The HER Foundation is the global voice of HG Progress. We’re a 501(c)3 nonprofit that provides support, groundbreaking research, advocacy, and education on hyperemesis. Since 2000, we have been the leading source of information on HG and have helped hundreds of thousands of families across the globe.
HER is dedicated to helping those suffering hyperemesis and those who have survived it. Only those who experience HG can truly understand how difficult it is! The Foundation is here to be a voice of support and education to all who are faced with managing HG. Our mission is to provide education, research, support and advocacy to improve management of HG. HER Foundation EIN: 71-0912435.
Creating an Impact
Today, the website receives over 200,000 visitors each year from all over the world and manages a global volunteer network with over 900 participants. Additionally, HER is active at medical conferences and on social media educating and increasing awareness, as well as collaborating with universities on research studies to identify the impact and causes of HG, determine optimum management strategies, and drive change.
HER Foundation was a ray of hope during the physical and psychological misery of my first HG pregnancy. Their resources helped educate me and my loved ones about what I was going through and how to advocate for better healthcare solutions. It has made a world of difference in my second HG pregnancy that I’ve been able to get access to these medical interventions early on and minimize the effects of this debilitating condition.
- Rachael H., HG survivor
Improving Care | Improving Outcomes
Finding in our research that timely medical intervention improves the short and long-term health of both mother and child, Kimber works with the HER Foundation clinical advisors to create tools and resources to help families and medical professionals improve the care and outcome of mothers and babies. They have also created the HG Care app which is innovating HG management.
Improving care only happens if these resources are used, so HER attends international conferences to educate clinicians on best practicies that address the issues mothers face every day and offer answers to practical management.
I had HG from 7 weeks until birth at 33 weeks. I was hospitalized for dehydration, preterm labor and a blood clot. I had IV fluids and home health care almost daily. Without HER, my doctors would have had no idea for to treat me. I did my research so I knew what treatments to ask for, and how to advocate for myself. My husband found the section on how family can understand HG so helpful. He was able to advocate for me and ask the right questions when I wasn't able to myself.
- Amanda Streets, HG survivorÂ
Changing the Future
Thus, HER provides health care professionals with clinical tools and resources they need to provide consistent, proactive, effective care for women with HG, and offers women and their families resources to better cope with this debilitating condition. This means a healthier future for mothers and their children.
HG was 10 unbearable weeks of constant suffering, horrifying for me, horrifying for my family, and deadly for my innocent, unborn child. When I recovered, I was shocked to learn that there was so little scientific research on HG, and there and then, decided to devote my life to studying HG.
- Marlena Fejzo, Geneticist, HG survivorÂ
Looking Forward | Finding Answers
Dr. Marlena Fejzo, a Harvard-trained geneticist at the University of Southern California, is the world's leading researcher on HG and leads the HER Research Team. HER also works with international researchers and clinicians as part of the International Collaboration on HG (ICHG). She is the first to discover genes causing HG, including GDF15 which produces a hormone that when elevated causes many of the symptoms of HG.
Knowing HG is caused by our genes changes everything. No longer are women blamed for their suffering, and now we can focus our attention on priorities such as how we can influence the expression of these genes, test prior to pregnancy to know which women will develop severe pregnancy vomiting, and determine which medications are most likely to work based on a woman's genes.
- Kimber MacGibbon, RN & Marlena Fejzo, PhDÂ
Nearly all of the research we do is funded by private donors as grants are extremely rare for HG. You can make HG history by getting involved and supporting HER collaborative research!
HER Foundation booth at SMFM 20 in Texas.
Kimber, Kelly R. and Marlena F. educating doctors about our research, clinical tools, and resources.
Kimber MacGibbon, Patrick Mullin, and Marlena Fejzo were among the 5 HER leaders present at the conference.
The HER team in Copenhagen
Marlena speaking about GDF15
Kimber presenting the HELP Score
Working on the international HG research priorities
Oregon Health Sciences University Maternal Morbidity and Mortality Summit, Portalnd, OR, November 2019
Society for Maternal Fetal Medicine Conference, Las Vegas, NV, February 2019
International Colloquium on Hyperemesis Gravidarum, London, October 2017
Time Square, 2012
Dr. Phil Show, 2007
Congressional Briefing, 2005
