Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales, has always been an icon of fashion and grace.
But did you know that she carried all three of her pregnancies with great pain?
She suffered from a severe pregnancy-related illness known as hyperemesis gravidarum (HG), which caused severe vomiting, dehydration and required medical attention.
The condition forced her to cancel appointments and she was hospitalized during her first pregnancy.
It even caused her to miss her son George’s first day of school in 2017. She described the experience as “not the happiest pregnant woman.”
Kate later opted for hypnobirthing techniques to manage the disease, a method of preparing for childbirth that uses self-hypnosis, deep breathing and relaxation techniques to manage pain and reduce anxiety.
What is HG?
Hyperemesis gravidarum is a severe form of nausea and vomiting, distinct from ‘morning sickness’, which affects about 0.3% to 1.5% of pregnancies. It can cause malnutrition, electrolyte imbalance and significant weight loss.
Moreover, HG regularly recurs in subsequent pregnancies, as experienced by the princess in all three of her pregnancies.
Unlike typical morning sickness, HG is not relieved by simple remedies, often requiring hospitalization for IV fluids to treat severe dehydration.
