Women struggling to cope with the severe effects of hyperemesis gravidarum in pregnancy will be provided with more support and care with the expansion of the MotherSafe telephone service.
The debilitating condition causes severe nausea and vomiting during pregnancy for about one woman out of every 100.
The MotherSafe telephone service will have extended hours on weekdays from 9am to 9pm and will give women living outside metropolitan Sydney access to the service if they are too unwell to travel.
Minister for Health Ryan Park said the expanded service will give women more access to counsellors and pharmacists, as well as more specific support and advice.
“Women suffering with hyperemesis gravidarum during pregnancy are often so sick they can’t go to work, care for themselves or someone else, but we want people to know that advice and management options are available,” Mr Park says.