International Colloquium Hyperemesis Gravidarum (ICHG)

Attending International Colloquium Hyperemesis Gravidarum (ICHG) in early November was an incredible experience, and I’m so grateful that I had the opportunity to participate in such an impactful conference! The event brought together researchers, advocates, and experts in genetics and health, providing an inspiring platform to discuss innovation and collaboration. A special highlight was meeting and learning from leaders like Marlena Fejzo (pictured), whose groundbreaking work in hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) research has paved the way for greater understanding and advocacy. For those unfamiliar, HG is a debilitating and potentially life-threatening pregnancy disease characterized by severe nausea and vomiting leading to malnutrition, dehydration, weight loss, and a host of other pregnancy complications. As someone who experienced HG firsthand, I’m deeply passionate about advancing research in this area to improve care, resources, and outcomes for HG patients worldwide. One major theme that resonated with me during the conference was the importance of collaboration between researchers, patients, and advocates to drive meaningful change in healthcare outcomes. It’s a principle I aim to embody in my future contributions to the HG field. A heartfelt thank you to the HER Foundation for organizing this incredible conference and awarding me a scholarship through a grant provided by The National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) to fund my attendance. This journey wouldn’t have been possible without their generous financial support for travel and childcare assistance. Their commitment to accessibility is invaluable, and I deeply appreciate their efforts to include early-career researchers and caregivers like me. Thank you also to the ICHG 2024 team, speakers, and fellow attendees for making this such a memorable event. I’m excited to carry the ideas and connections I’ve gained into my next steps, particularly as I work toward advancing HG research and advocacy. #ICHG2024 #HyperemesisGravidarum #ConferenceExperience #Genetics #Research #Advocacy #Gratitude #WomenInSTEM #CaregiverSupport #Conference #Pregnancy #ResearchConference #PregnancyResearch #Onwards4HG

What an amazing conference! Grateful for our sponsors and awesome volunteers that made it a success. So much progress and many new attendees. Watch for more info on videos from the conference. Looking forward to ICHG 2026 in Europe! #ICHG2024 #Volunteers #genetics #pregnancy

Repost + BTS Although I was initially gutted not to attend the inaugural hyperemesis conference in LA this month, seeing the daily posts and updates reminded me of the importance of the work I’ve been doing to raise awareness about HG. It’s a powerful reminder that even in the rooms you aren’t present in, your impact can still be felt. The conference brought together experts, advocates, and survivors to share knowledge, discuss advancements, and amplify voices in the fight to improve care and understanding for those affected by hyperemesis gravidarum. #HyperemesisGravidarum #HGWarrior #RaisingAwareness #HGConference #MaternalHealth #Advocacy #SupportMoms #PregnancyAwareness #GlobalHealth #CommunityImpact cc: Jemma Martin Clare Hughes Photography HER Foundation

Congratulations to the ICHG 2024 award winners!🏆 We're excited to see the continued impact of your research. 🔹 Hilde Erdal - Best Poster Presentation 🔹 Loïs van der Minnen - Best Poster Presentation by a Trainee 🔹 Joanne Sloan Lancaster - Best Oral Presentation 🔹 Sarit Kang-Auger - Best Oral Presentation by a Trainee #ICHG2024 #researchers #awards

Cutting-edge research. Inspiring connections. ICHG 2024 was a chance to learn from the best in the world. Here are a few pictures taken by attendees at the conference. #conference #researchconference #ICHG2024

What a conference! What a team! These are the people transforming lives through HG research and informed practice! Until we all meet again.... #ICHG2024 #hyperemesisgravidarum #research HER Foundation Stichting ZEHG Pregnancy Sickness Support Hyperemesis Ireland

Many thanks to the talented Clare Hughes 👏, our conference photographer, for her talent, skills, and constant energy in capturing ICHG 2024. We can't wait to share the conference through her lens. 👉 Don't miss The Hidden Mothers series on Instagram @thehiddenmothers. #ICHG2024 #conference #research

