I am a huge royalist, I mean HUGE! And it was music to my ears when my mate Kate, ahem the Duchess of Cambridge, confirmed she used hypnobirthing for all three births.
When you strip it all back, she still has the same fears, the same anxieties, and the same challenges as any other mother during pregnancy. Even before the bump starts to show. And this is why she turned to hypnobirthing.
The Duchess of Cambridge suffered from hyperemesis gravidarum - an extreme form of sickness - it's basically severe vomiting. Today is Hyperemesis Gravidarum awareness day and I wanted to write a blog to highlight the condition.
Suffering herself, The Duchess certainly put it on the map. Struggling to cope, she turned to hypnobirthing to help with her breathing, her mindset and to overcome her difficulties with the condition.
And this is just my point, hypnobirthing isn't for a natural, pain-free birth. Hypnobirthing is a set of relaxation, mindful techniques that can help you overcome any difficult situation.
The Duchess spoke very openly on her podcast with Giovanna Fletcher, on how she used the techniques during her pregnancy to help with her hyperemesis gravidarum.
“I did the meditation and deep breathing and things like that, that they teach you in hypnobirthing... It was hugely powerful”, the Duchess said.
So what is Hyperemesis Gravidarum?
Nausea and sickness is common during pregnancy, it's experienced by 8 in 10 expectant mothers. However, symptoms normally subside by around 16 weeks pregnant.
But those who suffer from hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) can have symptoms for much longer, be sick many times a day finding it difficult to keep food and water down. This often results in hospital treatment to rehydrate the body. This is what happened to The Duchess.
Exactly how many women get HG is unknown, but statistics suggest that it's around 1% - 3% of all expectant mothers.
If you are sick and struggling to keep food down you must consult your midwife or GP, to ensure you get the right treatment.
Signs and Symptoms
Here are some signs and symptoms of HG:
prolonged and severe nausea and vomiting
being dehydrated - symptoms of dehydration include, feeling thirsty, tired, dizzy or lightheaded, not peeing very much, and having dark yellow and strong-smelling pee
weight loss
low blood pressure (hypotension) when standing
extremely heightened sense of smell
excessive saliva production
headaches and constipation from dehydration
What causes it?
There is no substantial evidence to determine what actually causes HG. Doctors suggest it's a change in hormones.
It's often said that if your mother suffered from HG then you may have a higher chance of suffering from HG during your pregnancy too.
Also, if you suffered from HG yourself in a previous pregnancy, you are more likely to suffer from it in any subsequent pregnancies.
What to do...
There is a lot of help and support out there for sufferers of hyperemesis gravidarum.
Your first point of call should always be your midwife or doctor. In addition you can find information on the NHS website.
There is also excellent support provided by an organisation called Pregnancy Sickness Support. You can visit their website here.
And if you want to read about other mother's who have been through it then Susie Verill, a blogger of Milo and Me, writes a really candid and inspiring post on her experience.
If you'd like to see the podcast of the Duchess of Cambridge talking to Giovanna Fletcher about her experience with hypnobirthing and hyperemesis gravidarum then click here.
How Can I Help You?
It confirms that hypnobirthing techniques can help in all aspects of life, not just during labour. It can help with morning sickness, it can help mothers sleep, and it has helped some clients of mine who have battled with anxiety all their lives, long before falling pregnant.
The techniques used are transferable for all individuals and all aspects of life. By signing up to one of my courses, you and your birth partner will walk away with life-long skills to help you feel calm and relaxed, in any situation. Who wouldn't want that?
For more information on all my upcoming course dates are here.
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