As Kate Middleton nears the end of her pregnancy, the Duchess of Cambridge, due in mid-July, has taken every precaution to ensure a healthy pregnancy after some complications during a difficult first trimester, HollywoodLife reports. What are the "secrets" to her success?
The Duchess was hospitalized for a severe morning sickness known as hyperemesis gravidarum late last year, a rare condition that effects .03 to 1 percent of pregnant women and can cause symptoms including dizziness, nausea, vomiting, dehydration and weight loss.
Now Middleton is doing everything to ensure the health of herself and the royal baby, even if that includes toning down her usually high-impact exercise regimen, opting for more low-impact workouts like prenatal yoga and early morning walks in place of her former favorites like running and weight-lifting.
According to a source at US Weekly, the Duchess "had a yoga instructor visit her at Kensington Palace once a week."
As for diet, the Duchess has given up her beloved daily dose of caffeine, trading her daily cup of coffee for Starbucks decaf and tea. According to a palace insider, Middleton "did not like the idea of not drinking coffee," though she made the sacrifice for her baby. In addition, Middleton snacks on dried fruit and nuts, and has enjoyed meals of codfish, chicken or turkey, eating as fresh and healthy as possible.
Not to mention, the Duchess gave up spray-tanning altogether during her first trimester. Did you know that she used to have a beautician come to Kensington Palace to apply St. Tropez tanner before events? While the potential risks of spray-tanning during pregnancy are unclear, Middleton wanted to be as safe as possible.
According to EntertainmentWise, betters are putting their money on July 17 and July 18 as the choice royal due dates, as the palace has not yet confirmed an offical date.
