Kate Middleton’s baby is due to arrive any day now.
The royal newborn will make the Duchess and Prince William first-time parents.
It’s hard to tell who is more excited about the impending birth—Kate and Wills or the paparazzi.
Middleton is said to be counting down the days to motherhood by clothes shopping near her parents’ home.
Her retail therapy is a far cry from her hospitalization for severe morning sickness earlier in her pregnancy.
Duchess Kate admitted to suffering from an acute form of morning sickness called hyperemesis gravidarum. The serious-sounding condition can level even the toughest moms-to-be. Doctors say, in some cases, women suffering from hyperemesis gravidarum have vomited so hard that they’ve blown out their eardrums or fractured their ribs.
Health care professionals treat women with hyperemesis gravidarum by administering vitamins and keeping them hydrated with intravenous fluids.
While studies show that less than 30% of pregnant women in the United States experience hyperemesis gravidarum, milder forms of morning sickness are not uncommon.
If you are feeling queasy during the early days of your pregnancy consider avoiding an empty stomach. I didn’t want to look at food during my first trimester, but I forced myself to munch on crackers first thing in the morning because I knew an empty stomach would only make my nausea worse.
Another tip is to eat smaller meals throughout the day rather than three large ones. Also, be mindful of what you eat. For example, chowing down on a big, greasy burger may upset your stomach more than a plate of fresh fruit and vegetables.
Consuming herbs is another way to keep morning sickness symptoms at bay. Ginger, peppermint and fennel are known to help with nausea. In addition, red raspberry leaf is recommended for its richness in iron, which can decrease morning sickness and increase milk production.