Kate Middleton and Hyperemesis Gravidarum

On Monday it was announced that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, aka William and Kate, are expecting their first baby. Although no one has confirmed how far along Kate is, it is believed she is approaching her twelfth week. The news came after Kate was admitted to hospital with hyperemesis gravidarum which is also known as acute morning sickness.

What is hyperemesis gravidarum (HG)?

The condition affects only one in 200 of pregnant women and is diagnosed when the mother is vomiting excessively and can't keep anything down. However, some doctors only diagnose the condition officially when the mother is suffering from dehydration or has lost 5% of her pre-baby weight. HG makes life very difficult for the mother as even the act of swallowing can lead to needing to vomit.

What are the health risks of HG?

Hyperemesis gravidarum brings with it all the health risks of excessive vomiting. The milder ones include back pain, burning throat, being severely uncomfortable, stress and insomnia. However, it can also cause exhaustion and depression. The main worry with hyperemesis gravidarum is the risk of dehydration. The mother is at risk because the body is unable to absorb any of fluids drank because it is all being thrown back up. Treatment includes taking anti-sickness pills and vitamins and being monitored at hospital. In severe cases, fluids may be delivered to the mother's bloodstream via an IV drip.

Will HG affect Kate's baby?

Luckily, the condition shouldn't have any negative impact on Kate and William's baby, although Kate is likely to be suffering with it. If Kate was to continuously lose weight with the condition, there is a chance that the baby might be born with a low birth weight. However, as Kate is getting treatment in hospital it is hoped that she will recover as soon as possible.

When will Kate feel better?

Typically, HG will begin to get better around week 14 to 16 of a woman's pregnancy. That means that if Kate is around 11 weeks pregnant as speculated, she should be feeling better in three to five weeks. Most women who suffer from HG have completely recovered by their twentieth week of pregnancy, however it rare cases HG has been known to continue throughout the whole pregnancy.

We really hope Kate feels better soon and recovers fully from hyperemesis gravidarum ASAP. Let us know if you've suffered from the same condition as Kate below or in our forums.

About the author

Rosanne Moulding

Alice graduated from the University of Nottingham with a Masters degree in Classics, before moving to live in Canada where she worked as Marketing Coordinator for a publishing press.

Twitter | My Blog