The final clean up is complete and the sun has set on #ICHG2024! Thank you all for a beautiful conference! A special shoutout to our host, HER Foundation, and the charities who attended, Pregnancy Sickness Support, Stichting ZEHG, and Hyperemesis Ireland. Thank you, Bikkja Trust, Burroughs Wellcome Fund, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), NGM Biopharmaceuticals, and Harmonia for your grants and sponsorships. We'll be sharing more about the conference and hope all of you want to continue the conversations, or join them if you couldn't attend. #Ventura #hyperemesisgravidarum

Als stichting faciliteiten wij onderzoek naar (extreme-) zwangerschapsmisselijkheid en Hyperemesis Gravidarum. Wij bieden onderzoekers bijvoorbeeld de mogelijkheid hun onderzoek te presenteren en wij plaatsen oproepen als er deelnemers worden gezocht voor een onderzoek. De lijntjes die wij als hebben met de Nederlandse onderzoeksgroep voor Hyperemesis Gravidarum zijn heel goed. Loïs van der Minnen Iris Grooten Marjolein Houben Larissa Jansen Rebecca Painter Tessa Roseboom en vele anderen Amsterdam UMC Doctoral School Amsterdam UMC #stichtingzehg #jebentnietalleen #hyperemesisgravidarum #hyperemesisgravidarumawareness #hyperemesisgravidarumresearch #hgresearch #ichg2024 #MOTHERstudie #mothertrial #amsterdamumc #maternal #offspringoutcome #treatment #refeeding #windsordefinition #justgrowhgexpert #justgrowacademy #onderzoek

Addressing Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG) in Uganda: A Study on the Efficacy of Promethazine vs. Ondansetron Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG), a severe form of pregnancy-related nausea and vomiting, remains a significant challenge to maternal health in Uganda. The absence of clear treatment guidelines, coupled with limited healthcare resources, exacerbates the situation. In my study presented at the ICHG 2024 Conference, I compared two of the most commonly used medications for managing HG—Promethazine and Ondansetron—to determine their effectiveness, safety, and cost-effectiveness in a low-resource setting like Northern Uganda. Study Design: The randomized controlled trial involved 102 primigravid women aged 18 to 40 years, diagnosed with HG. These participants were randomly assigned to receive either Promethazine (25 mg every 6 hours) or Ondansetron (4 mg every 8 hours). The primary outcome measured was the reduction in nausea and vomiting severity, using the Pregnancy-Unique Quantification of Emesis (PUQE) score. Results: Reduction in PUQE Scores: • Ondansetron: Average reduction of 12.5 points (95% CI: 10.8–14.2) • Promethazine: Average reduction of 8.3 points (95% CI: 6.9–9.7) (p<0.01) Maternal Weight Gain: • Ondansetron: 3.2 kg (95% CI: 2.8-3.6) • Promethazine: 2.8 kg (95% CI: 2.4-3.2) (p=0.15) Gestational Age at Delivery: • Ondansetron: 39.2 weeks (95% CI: 38.8-39.6) • Promethazine: 37.5 weeks (95% CI: 37.1-37.9) (p=0.02) Neonatal Birth Weight: • Ondansetron: 3.2 kg (95% CI: 3.0–3.4) • Promethazine: 2.8 kg (95% CI: 2.6–3.0) (p=0.03) Adverse Effects: • Ondansetron: 4% • Promethazine: 12% (p=0.03) Interpretation and Conclusion: The results suggest that Ondansetron significantly outperformed Promethazine in reducing the severity of nausea and vomiting in women with HG. Notably, Ondansetron also resulted in fewer adverse effects, leading to better overall symptom control. Despite the higher cost of Ondansetron, it provided better value due to improved outcomes, making it a preferable choice for managing HG in low-resource settings like Uganda. However, both Promethazine and Ondansetron remain the most accessible and commonly used treatments for HG in Uganda. While Promethazine is cheaper and more readily available, it comes with a higher incidence of side effects that can hinder patient compliance and the overall effectiveness of treatment. On the other hand, Ondansetron, though more expensive, shows superior results in terms of symptom relief and maternal and fetal health outcomes. Acknowledgments: A special thank you to Her Foundation, Bikkja Trust Fund, and ICHG for providing me with a scholarship to present this study at the conference. The insights gained will help us shape healthcare policies and treatment strategies for Hyperemesis Gravidarum in Uganda and similar low-resource settings, ensuring better care for mothers and babies. #ICHG2024 #HERFoundation