A MUM who lost three stones in weight due to extreme pregnancy sickness has taken on a challenge to support suffering women.

Julia Davies, 34, suffered from hyperemesis gravidarum, a severe form of pregnancy sickness which affects only one per cent of women.

Julia gave birth to her daughter Bronwyn Davies-Mitchell in 2019, but the nine months of pregnancy left the mum battling constant nausea, dehydration and loneliness.

By the fourth week of her pregnancy, the nausea hit Julia “like a brick wall”, leaving her bedbound.

Julia, who lives in Harwich, said: “The doctor weighed me when I was six weeks pregnant, and the next time I was weighed was at six months, and I weighed just over three stones less.

“The vomiting was constant and violent, I vomited at least once an hour all day long, for weeks, and months, without letup.

“One of the hardest things about it is that virtually no-one knows about or understands the condition, and you’re left feeling that you’re just a weakling.”

Harwich and Manningtree Standard: Strong- Julia Davies, 34, of Harwich was diagnosed with rare pregnancy sicknessStrong- Julia Davies, 34, of Harwich was diagnosed with rare pregnancy sickness

Julia says one doctor even told her it was “all in her head” and it wasn’t until her fifth month she was diagnosed with hyperemesis gravidarum.

She added: “Many friends and family have been pregnant and had morning sickness and they just got on with it, so often they can’t understand why you can’t.

“My husband had to carry me into the bath and wash my hair and shower me.

“Eventually I was properly diagnosed and was admitted into hospital for an entire month and from then on I finally improved.”

Julia gave birth to a healthy daughter Bronwyn Davies-Mitchell.

To help Pregnancy Sickness Support, the UK charity which looks after women suffering from extreme nausea, Julia will be walking 12,580 steps every day throughout March.

This will total 390,000 steps for the month, which symbolises the 39 weeks she was was pregnant.

Julia added: “If I can help the people in the are understand what the condition is then maybe their sister or friend or partner could be going through the same thing and have more support.”

If you want to donate, visit bit.ly/3vAoOoR.