Kate Middleton Pregnant: What Is Hyperemesis Gravidarum AKA Acute Morning Sickness?

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are expecting their second royal baby and Clarence House has announced that Kate is suffering from the same morning sickness as she did when expecting Prince George.

Hyperemesis Gravidarum is a fairly rare form of morning sickness that has reportedly struck the newly pregnant Duchess of Cambridge.

Kate is currently receiving treatment for the condition at Kensington Palace, which will include rehydration and nutrients, to avoid malnutrition.

The condition can be extremely unpleasant for a mum-to-be and has led to the Duchess pulling out of a royal visit to Oxford University today.

But though unpleasant, hyperemesis doesn’t signal that there’s anything wrong with the pregnancy or baby and with medical support, most women do find ways to cope and get by.

Morning sickness is very common, with around 70 per cent of pregnant women experiencing it, but hyperemesis affects just two per cent of pregnancies. It varies in severity but can cause relentless vomiting and nausea and lead to weight loss. And unlike morning sickness, hyperemesis frequently continues after the first trimester.

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Medications are available and safe to take in pregnancy to prevent vomiting, though many mums-to-be prefer not to take drugs at all. Doctors will decide to medicate if the severity of the symptoms are in any way likely to have an effect on the baby, such as not getting enough nutrition as the mother struggles to take on board enough nutrients from food.

Experiencing hyperemesis in one pregnancy doesn’t necessarily mean that future pregnancies will be affected but if you have had it once, you do have a higher chance of experiencing again.

Some home remedies for morning sickness can help for hyperemesis, such as ginger, fizzy drinks, separating solid food and fluids when eating and taking vitamin B6 supplements.

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No doubt Kate is receiving the very best care and we wish her a speeding recovery.