Kate Middleton Goes Au Naturel!

[MindUtopia]

I think it's fantastic. And I'm glad it's raising the idea of a natural birth, which let's be realistic, the vast majority of births globally are natural, as are most in the UK. I was just looking at statistics the other day and I think it's something like 60% of UK births are spontaneous (not induced) and don't have an epidural (though some use gas and air, which I'd still consider natural as it doesn't affect the baby, unlike an epidural).

But really, you don't have to be famous to have a great (or natural) birth experience. I had my first baby at home, no pain relief at all, and never needed it or asked for it. I also had a pretty easy pregnancy (with the exception of SPD, which I managed naturally). You don't have to be superwoman or have magical powers to have a natural birth. You just have to have the right support around you, put some time in to preparing how you'll cope with various scenarios and challenges you might face, and do your research on the medical side of things so you can make an informed choice if something comes up. If it was that hard, most women wouldn't be doing it. And honestly, I don't know anyone who has had a natural birth and a birth with meds or induction who wouldn't choose to do it naturally again next time.

But that also doesn't mean you get a medal if you can do it. It has to be something you're totally comfortable with and you have to have confidence in what your body can do. That said, I do think it's great when celebrities come forward to talk about positive natural birth experiences because it does help to normalize it. Even though natural birth is the norm many places, it's still not normalized, if that makes sense. No one realises that in fact lots of other people are doing it and have been forever because it's not what we see on tv or hear about from our friend or sister or whoever who just what's to tell their birth horror story.

But as for her getting her hair done, good for her. I didn't even bathe and wash the crusted blood off my face for about 48 hours! But you hear all the time about people going to get a spray tan and a brazilian wax and their nails done ahead of giving birth and bringing a whole crap load of hair dryers and curlers, etc. to the hospital with them. I think that's ridiculous because they don't have the world's media waiting outside, but whatever floats your boat. I'm pretty sure I didn't even remember to brush my hair for the first week!

 

[AnneD]

I dont see whats so different about her, she is a woman and she gave birth. Did being famous make it easier? Sure she had good care

Good care. It does make a huge difference, believe me. Being left to your own devices because the hospital is understaffed makes a difference. When MW says they can't figure out if baby has her cord wrapped around her neck so tight she'll strangle herself and that you'll just have to risk it, that makes a difference. When no one tells you what's going on. Being told to hurry up because your MW's shift is about to end and she wants to be 'done with it'. Decent prenatal care.

Yes everyone should have it, but reality is different.

 

[Blah11]

Thats a shit hospital with shit staff, nothing to do with fame. My hospital birth was nothing like how you described.

 

[Twinks]

I didn't like the sound of any meds for my birth and was dead set against diamorphine. Being induced the contractions were thick and fast straight after my waters broke I was in agony. I ended up with diamorphine and an epidural down the line. I had a really positive birth experience with a happy, healthy baby that is now a happy, healthy toddler :0)

 

[tinkerbelle93]

Well at the end of the day we don't know what kind of birth she had, and what kind of pain relief she was given. It doesn't really matter.

I am jealous of how lovely she looked when leaving the hospital though in a dress and perfect hair and make-up. I left the hospital in jogging bottoms and a huge hoodie with greasy hair and no make-up, practically hobbling along! Next time I think I'll try and look a teeny bit more glam. Then again, when visiting friends/family at the same maternity unit I have seen women leaving in PJ bottoms and slippers!! :/ xx

 

[Pearls18]

Well at the end of the day we don't know what kind of birth she had, and what kind of pain relief she was given. It doesn't really matter.

I am jealous of how lovely she looked when leaving the hospital though in a dress and perfect hair and make-up. I left the hospital in jogging bottoms and a huge hoodie with greasy hair and no make-up, practically hobbling along! Next time I think I'll try and look a teeny bit more glam. Then again, when visiting friends/family at the same maternity unit I have seen women leaving in PJ bottoms and slippers!! :/ xx

At least we didn't have millions of people watching us leave the hospital, I'd much rather scrape my hair back and leave peacefully even if I look horrendous than have to sit to get my hair and makeup done lol!!x

 

[shanny]

How could she not have good care? We all want good care for all babies being born.

How could she not look her best - given a choice between being slated for looking bad or looking great with the whole world looking at her I think she has made good choices

Going to her mums and getting the baby name out there soon so the press will hopefully leave her alone................

We will never know exactly what happened but it was her/their birth experience and I hope she enjoyed it!!!

 

[HBGirl]

I think everyone needs to stop being so miserly. The woman is awesome and did her own thing without tooting her own horn.

Stop the mommy wars and support each other. Aren't we all on the same team?

 

[AnneD]

Thats a shit hospital with shit staff, nothing to do with fame. My hospital birth was nothing like how you described.

