Waitying, Waitying, Waitying. When I first got up this morning, I saw on the news first thing that Kate had checked into the hospital and was officially “in labor”. I thought, “Should I go and do a breaking news-emergency post? Nah.” Because even though Kate is “in labor” and has been since (I guess) the very early morning, I think we still have hours to go. So here is your Open Post while we Waity together. Here’s some added information:
*I think we’ve got a while to go because according to Us Weekly, Kate and William got a laptop, an iPod and some DVDs delivered to them in the hospital.
*It’s believed that Carole Middleton was informed of Kate’s labor immediately and went directly to be with her daughter. That being said, there are NO photos of Kate, William, Carole or anyone else arriving this morning. Pippa is also said to be there or en route.
*A palace aide simply says “Things are progressing normally” when asked about the state of Kate.
*The Queen is still in London… for now. She leaves for Scotland later this week. So, she’ll probably get to meet her great-grandcrumpet just before she screams “LATERS!”
*Prince Charles is in York on a pre-planned royal trip. When reporters cornered him and asked if he knew anything, he said, “Absolutely Nothing. We’re waiting.” His trip to York is supposed to last two days, and sources say he’s going to fulfill all of his obligations. Which means he probably won’t meet his first grandchild until Wednesday, I guess.
*Prince Harry is currently on his RAF base in Wattisham with his Apache squadron.
*Prime Minister David Cameron released a statement: “Obviously, best wishes to them.”
*Sources claim Kate went into labor naturally and was not induced.
*A lot of people are placing bets that the baby will be a ginger. Cough.
*The average length of labor is about 12 hours. She checked into the hospital at 5:30 am. Which means… 5:30 pm in London? And that means early afternoon here in America? Here’s hoping.
UPDATE: Sources claim Kate doesn’t want her mum in the delivery room! That’s really something, because Kate needs her mum for everything. “Buckingham Palace denied rumors that they were going to be in the delivery room with Kate. She very much wants just her husband to be there,” NBC News reported.
Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet.
You know people were getting snitty about Cumby posts? I feel their pain! I just can’t imagine why anyone cares about royal babies, this royal baby in particular, or especially this vapid woman, who seems to me to be the biggest nonentity going – worse even than most reality stars.
Is she a real person? An actual living human being? Or did William (also boring) go off to Stepford to get her?
Sorry. Just venting. Everyone else enjoy the waity-ing and commenting!
I feel your pain. The coverage of Waity’s pregnancy has been absolutely absurd. You’d think she was the only woman in the world who has ever given birth and that this baby was Jesus reincarnated. At the end of the day, she is just another woman who had a normal pregnancy and will most likely give birth to a healthy baby. I don’t understand the mystery or excitement the media is trying to create around an event that most women in the world go through at some point in their lives. On Yahoo’s front page, there is actually an article with the headline: “Kate Middleton Checks Into Hospital: What Happens Next?” Seriously? The baby comes out of her vagina just like most babies that have been born since the beginning of time. Jeesh.
For some reason this isn’t bothering me as much as the birth announcement and her hospitalization.
That was all sorts of annoying.
It’s living history. For people who appreciate world history this is a huge event.
Watching a coronation or an inauguration is living history. Unless the birth is videotaped to be archived in the British Library, there is no point in having the media camped outside of the hospital. It’s ridiculous. This baby could very well become an extraordinary individual through their future acts of kindness and charity or s/he could become as lazy and entitled as his/her parents. Whatever the outcome, the media storm prior to the baby’s birth is ridiculous. The world would have survived without the breaking news updates on Kate’s birthing schedule. We will know the date and time of the baby’s birth once s/he is born. That is the only piece of information worth reporting on and it hasn’t even happened yet.
This. Whether you “care” about them or not – good or bad, it IS interesting from a cultural and historical standpoint. I’m not a “baby person” but it is exciting when they’re born – royal or not!
I like world history – but if we’re imagining a league system of important world events, for me the birth of this baby would be somewhere near the relegation zone of the most minor league in the system. It’s not important by any yardstick I can think of. It’s an anachronism and/or a celebrity event.
Sorry though: it’s rude to crash threads and spoil the fun for others. Mea maxima and all that. I don’t mean to be a party pooper.
I appreciate world history. I do not consider this to be an important part of it. Key word being “Important”.
People complained just as much and in the same way about the royal wedding. It was also living history and a huge world event. To each their own. Another baby being born is only so much excitement, but this kid is in line to be the King or Queen of England. It is an important step in history whether you like the royals or not. For myself I try to limit the amount of cynicism to things that really deserve it. For me, this is a big deal and a happy event. If people want to waste their time camping out at a hospital it really doesn’t affect my day one way or the other.
I love history, in particular British history, however I do not consider this that big an event because the monarchy is not what it used to be. Unless this baby is going to grow up to be a Henry VIII or a Catherine the Great, I don’t have much interest in it and besides I’ll be dead by the time this babies legacy becomes history so what do I care.
And I find Waity to be an annoying, insipid social climbing geisha so I really could not care less about her offspring.
