she explained.
Sarah so far has given some of the packages to the Ulster Hospital and Craigavon Area Hospital. The mum is hoping to make more for other NI hospitals.
To visit Sarah's JustGiving page, CLICK HERE.
To find out more about Pregnancy Sickness Support, CLICK HERE. To find out about symptoms of HG, CLICK HERE.
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