Hyperemesis Gravidarum – The Facts
Along with everyone else in the UK, Nannyjob let out a huge ‘Hurrah’ this week upon hearing the lovely royal baby news. We’ve all watched this perfect pair go through the courtship we all envied, then the wedding of the century. And now, the ultimate – a new cute bundle of joy for the nation’s sweethearts.
So, after our excitement had (only mildly) died down, we started to feel really quite sorry for the beautiful Kate, as we heard that she’d been admitted to a London hospital with hyperemesis gravidarum (a.k.a acute morning sickness). Now you may be thinking that all or most expectant mums get a bit of morning sickness – true, but this acute condition means that rehydration is needed, hence the hospitalisation. So, as we are always here to be the fountain of knowledge to our lovely readers (or tell you what the doctors say!), here we explain what Kate is going through:
- hyperemesis gravidarum, is a serious medical condition with potential consequences for mother and baby.
- by definition, the condition is the loss of at least 5% of the total body weight.
- while seven out of ten pregnant women suffer nausea, usually in the first three months, some are sick morning noon and night throughout, vomiting as much as 25 times a day.
- Other than the vomiting and nausea the mother might also experience very sensitive olfactory sensations, bad taste in the mouth, shivering, difficulty reading (from dehydration and changes to the eye), and delayed gastric emptying.
- Charlotte Bronte is believed to have been a victim. Women were dying from this condition up to the 1950’s.
- Now dehydration can be treated with a drip and is a common reason for hospitalisation accounting for more than 25,000 admissions a year.
- Now for the fun bit – A Swedish study in The Lancet in 1999 suggested women suffering from the condition were slightly more likely to be carrying a girl (we’re already making a list of potential royal girls names!).
Nannyjob is super excited about the royal baby, and wishes Kate and William the very best of luck with their pregnancy. And who knows.. They might even start their search for a nanny soon….! 😉
“we’re already making a list of potential royal girls names” – oh yes? Care to reveal your predictions?
Best wishes, Alex
Based on past Queens and Princesses of England we quite like Mathilda or Maud, Cecily, Adelaide, Eleanor, Constance, Sophia, Charlotte and Alexandra.
Frances is also a lovely name, and would be a nod to Diana, Princess of Wales, and there’s precedent for Philippa or Henrietta in honour of the Godparents. Last but not least we think Elizabeth will feature somewhere too. It’s a pretty long list!
We’ve put Joan, Goda and Gunhilda on the unlikely pile, though….