[prue~c]

Dear Kate,

I can call you Kate, can't I? I know you are the future Queen, but I feel weird calling someone younger than me “Your Highness”. I'm a republican, and while I love the Monarchy (for England) – especially the jewels, ill gotten they may be - I wouldn't curtsey to you either.

I want to congratulate you on your pregnancy! Brilliant news, but at the same time, I offer my commiserations. While I am sure you are beyond thrilled to be in the family way, I bet you don't feel like celebrating at the moment. Chucking your guts at the slightest smell of food, being unable to tolerate even water, and crippling headaches aren't what the joy of pregnancy is meant to be about. I know how you feel, Kate, because I had hyperemesis gravidium (HG) too.

Most women expect a bit of “morning sickness” in the first trimester. Some nausea, a bit of dizziness, the odd vomit. For me, the vomit was non stop and the dizziness segued into headaches, periods of partial blindness and facial palsy. Work days were excruciating, with episodes spent laying on the bathroom floor – my cheek against the tiles in a bid to cool the rivulets of sweat pouring down my face – or under my work desk which was conveniently out of sight of most of the office.

Of course I got to do it without the lens of the world trained on me, but that said, vomiting in public is embarrassing, whether you are the future Queen or a pleb like me.

I used to do the work commute via ferry, which is usually the most pleasant way to get to the Sydney CBD. But just a few weeks into my pregnancy, the ferry became an unviable option after I spent a trip losing what little breakfast (a glass of water) I had been able to choke down over the side. This was to the dismay of the other, mostly male and of the financial industry variety, passengers. Poor blokes didn't know where to look. Was I drunk? Hungover? “I'm pregnant,” gasped between vomits, didn't garner much sympathy. Driving almost always involved pulling over for a discreet vom either on the side of the road or in one of the plastic bags I began to keep in my handbag for that exact moment. I also knew all the places on my route to work (because I hardly ever left the house otherwise) where I could have a comparatively private, public vomit.

Kate I am so sorry to tell you, that hospital visits didn't help me. The intravenous rehydration is good for bypassing the stomach and getting fluids in, but the drugs never did much. I could never keep down the tablets and the iv meds didn't help either. Is Wills squeamish? I hope not, because he will probably need to learn how to to give you a jab in the Royal backside. My husband became a dab hand at drawing up and giving me the dart, but if Wills can't do it, I guess you have “people” to do it for you. Ladies in waiting or something.

I know you are a bit of a fashion plate, and I bet you were looking forward to parading about in all of the fabulous maternity fashion you will no doubt have at your disposal. Sucks when you can't even summon the energy to get out of your pyjamas, and that gorgeous silk kaftan didn't even see the light of day because you didn't make it to the loo, or sink, or nearest vomit receptacle (because you will start secreting them around the house – I mean palace – in convenient spots) on time. I hope the dreaded curse doesn't last the full 40 weeks, because I would love to see how you rock maternity wear. I remember Princess Di and her chocolate shop pussy bows and striped dresses, and I just know the trash mags will do a comparison photo spread of what I assume will be your chic maternity wardrobe. If you can get out of the aforementioned Pjs, that is.

People will tell you that once you are holding that baby, or babies - in my case HG as an indicator of twins was true – you will forget all about it. I wish so much that this was the case, but for me, the single thing holding me back from trying for another child (and considering I needed IVF to conceive my twins, another pregnancy is not a given) is the thought of being that sick again, and not being able to care for my twins. I just couldn't do it – not without full time help, which I assume you will have. And the pressure will be on for that second pregnancy, because, after all, you have to provide the heir, and the spare.

My advice, for what it's worth? Bugger the stiff upper royal lip, the paparazzi and the trash mags. You don't need to swan around in posh maternity gear looking the picture of glowing prospective motherhood. Embrace the all-day pyjama, repurpose your mixing bowls as vomit holders and always, carry a supply of plastic bags. Zip-locs are the best.


Love, Prue xox.

This post has been edited by EBeditor: 05/12/2012, 01:09 PM

[Rubixx]

My friend's husband got her a box of vomit bags when she went through this. Highly recommended.

http://www.medicalsolution.com.au/products...iew.php?id=1164

[lynnemine]

I had my 2 in the UK. I had HG with DD1 and with DD2 til about 27 weeks. I had never heard of Zofran until I came to Australia, so I am not sure it's licenced there.

I weighed less the day I went into labour than I did when I got pregnant, both times - It's not like Kate can afford to lose any weight. Nothing helped for me. Except giving birth.

She has my commiserations, I cannot imagine trying to deal with HG in the public eye.

[EBeditor]

I say we let her dress like Vicki Pollard and vomit on Daily Mail paparazzi.

[Rubixx]

It's not like Kate can afford to lose any weight. Nothing helped for me. Except giving birth.

I agree. My friend gained an extra 10kgs as she knew she would go through the same thing again for her next pregnancy and has since done better than the first pregnancy.

During her first pregnancy, the doctors suggested that she was in the same category as bulimics as she lost so much weight!!

[lynnemine]

the doctors suggested that she was in the same category as bulimics as she lost so much weight!!

Yes, and it wrecks your teeth too. I had good teeth until HG. It stripped some enamel off and now I do not have good teeth.

ETA: My dentist recently asked me delicately if I had ever been bulimic, as my teeth were showing signs consistent with prolonged, long-term, regular vomiting. I had to tell her what HG was.

This post has been edited by lynnemine: 04/12/2012, 07:23 PM

[prue~c]

OMG my teeth! Lynnemine my teeth are also terrible now too. I can feel and see the damage the constant vomiting did. I thiknk I am going to have to get veneers. When I eventually get to visit the dentist, that is!

Zofran is available here, but it is very expensive, and TBH, it did bugger all for me.

I lost around 20kg when I was pregnant. I could lose it, because I was verging on overweight when I conceived, but after I had my boys I was so thin! I am sad to say it has all come back

Kate really doesn't have the padding to spare.



This post has been edited by prue~c: 04/12/2012, 07:41 PM

[*Lib*]

I was listening to people on the radio talking about her being hospitalised for MS.....umm people, its WAY more than regular morning sickness.

[RumbleBee]

Such a great letter.

I actually live in London, will try and slip it under her door...

[Pooks*potters]

Yep my teeth are cactus too.

Oh such a great letter.

It is amazing to see people actually have interest in what HG is... I was looked at like I was being a sook a lot of the time...