Harry and Meghan baby plans

I can't say I blame them as parents but it's a break with tradition for sure. I wonder who's idea that was...

I think it’s kind of silly to pretend like this is some big tradition. If Diana started it, that’s only one generation ago. It’s more of a modern expectation than an actual royal tradition.

I didn't think for a moment that she would entertain the idea of having it at the Lindo Wing ( where the Duchess of Cambridge had her babies) it's over an hour's drive ( on a good run) from their home. I don't think they would take that risk. Births are unpredictable. They can take an hour or they can take 10 +hours for natural births.

She could opt to have a home birth but she also has two hospitals quite near to Windsor that she could go to. One of them Frimley Park is where Sophie the Countess of Wessex ( Prince Edward's wife) gave birth to her two children. It was the hospital that helped save Sophie's life  following complications during the premature birth of her daughter, Lady Louise.They are both public hospitals.

Standing outside the hospital with the baby is a NEW trend. Hardly a tradition.

In fact, as I recall, the Queen had all her babies at home. Princess Anne had her babies in the hospital and so did Diana and Fergie.

So this is not some time-honored tradition.

Every mother should give birth in a manner that is best for her and the baby. Period.

No one is entitled to see them the second they get cleaned up from birth. It's a ridiculous expectation.

And I for one, would be not be doing the afterbirth walk to the car. Kate is very lucky she is feeling well enough to walk in high heels. I was in excellent physical shape when I gave birth, but L&D took everything out of me. I looked like shit and literally had to take the wheelchair to the car or else I would have collapsed after each birth.

Hope they have a safe and uneventful delivery. Cannot wait to see pictures, but I totally understand their need for privacy.

Hoping she has a smooth and easy birth.

Haha! You’re right. Don’t know why I put that,typing too quick for my brain I guess.

I don't know much about the habits of the Royal family, but when my DD gave birth 2 1/2 years ago, she was not happy when her daddy came into the room while the baby was bonding "skin to skin" on her bare chest.  She is expecting again and told me to not bring him to the hospital until she asks us to come.  Of course, I'll have her older child so it makes sense, but she really wants that alone time that she thinks is very important (she is a NICU RN).  I think any brand new mama should take time alone with the baby for bonding and such. Royal or not!

They didn't let us do those things when my babies were born.  They whisked my DS off to the nursery for hours after his birth.  DD was allowed to stay on the warming table next to me for a while, then also whisked off.  I would have loved to spend that time just after birth basking in the glow of the miracle I'd just received.

I'd be VERY surprised if she has a home birth. Maybe they are 'leaking' that rumour so that whatever hospital she is in doesn't get bombarded.
At 37 having her first baby (and she's a thin girl with quite a large bump...so potentially a big baby) they have to be considering the very real possibility she may have a caesarean delivery.

Especially with it being her first, no-one knows how her body will handle labour. And no matter how good the doctor/midwife at home is, it will never compare to the on hand expertise of many other staff and proper ICU & NICU should that be required for either mum or baby.
Now this report with the "have the baby in private for a few days" makes me think a C-section is on the cards. That way she gets to rest and recover before she appears for photos with the baby.

"Could" they? probably...but "would" they these days? Unless there was no other option...no they wouldn't.
Kids used to have their tonsils out on the kitchen table at home too (I know someone in their 70s who had this done!)...but when was the last time you or anyone you know let their kids have surgery at home?

I doubt even the Royals would plan for a cesarean at home these days.
Just because it's been done in the past does not make it a viable option now...it's a big a risk to take.
Even in a planned home birth if things go wrong, the first option would be to stabilize the women and get to a hospital, doing a c-section at home would be a last resort & only if the life of the mother was at immediate risk.

Also in the past royal babies were born at home with witnesses present so that no "baby swapping" occurred.


I think we've moved on from that paranoia!

Home births (not c-sections) are still a viable option for many women...but for older women having their first baby it's always going to carry more risk to both mother and baby and I think for a high profile member of the royal family, many doctors would be even more cautious than normal. Last thing they want to be doing is rushing a bleeding/distressed Duchess via ambulance to hospital.
Imagine what would happen if she or the baby died? I doubt many obstetricians would be putting up their hand to be a part of that shit show.

Anyway...I'm just speculating about the c-section, to me it makes sense in light of their "we'll keep the birth a secret" statement as it would give her a few days to recover and avoid the expectation that she will appear in public with the baby a few hours later like Kate does. Plus I think they probably want to avoid all the press staking out the hospital for weeks beforehand and making things difficult for the hospital & the other patients.

Home births are not uncommon in the UK. So I can see that if she is fit and well and had no complications during her pregnancy this wouldn't be an issue.

But the total birth rate itself had decline in 2017 so it wasn't just a decline in the number of home births. And I don't think katiejane was implying it was popular or common but more of that it wasn't unheard of.

Some countries don't have any home births. In the same way that the UK differs to the US in that most of our births, even in hospital, are midwife led. It's totally unlikely that the Duchess of Sussex will not have the Royal Gynecologists present though, wherever she gives birth.

A home birth decision by the mother also takes into account of where, geographically, she lives. Obviously the more rural she is the  less likely she is to be advised that it's safe to have a home birth. The decision is taken by the mother, the Doctor and her midwife together when discussing her birth plan.

I'm so glad she's taking a stand with this. I thought Kate must have been under so much pressure to do that photo-opt and I would feel nervous wearing heals holding a newborn, especially if you don't feel mentally up to do that whole glam up.

While Harry's royal path will be significantly different than William's, I think the interest in him is/will be as high as the interest in William. They are both Diana's sons, and I think they hold the same place in the hearts of the public.