Catherine Middleton is pregnant. Yup, the royal family will have new addition in the family. The palace confirmed Monday that the Duchess of Cambridge, 30 is expecting her first child with husband, Prince William.
“Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are very pleased to announce that The Duchess of Cambridge is expecting a baby.”
“The Queen, The Duke of Edinburgh, The Prince of Wales, The Duchess of Cornwall and Prince Harry and members of both families are delighted with the news. The Duchess was admitted this afternoon to King Edward VII Hospital in Central London with Hyperemesis Gravidarum. As the pregnancy is in its very early stages, Her Royal Highness is expected to stay in hospital for several days and will require a period of rest thereafter.”
Actually the news should be the surprised for Christmas while their family gathered together at Sandringham, but since Kate admitted to hospital with acute morning sickness, they had no choice to make the announcement. Kate is barely eight weeks pregnant, was taken to the hospital just after lunch by her husband and immediately put on a drip to stop her becoming dehydrated.
Members of the Royal Family, including the Queen and grandfather-to-be Prince Charles, were informed less than an hour before the statement was put out at 4pm yesterday.
Uncle-to-be Prince Harry, who is serving in Afghanistan, was told by email at his base and the announcement was also Tweeted by Clarence House, prompting the couple’s official website to crash.
All the family declared themselves to be ‘delighted’ at the news.
It is believed that Kate’s parents, Michael and Carole Middleton, became aware of their daughter’s news at the weekend, however. She was staying with them in Berkshire when her condition deteriorated.
Speculation that she may be pregnant began last week when she unveiled a head-turning new haircut with a parted fringe as she visited the National History Museum in London.
But the drama really began when Kate went to stay with her parents on Friday after a visit to her former preparatory school, St Andrew’s, just a few minutes’ drive away. At the time, she had appeared in rude health, even taking to the hockey pitch in her high-heeled boots for a quick knock-about with students.
William had been spending the first part of the weekend privately with friends at a shooting party that Kate, for now obvious reasons, had declined to join. When he finally met up with his wife, however, he became increasingly concerned at her condition, particularly her inability to keep down any food or water.
On Monday afternoon, fearing she could become dehydrated which could prove a risk to both her and their baby, and after consulting their doctor by phone, he decided drive her to London in their Range Rover.
The couple declined the offer of an ambulance and drove themselves to the London hospital, where William’s grandfather, Prince Philip, was hospitalised earlier this year.
By all accounts, the Duchess was in good spirits despite her condition and walked in unaided. Doctors diagnosed her with ‘hyperemesis gravidarum’, a form of acute morning sickness, which was making her vomit ‘round the clock’.
The couple wanting to start a family is not a secret at all. In the interview to mark their engagement, Kate, who is close to her parents and siblings, said, “I hope we will be able to have a happy family ourselves.” William has said that he would love to have two children.
William and Kate will do their utmost to give their son or daughter a normal life. The Duke has often spoken of how important it was for him to be treated like everyone else. Kate, who came from the wealthy background, has been praised for her down to earth approach.
And every their child’s milestone will be well recorded by the media, even though William and Kate decide to keep all things private to give the protection to their child as possible.
And for us to know
Hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) is a rare condition believed to affect up to two per cent of women in pregnancy and is a severe form of morning sickness. It tends to be more common in young mothers, women who are in their first pregnancy, and those with multiple pregnancies. Women with HG often lose weight – usually over 10 per cent of their body weight – and feel tired and dizzy.
They may also find they are passing water less often than usual, and the main risk is dehydration which can lead to headache, palpitations and confusion. There is also a risk of nutritional deficiencies.
Then symptoms are severe, admission to hospital may be needed for observation and to treat dehydration with intravenous fluids. This usually only means a few days in hospital.
Unlike most morning sickness, HG usually persists past the first trimester of pregnancy, and typically subsides by week 21 of pregnancy – although it can last much longer. However, leading doctors say that along with more ordinary morning sickness, it is a sign the pregnancy is progressing.
Dr Peter Bowen-Simpkins, consultant obstetrician and medical director of the London Women’s Clinic, says: “It is almost always a positive sign that the pregnancy is progressing well. The sickness is thought to be due to a rise in hormone levels. It normally occurs during weeks six and eight of pregnancy, when the placenta takes over production of hormones from the ovaries. It generally continues until around 12 or 14 weeks, but if it stops before, it can — although not always — be a sign that all is not well.”
-Mark Prigg-
Here it is video of the surprise announcement from Kate and William
