The Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton will soon have her third baby and is already in labour. The speculations about her due date and the gender of the baby has been doing rounds since quite some time now. The Duchess was forced to reveal her pregnancy in the early months due to a peculiar condition known as Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG), which causes persistent nausea and vomiting. She reportedly suffered from the condition even in the first two pregnancies when she was carrying Prince George and Princess Charlotte.  While morning sickness is a common phenomenon seen in pregnant women around the world, HG is quite rare and it affects one in every 100 mothers-to-be.

About

If you’re suffering from HG, you’ll probably find you struggle to keep anything down. HG usually begins between four and seven weeks and end by the time you’re about 20 weeks pregnant. Morning sickness and HG are very different conditions. They have different complications and side effects for pregnant women. It is important to distinguish between these two conditions to properly treat symptoms. HG is an extreme form of morning sickness that causes severe nausea and vomiting during pregnancy. It also causes severe dehydration and doesn’t allow you to keep any food or fluids down.

Causes

The exact cause of HG is unknown. Like morning sickness, a few factors are likely to be involved, including hormonal changes. Morning sickness and HG seem to have a connection to human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). This is a hormone created during pregnancy by the placenta. Your body produces a large amount of this hormone at a rapid rate early in pregnancy. The hCG levels typically double every 48 to 72 hours. These levels can continue to rise throughout your pregnancy. You are also more likely to develop HG is you are expecting your first baby, you are expecting twins or triplets, your sister or mum had HG during their pregnancies, if you are prone to travel sickness or migraines and if you are young.

Signs & Symptoms

Less than half of women with HG experience symptoms their entire pregnancy. Some of the most common signs and symptoms are:

  • Constant nausea and vomiting more than three to four times per day

  • Severe dehydration

  • Feeling light-headed or dizzy

  • Losing more than five percent of your body weight

  • Food aversions

  • Decrease in urination

  • Low blood pressure

  • Loss of skin elasticity

  • Secondary anxiety or depression

Diagnosis

A standard physical exam is enough to diagnose most cases and your health care provider will ask you about your medical history and your symptoms. The common signs your doctor will look for are abnormally low blood pressure or a fat pulse. Blood and urine samples may also be necessary to check for signs of dehydration. An ultrasound might be necessary to find out if you’re pregnant with twins or if there’s a mass in your uterus from trophoblastic disease.

Treatment

Treatment for HG depends on the severity of your symptoms. Your doctor may recommend natural nausea prevention methods such as vitamin B6 or ginger. Try eating smaller, more frequent meals and dry foods such as crackers. Severe cases may require hospitalisation. Pregnant women who are unable to keep fluids or food down will need to get them through an IV. Taking oral medications when diagnosed with HG can cause maternal dehydration which is a more concerning problem.

The good news is that the symptoms of HG will disappear after giving birth. However, postpartum recovery is often longer for women with HG. Talking with your doctor and pursuing education and support groups can help you and your family deal with the repercussions of HG.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 18, 2018 12:30 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).