An inquest into the death of a pregnant teacher who suffered from a rare pregnancy sickness condition has opened.

Jessica Cronshaw, from Blackburn, was 28 weeks pregnant with her daughter Elsie when they both died in December as she battled an extreme form of sickness known as hyperemesis gravidarum.

A pre-inquest review held on Thursday, March 9, heard that the focus of the inquest will be the 26-year-old's antenatal care, the hyperemesis gravidarum and her wellbeing.

Jessica, who was 26, had been suffering with severe pregnancy sickness since she found out she was pregnant with her daughter Elsie.

Jessica’s full antenatal records will be provided from East Lancashire Teaching Hospital.

Her GP records will also be provided so the coroner can take a full look at the care that Jessica received after falling pregnant with Elsie.

Coroner Kate Bissett said that an independent person may be required depending on what the evidence from the hospital trust and GP shows.

Following Jessica and Elsie’s death, a fundraiser was set up by her cousin Steff Jane set up a Just Giving page to raise funds for Pregnancy Sickness Support, which is a charity who support women suffering from hyperemesis gravidarum which is a debilitating and potentially life-threatening pregnancy sickness condition.

The fundraiser raised more than £17,000 for the charity.

Speaking on Jess’ advocacy, her family added: “It was always going to be something Jess was going to pursue following giving birth and recovering from HG in terms of raising awareness of this debilitating condition and the lack of adequate knowledge, support and care that fellow sufferers of HG receive.

“Jess, even when bed bound, used her Instagram platform to share the charity Pregnancy Sickness Support and all the amazing and essential support and lifelines they offer to HG sufferers.

“We as a family don’t ever want any HG sufferer to experience what Jess experienced and to go through what loss and grief we are all facing now as a family. This is the start of Jess and Elsie’s legacy.”

Hyperemesis gravidarum is a severe form of nausea and vomiting while pregnant, where a woman may be sick many times a day and be unable to keep food or drink down, which can impact on their daily life.

The inquest is expected to last two days and is likely to be held at Accrington Town Hall.