Fluids hold key to Kate’s recovery

The Duchess of Cambridge will need to take it easy over the coming days after being released from hospital. Health experts said Kate, who spent three days at London’s King Edward VII Hospital after being admitted with severe morning sickness, will now need to make sure she drinks plenty of fluids.

Hyperemesis gravidarum is a rare condition which causes severe vomiting during pregnancy while other symptoms include severe nausea, low blood pressure and fast heart rate, headaches, lethargy or confusion.

Women who are admitted to hospital with it are usually treated by being given fluids intravenously and by anti-sickness tablets.

Consultant obstetrician Daghni Rajasingam, spokeswoman for the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, said that once out of hospital, it is important sufferers maintain their intake of fluids and eat small amounts as they will no longer be on a drip.

She said: “Essentially, women who have hyperemesis gravidarum would just be resting and maintaining hydration, and maintaining their food intake as much as they can and controlling the nausea and vomiting symptoms.

“They should eat anything they find palatable, what they can keep down, it’s a matter of working out the things that make the nausea worse. Fluid intake is really key, water being the best liquid.”

The condition can cause extreme weight loss but Rajasingam said women will put the weight back on once they are eating and drinking again. She added: “It’s directly related to how much vomiting they have had and if they are managing to keep food down and absorbing calories from what they eat.”

Asked about the amount of rest the Duchess is likely to need, Rajasingam said: “The sort of advice a woman would be given would be to take it easy over the next few days and be reasonable about the amount of activities depending on how active they were before. (PA)

Little-known pregnancy condition

• Hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) is a severe form of nausea and vomiting in pregnancy that can be debilitating because it causes serious dehydration and malnutrition. The condition is often misunderstood, even by healthcare professionals.

• Other symptoms include low blood pressure and fast heart rate, headaches, lethargy or confusion.

• HG often prevents women from eating or drinking, thus they lose weight during pregnancy and have difficulty carrying on daily activities.

• Diagnosis is usually made by measuring weight loss, checking for ketones and assessing the overall condition of the mother.

• Those with the most severe symptoms are often hospitalised or placed on intravenous feeding.

• Severe vomiting and nausea alone can cause complications including debilitating fatigue, gastric irritation, ketosis and malnutrition.

• Aggressive care early in pregnancy is very important to prevent these and more life-threatening complications.