Duchess of Cambridge pregnant

[muriel_volestrangler]

169. Medical dictionaries:

Taber's Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary:
hyperemesis gravidarum

Persistent, continuous, severe, pregnancy-related nausea and vomiting, often accompanied by dry retching. The condition can cause systemic effects such as dehydration, weight loss, fluid-electrolyte and acid-base imbalance leading to metabolic acidosis, and rarely, death. About 2 out of 1000 pregnant women require hospitalization for medical management of the disorder. SEE: morning sickness; Nursing Diagnoses Appendix.
SYMPTOMS

This condition of unknown etiology may start as a simple vomiting of early pregnancy, but if it persists, dehydration, protein, chloride, sodium and potassium depletion, dehydration, and contraction alkalosis occur.
TREATMENT

Early management includes bedrest; small, frequent, high-carbohydrate feedings; moderate fluid restriction; and mild sedation. In severe cases, the patient is hospitalized for complete bedrest and rehydration. Vitamin and electrolyte-enhanced parenteral fluids are administered. An antiemetic safe for use in early pregnancy may be used to control vomiting. Feeding via total parenteral nutrition is rarely necessary.

When the patient improves, food taken by mouth should consist of a light solid diet given in frequent small feedings, with fruit juice or milk between feedings and a mid-night snack to help stabilize blood glucose levels. Vitamin B may be prescribed intramuscularly or intranasally to begin correction of vitamin deficiencies. Sitting upright during and for 30 to 45 min after meals helps to reduce gastric reflux. Termination of the pregnancy is indicated only when the woman fails to respond to medical measures and is approaching serious physiological jeopardy.

Mosby's Emergency Dictionary
hyperemesis gravidarum /-em´əsis/
an abnormal condition of pregnancy marked by long-term vomiting, weight loss, and fluid and electrolyte imbalance. If the condition is severe, liver and kidney failure may result

Black's Medical Dictionary
Hyperemesis Gravidarum

A rare condition (less than 0.2 per cent) of pregnancy, in which there is severe vomiting. If untreated it can result in severe dehydration, ketoacidosis (an excess of KETONE acids) and liver damage. More common in multiple pregnancy, it may recur in subsequent pregnancies.

And so on. Since the hospitalisation has resulted in the pregnancy becoming public earlier than they wished, it's unlikely they've done this because she's a 'national treasure'. It would have been better for them if she hadn't gone into hospital at all.