I am doing my masters degree in history and to be honest, I don’t know any historians who are interested in this. Well, maybe the teaching assistant who was teaching one of the introduction courses I took a few years ago whose name I can’t remember but who was specializing on aristocracy. But I honestly doubt that he would care that much too. British royalty has not a lot of influence anymore so most historians really don’t care because there are really so many more things that have way, way, way more influence on how the world is changing or not changing and the exact date the possible future king or queen will be born is really of zero importance to most historians, even those who are somehow interested in British royalty and their role. Actually I think most historians would be more interested in how the press is covering this and look at what that could say about the press & society then have a genuine interest in how long the labour goes or on what day the child is born.
I just don’t let anything like this get to me. I don’t know the woman and she’s never crossed my path. I just hope the baby and mother are happy and healthy.
GG – agreed.
I think if people don’t want to read about this, they shouldn’t bother with the posts. I don’t read most of the Cumby* posts for the same reason.
*Abbreviated not to show endearment but merely because I am not entirely sure how to spell his name, LOL.
linlin – Your last line is exactly why i am interested in history and in WK.
For all intents and purposes, all constitutional monarchy are socialites, but they do have an insidious influence whether people acknowledge it or not.
There is plenty of living history in the world that is more important than this–things that actually have the ability to impact our lives in meaningful, scary ways. I mean, it’s not like I expect Celebitchy to cover the raids on Abu Ghraib or IRS hearings or the Benghazi scandal–I expect the royal birth stuff here. But the amount of reporters and screen time devoted to this in general is kind of alarming.
Sorry for ranting, but I’m appalled at the coverage on CNN and other “real” news outlets. I don’t mind Celebitchy’s coverage.
Samtha – that is a very good point, but history isn’t just the horrible things going on in the world.
Granted, WK aren’t the most substantial example of the breed as a result of which it’s impossible to imagine what they could influence, but there are many examples throughout history of royals influencing and shaping the world even as that same world was going to hell in a hand basket.
@Sixer- You are my new hero! Everything you said are my thoughts exactly.
Cumberbatch is just celebrity news. The birth of the heir to the throne, whether you think the monarchy is silly or not, is world news. This baby may not even have a throne to worry about one day, but his/ her parents will be out and about representing the United Kingdom around the world (as lame as that may be), and historically he / she descends from a long line of those who have changed the course of history or influenced those changes in one way or another. Besides, we all want to see if the kid is a redhead……
The British monarchy is also just celebrity news same as Cumberbatch. They don’t make laws, head armies, have any impact on history. They are celebrity tourist attractions and socialite. At least Cumberbatch has talent to contribute to the world and his movies might have a positive impact on the lives of people watching. He too could go down in history just as easily.
Kate Middleton is nothing but a socialite who does a bit of charity on the side giving birth to a future socialite. This coverage as important news is over the top.
I’m so glad to be living in Brazil after reading your post! I can only imagine how annoying must be the covering in the UK (I was living there during the Kate-Will wedding…I stopped reading news online for a while!!!) Best of luck to all of you!!!!
The BBC coverage of this makes me embarrassed to be British. Sycophantic, forelock tugging drivel. I cannot believe this: there are hundreds of British children going to bed hungry tonight and we are focussing on this crap. The world has gone insane.
Then why read the story and spend your time and energy constructing posts to something you care nothing about.
I think what annoys people is the “intensity” (couldn’t find a better word!)of the coverage not the fact it is being reported.
I know, right? Turn off the tv? 😉
And don’t forget the internet!!! 😉
It’s a boy – 8 lb 6 oz
You know, my mom just took a cab to the hospital when she felt my sister was coming. Kate gets a freaking platoon hovering around her and the world watching up her vadge. I’d be murderous.
I drove myself, both time. Was in serious denial that I was having a baby. haha
It used to be far worse. Royals were expected to give birth with a gallery of spectators watching, literally, the baby come out. In the UK, the Prime Minister was present for every heirs birth. That tradition was only abolished in 1936.
to make sure it came out of the royal hoo-ha
..and wasn’t smuggled in by using a warming pan (as was rumored concerning James II’s Queen Mary of Modena when she gave birth to an inconvenient Catholic heir!)
Well I guess it stopped them all from doing a ‘Beyonce’
IMO making sure the Queen’s own OB/GYN attends the birth is the modern equivalent of keeping up that tradition!!
This reminds me of Downton Abbey series when two doctors of opposing opinions were present at the birth of one of the daughter’s babies. One doctor was the aristocratic preferred doctor and the local doctor who cared for the family.
is she in labor right now?!
I know this is ridiculous, but I am unduly excited about this baby, and I think 1) it’s going to be a girl and 2) she will look (and behave?) like Diana. And that will be her middle name.
I don’t like the idea of them naming a girl Diana, first or middle name.
Living in Diana’s shadow would be a huge burden for anyone. I really hope it is a boy for that reason alone.
Eh, it’s Camilla who will forever live in Diana’s shadow. To a lesser degree, Kate.
