Oh Kate. Congratulations and all that stuff. But oh Kate.
The world’s media is all aflutter today with the news the Duchess of Cambridge is pregnant. Unlike the previous speculative articles this time it is for real because the woman is currently in hospital attached to a drip, believed to be suffering from hyperemesis gravidarum. That’s acute morning sickness for those of you who breezed through your pregnancy.
Already there have been mentions that she might have overdone it with that high-heel hockey she had a bash at last week when she visited her old school. ‘Cause everyone is a medical expert!
The commentators have glossed over the whole throwing up thing and moved on to due dates and baby names. With special interest in what the maternity wardrobe might look.
Oh Kate.
Here’s a word of advice from someone who has done the whole head-down-the-toilet-for-nine-months thing.
Stay home. Cancel all engagements and take to your bed for the entire pregnancy. I’m serious about this, an official engagement where you vomit into the lap of some nondescript dignitary is going to go viral I’m telling you now, best to avoid any risk of that happening at all.
Move to the palace and make use of every servant available!
Ignore those who say pregnancy isn’t an illness, it bloody well is when you deal with constant nausea and unstoppable vomiting. While we are at it you’ll have to ignore those who suggest it’s all in your head, you just need to exercise more and all you need is a positive attitude. Can you still order people to the dungeons? ‘Cause that would be the best place for these “just trying to help” individuals.
I would also suggest you use the term hyperemesis gravidarum as often as you can. It sounds serious. Worthy of sympathy and treatment. Morning sickness doesn’t sound that bad, a touch of feeling unwell in the morning then on with your day. Bears no resemblance to the severe nausea, low blood pressure, headaches, lethargy you are going to feel most of the time if this continues.
The self-appointed experts are also suggesting that when you pass the 12 week mark the morning sickness will magically evaporate. That might happen. However, if you are already attached to a drip I’m thinking there’s a chance you might be in for the long haul.
Eat dry crackers before you raise your head from the pillow, a touch of vegemite was also beneficial at times, Minties, Seasame Snaps, some ginger. These are all things which might give you a small window of reprieve. Or they may not.
As someone who dealt with this twice (I don’t know what I was thinking) I’m here to tell you it’s hell. But you do survive it. The baby arrives and is beautiful and lovely (you are physically exhausted, mentally drained and go straight into all nighters and on demand feeding). I’d suggest you take every resource available to you, oh what I would done for a nanny in those early days!
Good luck.
By the way, avoid the Beef in Black Bean Sauce, it doesn’t come back well, just sayin’.
I never suffered a second of sickness with my first, but 2&3 saw me holding a bowl all day every day – not even the hospital wanted to help. Now I’m pregnant with my 4th and she’s sick, maybe someone will believe that I am, too.
I find myself saying Oh Cate again this morning! Sweetheart insist on getting help. You need to be well hydrated and healthy to help your little girl. I did take drugs with the second one because I was so unwell it was becoming dangerous. Nothing really made a huge difference but at least the trips to hospital and the drips did stop me dehydrating. My girls were both born small (Princess Child was 7 weeks early because of a placenta problem) I hate to think how small they would have been if the doctors hadn’t listened and given me treatment. Keep going back and until you find someone who will listen.
I can’t even imagine how horrible HG must be 🙁 I had run-of-the-mill morning sickness and that was horrid. I hope they find something to help her soon.
Perfect advice Janine! Couldn’t have said it better myself. x
I had 9 month all day sickness with both of my children. I think that in part explains the almost 5 year gap. Poor Kate, she is going to get so much advice I hope a lot of it is friendly like yours is.
Could you think of anything worse than dealing with chronic morning in the public eye? They are talking maternity fashion, if she manages to get on a pair of trakkie daks to make it to the corner shop she’ll be doing well.
You are all going to hate me because I had 4 perfect little angels without a bit of morning sickness…extremely minimal weight gain…very quick deliveries (4 hours for the 1st and by the 4th a very quick 2.5 hours)! I am not good at being sick so it’s a good thing…but on the flip side I would have had kept having kids had I had the finances to afford them. I have friends who have had the morning sickness route and I feel for you all! AND thank the Lord I was lucky! Congratulations Kate!
Wow four kids without morning sickness, I can’t imagine it.
j – important topic! we adopted, but my sister had this. just awful. timely and useful topic! best, n
I normally avoid stories about the Royals (just as I have avoided pregnancy), but yours was very entertaining (not so much for Kate and all those who’ve gone through Morning Sickness, I imagine). Or should I say it was entertainingly written.