Pregnant woman, 26, dies by suicide while struggling with extreme morning sickness

A young woman tragically died after struggling with a pregnancy symptom that left her bedridden, unable to eat, and exhausted.

The mother of a British woman who took her life while suffering an extreme form of morning sickness when pregnant has issued a heartbreaking warning.

Jessica Cronshaw, 26, developed hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) while expecting her first child with partner Eddie Leck.

The condition – which affects around 1 in 100 pregnant Australian women – causes constant nausea and vomiting but can often be managed with prescription medication at home.

In extreme cases patients can be hospitalised as HG can lead to dehydration, rapid weight loss and malnutrition.

For most women, HG stops between 13 to 20 weeks, while a few women have HG their entire pregnancy.

Ms Cronshaw was bedridden by the condition, and “and couldn’t eat or drink without vomiting”, with her loved ones describing how she was “reduced to a shell”.

Jessica Cronshaw, 26, developed hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) while expecting her first child. Picture: Supplied

Despite being prescribed a medication named Xonvea, which helped the primary school teacher eat “a little”, she was forced to step back from her much-loved job.

But two months before her death, she was wrongly advised to reduce the dose over fears of a risk of side effects to the unborn baby.

The expectant mum later attempted suicide at 28 weeks pregnant, but clung on in hospital for five days before her death in November 2022.

Her daughter Elsie, who was delivered by emergency caesarean section, died the day before Ms Cronshaw’s life support was switched off.

Her mental health spiralled as she struggled to eat or drink. Picture: Supplied

A coroner later ruled her medical care “contributed to a deterioration in her mental health”, and now her mum Susan has called for more support for women struggling through the pregnancy condition.

“I wouldn’t want anybody to feel how Jess did, She couldn’t drink, she couldn’t eat, her weight was dropping off her. Her skin was white. She just wasn’t Jess,” she told ITV News.

“She felt like no one was listening, and they weren’t. It felt like you were just pushed from pillar to post.”

The teacher took her own life, with an inquest ruling the lack of medical intervention contributed to the ‘deterioration of her mental health’. Picture: Supplied

Susan said the HG symptoms took a huge toll on her pregnant daughter’s emotional and physical wellbeing, but stressed it wasn’t picked up or acted upon in any of her antenatal appointments.

Ms Cronshaw saw GPs, midwives, nurses and consultants, but Susan said no one recognised how sick she was.

“That’s all it would have [taken], one individual to do something for Jess, and it would have changed the outcome altogether. I know that, and I live with that,” Susan said.

An inquest into Ms Cronshaw’s death held last year concluded that “feeling unheard” contributed to “the deterioration of her mental health,” and that she was given “incorrect” guidance to stop the anti-nausea medication.

It also noted that she had “not been referred to any mental health service or support” which then led to the “impulsive” decision to take her own life.

Chief Nurse at East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust (ELHT), Peter Murphy, told ITV News it had taken on board recommendations from the inquest.

“We are so sorry we failed Jessica and Elsie when they needed our care,” he told the publication.

“We completely accept the recommendations and all issues highlighted during the inquest and have taken action.

“Of course the thoughts of everyone at ELHT remain with the family.”

Originally published as Pregnant woman, 26, dies by suicide while struggling with extreme morning sickness