Kate Middleton recalled her acute morning sickness today as she had a conversation with a fellow parent during a visit she made to a sensory development class in Kent.
The mother-of-three suffered with Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG) throughout all of her pregnancies.
What is Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG)?
In fact, now 41-year-old’s first pregnancy was announced early, before she reached the typical 12-week point, after she was hospitalised with the condition, which causes persistent and excessive nausea and vomiting during pregnancy.
HG is common, affecting around 15 per cent of all pregnancies.
Causes of HG
However in its extreme form – where a pregnant woman is admitted to hospital or suffers the condition throughout her pregnancy – it is much more rare.
It is much more serious than the nausea commonly experienced by expectant mothers.
The condition is thought to be caused by elevated levels of ‘pregnancy hormone’ HCG, or human chorionic gonadotropin, which increases after conception.
She spoke about it with father-of-four Steve Ikebuwa from Gravesend, whose youngest child Nathan, 11 months, has profound learning difficulties.
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He told her how the Kent Portage Service has helped with Nathan’s development.
Mr Ikebuwa told the Princess that – like her – his wife had suffered the severe morning sickness, hyperemesis gravidarum, which causes severe vomiting during pregnancy.
He said of the interchange: ‘It was nice meeting her. When I told her about my wife having Hyperemesis gravidarum, it struck a chord with her.
‘You could see an expression of “I went through that”.’
He added: ‘She said “I had that, I know what it’s like”. You could see her connection to the fact that my wife went through all of that.
‘That really resonated with me. She is a pleasant lady.’
During Kate’s visit, her maternal side was most definitely in evidence.
She appeared to enjoy engaging with the children, from rubbing toddlers’ backs and tickling their tummies, to helping them to daub toys with foam and throw tinsel and shredded paper around.
