Duchesnay USA Announces Publication of National Voice of Pregnancy Survey Findings In Current Issue of Obstetrical and Gynecological Survey

ROSEMONT, Pa., Oct. 8, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Duchesnay USA announced today the publication of its National Voice of Pregnancy survey in Obstetrical and Gynecological Survey highlighting the impact that nausea and vomiting of pregnancy (NVP), or morning sickness, has on pregnant women. The paper also outlines opportunities for healthcare professionals to engage and educate women earlier about their options.  The survey, conducted by National Analysts Worldwide and supported by Duchesnay USA, found that 74% of women were concerned that NVP prevented them from eating nutritiously, potentially affecting the health of their unborn babies. Additionally, nearly 44% thought NVP made it hard for them to gain weight during pregnancy.

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Since NVP is often seen as a "rite of passage" for pregnant women, many women in the survey failed to seek help from healthcare professionals for their NVP symptoms, despite significant negative impact on their lives. And those whose healthcare professionals did ask about NVP reported that professionals failed to inquire about the effect of symptoms on their daily activities. 

"As a company dedicated to the health and well-being of women and their unborn babies, we feel very strongly that pregnant women suffering from nausea and vomiting of pregnancy, more commonly known as morning sickness, should feel empowered to speak up about their symptoms to their health care professional," said Gilbert Godin, President and CEO of Duchesnay USA.

To provide access to information on NVP that can help women manage their symptoms, Duchesnay USA launched www.morningsicknessUSA.com – a comprehensive NVP resource that includes recipes, lifestyle management and articles by experts. A complete copy of the survey results is also available on the website.

More than two-thirds of all survey respondents reported that NVP diminished their general enjoyment of pregnancy, and some women, especially those with moderate/severe symptoms, reported anxiety about the health of the baby and lacked confidence that they were doing the best they could for their unborn child.   

"The pregnancy journey can be an exciting, but anxious time for the pregnant woman and her partner," said Barbara Hughes, CNM, MS, MBA, Fellow of the American College of Nurse-Midwives. "Women need to know they can seek information and management recommendations from their HCPs because symptoms of NVP often occur before the first prenatal visit and discussion about NVP ideally takes place even earlier."

The published paper, which was authored by Hughes; Shannon Clark, MD, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston; and Susan McDonald, Ph.D., National Analyst Worldwide, recommends healthcare professionals potentially integrate the following activities into their practice:

• Provide education about symptoms of NVP and its consequences – acknowledging its impact on quality of life and better preparing patients to handle the changes and ask for assistance
• Specifically inquire about the effects of NVP on quality of life – addressing the emotional and physical toll on the pregnant woman
• Open lines of communication early – possibly designate a phone contact who is available to answer questions as many (4 out of 5) women experience NVP before their first prenatal visit

For more information visit www.morningsicknessUSA.com or find us on Twitter at @NVPregnancy.

Survey Methodology

A total of 621 women who were currently pregnant or had given birth within the past six months, and experienced nausea and/or vomiting during their most recent pregnancy participated in an online survey in October/November of 2012 conducted by National Analysts Worldwide. Survey participants were drawn from SSI (Survey Sample Incorporated), one of the nation's largest demographically representative web panels.

About Nausea and Vomiting of Pregnancy (NVP)

Nausea and vomiting of pregnancy (NVP), or morning sickness, affects 70 to 85 percent of pregnant women. NVP can present differently for each woman, the symptoms include: nausea, gagging, retching, dry heaving, vomiting, and odor and/or food aversion.  For most pregnant women, symptoms generally cease at approximately 16 to 20 weeks. However, some women can experience symptoms throughout their pregnancy. For more information please visit www.MorningsicknessUSA.com.

About Duchesnay USA

Duchesnay USA is a unique healthcare company devoted to safeguarding the health and well-being of expectant mothers and their unborn babies. Its affiliate company, Duchesnay Inc. was founded in 1970 in Canada, the family-owned company realigned its business in 1992 to focus specifically on pregnant women after a family member experienced a very difficult pregnancy. Duchesnay USA was established in Rosemont, Pennsylvania in 2011 to pursue that same mission. Realizing a lack of sufficient information on medications for use in pregnancy, Duchesnay USA strives to ensure that expectant women who require pharmacological treatments have access to proper medical advice and therapies that are safe for them and their unborn babies. Duchesnay USA's mission is to develop pharmacological solutions to reduce the symptoms of nausea and vomiting during pregnancy (NVP). For more information on Duchesnay USA, please visit www.DuchesnayUSA.com.

About National Analysts Worldwide

A Philadelphia-based research and consulting firm, NA Worldwide is the world's oldest business intelligence organization, supplying opinion research and decision support to commercial organizations and policy-makers for over a century.  Areas of particular focus include the life sciences, in which the firm conducts over 50 surveys each year with providers, patients, and other healthcare decision-makers, as well as assignments intended to produce evidentiary data for federal court decisions.   

SOURCE Duchesnay USA