Extreme pregnancy sickness left mum bedridden
It’s the extreme pregnancy sickness condition that affects more than 30,000 women each year in the UK.
But there was little awareness of Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG) until Kate Middleton – the Princess of Wales – was struck down with the illness during her first pregnancy with son Prince George.
And mum-of-three Liz O’Connor knows all too well what the royal went through as she suffered terribly throughout all her pregnancies – leaving her bedridden and struggling mentally on some occasions. 
“I’d heard of HG before after it was reported how Princess Catherine had suffered with it, but I didn’t understand just how debilitating it could be,” recalled Liz, who lost five per cent of her body weight.
“I felt so violently unwell and at times my mental health was really low. And with each pregnancy the symptoms got worse. I experienced persistent nausea and sickness, rapid weight loss, exhaustion, fatigue, dizziness and feeling lightheaded.”
She added: “During my third pregnancy I’d lost half a stone within a week. I was a shadow of myself. I was so exhausted all the time. I couldn’t even walk to the front door and spent all my time in bed.
“I couldn’t drink or eat anything and I could barely move, I didn’t feel human. My mental health rapidly declined and I was really struggling.”
Liz, from Birmingham and living in Coventry, was put under specialist care at our Women’s Hospital and given the anti-sickness medication Xonvea after trying two other medications to no-avail.
She added: “We kept having to increase the dose of my medication due to how bad the sickness was.
“It helped alleviate some of my symptoms, but it never got rid of it completely.
“I managed to get to a point where I was able to take my eldest sons to school and eat one meal a day thanks to the medication.
“I was admitted overnight a few times to go on fluids to increase my hydration levels. Everyone who looked after me was so supportive, their empathy really helped me through some very difficult days.”
Finally in March 2025 Liz welcomed Nola into the world.
She said: “The minute the placenta was delivered my symptoms were gone – just like all the other times.
“I can’t explain what it felt like to so dramatically feel better after feeling so unwell for nine months.
“The staff at the hospital hold a really special place in my heart for what they did for me. I am very grateful to them. I don’t know if I’d have been able to do it without their support and encouragement.”
Nola is now 11 months old and enjoying life with her family.
Liz said: “She’s been a real joy. Her big brothers absolutely adore their little sister and we feel so fortunate to have our family here all happy and healthy.
“I was so poorly, but Nola is like my reward because she really is the sweetest baby.”