Hyperemisis gravidarum



So, the Duchess of Cambridge is expecting but is now holed up in hospital with hyperemisis gravidarum and just in case anyone out there is shrugging their shoulders and muttering, "Oh, just morning sickness then" I can assure you, from personal experience, it certainly isn't!
Hyperemisis gravidarum is apparently the result of an extreme reaction to the hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) and can vary from mild morning sickness to the more extreme, debilitating reaction that Kate is suffering from at present.
During my first pregnancy, with Elder Daughter, my morning sickness rapidly escalated to the inability to keep anything down, even the smallest sip of water. I was still working, of course, and dragging myself into a classroom of lively three and four year olds soon became beyond me, although I had to work hard to convince my head teacher (childless) of that!
In those days, the late seventies, a drug called Debendox was prescribed. I was assured by my GP that there was no danger of side effects, unlike Thalidimide, which had been the drug of choice in the previous decade, so I trusted him and took it and thankfully, there were no ill effects with that or my subsequent three pregnancies. Yes, I put myself through that three more times!

So, I wish Kate a speedy recovery and, if she's reading this, (Would you doubt it?) it's worth it in the end, when you hold your baby in your arms. I couldn't wait to do it all again ... and again...!



8 comments:

Rosie said...

I had a conversation with a colleague today who hasn't any children and I was telling her that as soon as you have a baby in your arms all the months of sickness and pain starts to fade away.
If it didn't there would be a lot more people having only one child :)

Jennytc said...

So true, Rosie. :)

Cro Magnon said...

Just when the body requires more nourishment, it decides to reject everything. What strange creatures are humans. And if she's reading this (I presume she does), congratulations!

Jennytc said...

It is rather weird, Cro. when I was expecting Hugh (2nd child) I developed allergic rhinitis, which resulted in almost losing my sense of smell for several years afterwards.

ZACL said...

I saw a peer group mum struggle with this condition throughout a pregnancy, her second. She was in hospital more than once during this nine months experience. The first pregnancy for her was not quite so difficult, if it had been, I doubt there would have been a second. She did not repeat the experience with a third. My sympathies echo yours.

Yorkshire Pudding said...

" I couldn't wait to do it all again ... and again...!" Hang on! Have you told Keith about this? You'll have to get rid of NASA and stick a playpen there instead!

Jennytc said...

Although the medication I was given would probably be frowned upon now, at least it enabled me to carry on my daily life rather than having to be hospitalised.

Jennytc said...

Before his time, YP and there are time limits to these things, you know! ;)

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