Kate
Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, is pregnant with a child who will
be in a direct line to inherit the throne of England. The news is not
all good, as the Duchess has been hospitalized for treatment of
hyperemesis gravidarum, or severe and debilitating morning sickness. The
New York Times spoke with Dr. Marlena Fejzo, an obstetrics researcher
and former H.G. sufferer, about the condition.
Q. What is hyperemesis gravidarum?
A.
It’s severe, debilitating nausea and vomiting in pregnancy that
generally leads to more than 5 percent weight loss and requires fluid
treatment. Sometimes, in more extreme cases, it requires nutritional
supplements.
Q. Are there treatments?
A. Doctors try to give
IV and anti-nausea medication at first. About 20 percent of the women
who contact the Hyperemesis Education and Research Foundation require
tube feeding. It’s very serious. They have to have a tube inserted above
their heart. Blood tests have to be done every day, or every other day,
and the bag of nutrients has to be monitored to make sure it’s
personalized for the woman’s needs. But I don’t think Kate Middleton
(based on news reports) has it that bad. She’s just gone in for the IV
fluids.
Fejzo also tells us about the prevalence, prognosis, and possible complications of H.G.
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