What I'm saying is, it's a heck of a lot easier with good care and support. And being married to the future king she of course got the very best of the best care and support available, which is a bit unlikely to happen to most of us isn't it?

But as someone else says, we don't know if she actually really went 'natural'. She may have had an epidural or pethidine or whatever, and it's no one's business really.

 

[BunnyN]

I had a HB and had the best care and support I can imagine. I know I would not have liked to be in her position, I would have found it too much pressure. When I stopped progressing my midwife was willing to take a wait and see aproach. If I had been in hospital with the 'best' care I'm quite sure it would have led to interventions that I didn't need. I really feel for anyone who didn't get the care they deserved and I hope Kate loved her experience. But what I mean is that no matter what care someone gets they still have to push the baby out (unless it's a.cs as someone else said, being famous doesn't give you magical lady parts.

 

[Eleanor ace]

It doesn't bother me how she gave birth or what pain relief she had as it doesn't effect me. I guess you'll get women who want to do what celebrities (including Kate Middleton) do so it might spark an increase in attempted natural births, but I don't really care what other people do lol, as long as they don't tell me what to do!

 

[aliss]

Actually, having had a train wreck of a labour (with the entire shelf's worth of drugs) and a peaceful natural birth, I'd say I looked like Kate right after too. I walked out 3 hours later and did my hair that night. Part of a 'natural' birth is (on average) a quicker recovery. I don't think she looked unrealistic. Epidural can make you bloat like a whale (I gained 20lbs of water weight a day after having a 9lb baby, LOL).

If she had the labour she wanted then good for her, that is all that matters.

 

[my1stbump]

I have had both, with my first I had 2 x pethadine(spelling) and gas and it good whilst they lasted. I wanted an epidural coz I was tired and the pain was pretty intense, but was too far gone.

With my second I had nothing, when I arrived at the hospital I was begging for pethadine but wasn't able to as I was 10cm and pushing stage!

I think personally I liked having the edge taken off of it, but depending on how quick the labor is then think id go with out again, your more aware then . X

 

[LegoHouse]

I am so proud of myself for not having pain relief during labour I think it was the most amazing thing I have ever done, and I am so proud of myself! Not to say I wouldn't have been proud of myself if I had planned to have pain relief and did, but I'm proud that I planned not to, and didn't!

I hope she had the birth she wanted. I read she breast feeds. I think that's awesome too.

 

[LegoHouse]

P.S. I gave birth at 5am, left hospital at 11am, and walked to pick my daughter up from nursery at 12pm... It happens

 

[jenniferttc1]

Who knows if she did or not but if she did great for her
I plan on NO induction this time around and hopefully labor at home and birth at the hospital with no medication at all.
I had an epidural with my son after being put on level 30 (highest dose) of Pitocin and waters broken and contractions for 18 hours coming every 1-1.5 minutes and lasting anywhere from 30-60 seconds long. I had a great birth though, and I don't feel any less. I popped my baby out after my epidural wore off and walked right to my recovery room. I felt everything. I will say....it was NOTHING like a massive poo Maybe a 7.5lb poo with a hemerhoid.

 

[AP]

I don't think she looked unrealistic either aliss, by day two my hair and make up were back to scratch it made me feel human again

 

[sue_88]

Yeah I agree about her looking well isn't unrealistic. I had a shower & hair wash a few hours after Millie was born, a full face of make up and a lovely new nursing dress. Wasn't going anywhere as I had to stay in hospital but still there was no need to look anything other than normal. I didn't even have a 'mummy tummy' it had gone flat

 

[Tasha]

With my first I was so ill with pre-eclampsia that I needed to stay in hospital for a week, so at that point I would of felt it unrealistic because it wasn't my normal and I had nothing else to compare it to, iykwim? However my second onwards was totally different (was in the shower within thirty minutes with my second ), to the point that I was about four hours after my section and the first thing I did was go to the toilet, then wash (wasn't allowed to shower etc due to the dressing, so that waited until the next day) and also brush my hair. It allowed me to feel like me. However I do get why some would feel it isn't realistic.

 

[Foogirl]

Wow, so "natural" is a obviously a far superior way to give birth and we should all strive for it.

Silly me for having my unnatural cesarean section under a general anesthetic in order to ensure the safe delivery of my daughter and to save my life.

Seriously, when are we going to stop judging everyone for how they give birth, how they feed, how they parent? She gave birth to a healthy baby and looked pretty good afterwards. Who gives a toss whether she had drugs or not? It may well encourage people but how many women who can't do it will end up feeling like crap because they never managed to do it?

If you don't want drugs then fine don't have them but lets not start rating how people give birth. Its hard no matter how its done.