Kate Middleton was released from the hospital Thursday morning following a bout of severe morning sickness. It's a rare condition called Hyperemesis Gravidarum. One Valley mother suffered through it during both of her pregnancies.
"I was totally excited. I couldn't wait to see if I had a boy or a girl," says Kathy Ihde.
What was supposed to be a joyous time in a soon-to-be mother's life, quickly turned into a time of misery.
"I was hoping and praying it would be like any normal pregnancy, like any other woman who could enjoy their pregnancy as well. Instead I got severely 24/7 ill where I couldn't do anything, go anywhere, without a barf bucket literally in my face."
Kathy Ihde suffered from a very violent version of morning sickness, also known as Hyperemesis Gravidarum. It's rare condition, that's recently attacked royalty. Expecting mother Kate Middleton spent three days in the hospital fighting the severe sickness.
Ihde says, "I literally know what she's going through."
Ihde can sympathize with the Duchess. The Fresno mom was hospitalized three times during both of her pregnancies.
"If you become dehydrated with electrolyte disturbances, in severe cases people have died from complications relating to Hyperemesis. Certainly if it persists long enough, that can interfere with fetal growth and cause some other problems," says Dr. Douglas Helm, OB-GYN.
Hyperemesis typically affects only one to two percent of pregnant women, but Fresno doctor Douglas Helm sees the problem about once a month.
Dr. Helm says, "The idea is to interrupt the cycle early so that they can still keep down food and that it's only mild and never progresses to Hyperemesis."
doctors say in some cases, the illness can be prevented. Some suggestions are taking B6 vitamins and ginger. Keeping something in your stomach could also prevent nausea. Unfortunately for Ihde, nothing worked. The sickness persisted until she gave birth. She hopes for Kate, the problem has been nipped in the bud.
"I feel so bad for her and I wish her all the best," says Ihde.
Doctor's say typically by 14 weeks of pregnancy, Hyperemesis tends to ease up, but it can last an entire pregnancy. In those cases, it's very important to keep up with medical care.
Hyperemesis is most common in women who are expecting more than one child.
TXT 24
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