As the news of the new pregnancy of the Duchess of Cambridge arrive, another set of news accompanies them: the mother of the upcoming fourth in line to the throne of the United Kingdom is suffering, once again, from hyperemesis gravidarum. But just what exactly does this condition involve?
Hyperemesis gravidarum is a relatively uncommon condition in pregnant women, and it consists on more severe than normal pregnancy sickness. This can lead to the woman losing weight or even dehydration. Often, patients suffering from this condition will need to be hospitalized.
While the cause of hyperemesis gravidarum is still unknown and it only affects about 1% of pregnant women, it's still important to know the basics about this condition, plus the do's and don'ts of dealing with it and, mostly, what kind of diet should the patient have.
The first thing to keep in mind is that patients should avoid fatty foods at all costs, such as pastries, gravy, processed meats and whole milk products. Another thing to note is that because of the extreme nausea and morning sickness, patients are often revolted by the smells of many different foods, which adds to the weight loss during the pregnancy. In cases where the patient is sick two or three times a day, physicians will prescribe a liquid diet or eating many small portions instead of big meals. In the diet, these are some of the recommended foods: oatmeal, dry cereals, pears, bread, bagels and cream of wheat. For women who have not vomited for two or three days can see if their stomachs will tolerate other foods, such as: baked fish, eggs, yogurt, soups and low-fat puddings and cheeses.
In any case, when suspecting to suffer from hyperemesis gravidarum, it's important to contact a doctor that'll help with a diet that best plays with each woman's particular conditions.
