DR HILARY...DR HILARY...DR HILARY...DR HILARY...

PICTURE CREDIT: Mike Owen/Eyevine

DR HILARY'S DIAGNOSIS

As Kirstie has discovered, the term ‘morning sickness’ is totally misleading because it can last all day and even disturb sleep at night.

Like Kirstie, some poor women have to be hospitalised if they become dehydrated and malnourished.

A useful tip is to have a snack before getting out of bed in the morning, then to eat little and often during the day.

Ginger is a safe, natural, anti-sickness treatment, so a ginger biscuit or even ginger- flavoured chewing gum is worth trying.

Chamomile tea is also soothing.

Kirstie’s right that it’s a good sign of a healthy baby, as soaring oestrogen levels, which are quite normal in pregnancy, are largely to blame.

Any medication is best avoided except in severe cases when antihistamines that slightly sedate you can help.

The good news is that it usually clears up naturally by 16 weeks – though Kirstie has been unlucky – so it should be over for her soon.

'Morning sickness is making me miserable'

EVERY WEEK A CELEB ASKS OUR FABULOUS DOCTOR FOR DIAGNOSIS. THIS WEEK IT’S TV PROPERTY GURU KIRSTIE ALLSOPP, 36

I suffer from terrible morning sickness.

I’ve even been hospitalised with it.

I became so dehydrated during my first pregnancy with my son Bay, who’s nearly two, that I ended up on a drip.

I was told my sickness would only last for the first three months but I suffered for 20 weeks.

I’m now six months pregnant with my second child and it’s been even worse.

I was being sick four to five times a day 18 weeks into my pregnancy.

All I could manage to eat was mashed potato.

I’m feeling a lot better now but I can still only stomach fish, fresh fruit and some vegetables.

I’m still sick in the mornings if I’m tired.

At the moment we’re filming Relocation, Relocation, so I have to be up early.

However I couldn’t get into the car until 8.20am this morning – I felt as sick as a dog but you have to get on with life.

They always say that if you get morning sickness it’s the sign of a healthy baby.

Whether it’s an old wives’ tale or not, I very much hold on to that because you have to look at the positives and believe you’re going through it for a reason.

But is there anything I can do in the meantime to keep the nausea at bay?

Location, Location, Location starts this Wednesday, 8pm, Channel 4

Words: Rachel Corcoran; Photography: Mike Owen/Eyevine/Retna

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