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Angus teacher spurred on to raise awareness of pregnancy illness

Heather Miranda.
Heather Miranda.

An Angus teacher is helping in the fight against a potentially life-threatening illness that affects thousands of pregnant women each year.

Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG) became prominent through its connection to the Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton.

But Arbroath music teacher Heather Miranda, who was a contemporary of the royal and her then boyfriend Prince William while at St Andrews University, is still fighting for recognition of a condition that affects up to 2% of pregnant women.

The Dundee resident has arranged a craft fair in Brechin this weekend but is mindful awareness is as important as money when dealing with a misunderstood and often ignored subject.

Ms Miranda, 31, who is originally from Brechin, suffered from HG in 2009 when pregnant with her son Joseph.

“I’ve been volunteering and supporting women through their pregnancies for two years and I’ve been with Pregnancy Support for about a year,” she said.

“I think any efforts to raise awareness are going in the right direction but there is a long, long way to go before people know what HG is about.

“Although Kate Middleton has raised awareness it’s been a mixed thing because she almost had this miraculous recovery.

“There’s another side to it. I received an email from a woman the other day who had terminated her pregnancy because her doctor had only offered one of the medicines that help the symptoms.”

Ms Miranda is the charity’s regional leader for Scotland and team leader for Northern Ireland and the North of England.

The craft fair on Saturday runs from noon to 4pm in Brechin City Hall, and all proceeds will go to the charity.

There will be more than 20 sales tables, live music, cake and refreshment, and children’s attractions.

Many businesses and friends of Ms Miranda have donated to the event so far.