This baby will only know of Diana what William decides to share. The fact is, she’s been gone from the earth for 15 years. The generation of children who will grow up with this baby do not know of Diana’s fame and popularity the way our generation does. And this baby will be recognized enough to warrant its own fame in a very short amount of time.
I think if its a girl, Diana will certainly be in the mix of middle names. Victoria or Mary for the first name. Princess Victoria Diana Elizabeth Mary.
I’m with Jo. I’m excited too, seems like I’ve been waiting forever. And I personally think Diana as a middle name would be great. Just scroll on past the negatives, that’s their problem.
I’ve seen everything from C&D’s wedding to wills and Harrys births, Dianas death & funeral service, W&Ks wedding, and now their first borns birth! All from tv, newspapers, magazines, tabloids, and now my beloved BB! It’s kind of like watching someone you know at this point having their first baby! I. Am. Batshit. Excited! ((•:
I believe it’s a girl, will be today (22nd). And I think Alexandra Diana Elizabeth is beautiful and should be her name. (like my input counts) Victoria could also be subbed for Elizabeth. ((o:
I am excited too! I wasn’t that into Will and Kate’s wedding, but as a little girl who adored Diana, I am so excited about her grandchild.
This is my guilty pleasure…royal watching. Of course there are bigger problems in the world but isn’t it nice to have something light to think about as well!
Prodromal labor (which I’m betting this is) isn’t the same as active labor and can last for days. It’s what most women rush to the hospital for thanks to media tropes involving “OMG LABOR BABY COMES NOW!”. Yeah, it sometimes happens that fast but usually it’s a long prodromal phase (can last *days*) before active labor kicks in and things really start to happen. Most women get sent home if it’s just prodromal but they will likely keep her due to her status and to keep the media at bay.
Based on what? Perhaps the prodromal labour is the reason they returned to London from Berkshire.
Could very well be. I’m a birth facilitator in the states and my comment was based purely on my own experiences, but it absolutely could be that she didn’t go to the hospital till prodromal progressed to active.
Many doctors (in the US) tell women to wait until the contractions are coming regularly, about 5 minutes apart (unless water breaks before that time), before heading to the hospital. Yes at this point it may still be early labor, but progressing…. so they would be admitted.
For some reason, I don’t think Kate would have gone into the hospital unless her labor were progressing. With the press camped out, I doubt they want her to labor there for days…. talk about stressful. I don’t think the media has been much of a concern for her until now. It isn’t like they have been camped outside of her home. Being at the hospital now, that changes! 🙂
Oh, I would add that while reports suggest Kate wanted ‘as natural’ a labor as possible, that doesn’t mean she didn’t want an epidural. Just my opinion, but I think she probably went for the epidural… and maybe went to the hospital not only when contractions were regular, but when they were starting to get more uncomfortable.
Totally agreeing with you Belle!!
Yeah a lot of times “natural labor” is used (esp in media) to refer to “not induced” which is fine. So long as everyone comes out of the experience healthy and happy, how they get there is there own business.
Thanks, Kaiser!
The “Waitying” together w/ my fellow Celebitches should be great fun. 😀
wow, this woman is now a super celeb, imagine getting all these without putting to bird!! I wonder wot it would be when she finally put to bed!! still waiting…
I’m just going to throw it out there, but I bet the baby isn’t born until early morning.. You always hear really long labors for first time mothers and I bet she’ll be one of them.. (which means she’ll probably have the kid in the next 5 seconds, because I’m always wrong about these types of things)
I’ve always heard that first babies take forever to come, but my sister was only in labor for about six hours with her first. Started getting contractions around breakfast and had popped the kid out by lunch. I guess everyone is different.
ITA.
Yes, first labors tend to be longer than subsequent labors, but not all are REALLY long. A friend of mine had a 6 hour labor the first time… 4 the second, and they barely made it to the hospital for the 3rd (no time for epidural that time, and she was not happy about that part…lol).
I’m not a good example because my first labor was induced… and was 8 hours. Second baby I was scheduled for induction a week early (large baby), but went into labor the night before I was supposed to go in. Once I got to the hospital, it was once again, about 8 hours before 10 pound 8 ounce baby arrived… at exactly the minute I was supposed to show up to be induced… LOL Pushing phase was much shorter (even with the large baby… which got stuck momentarily at the shoulders) at about 30 minutes… compared to 3++ hours of pushing the first time… and almost a c-section (that one was almost 9 pounds).
First time around I pushed for 3 hours-I couldn’t believe I didn’t know that could happen and would be the worst part. Subsequent deliveries-like 3 pushes and OUT.
17 hours, 8 minutes pushing with my first; 9 1/2 hours, 4 minutes pushing with second; 36+ hours and an emergency C-section with my youngest. (I didn’t know anyone had to push that long, either. 3 HOURS!)
When I was pregnant my midwife told us – “there is no typical labor” and after giving birth, I totally believe her!
My first was 5 hours total – 3 hours of pushing. My second was 1.5 hours total. When I got to the hospital I was only 3cm and he was born 30 minutes later! And we adopted our third – so no labor on this end 😉 But I have friends whose *shortest* labor was still over 24 hours!
Yeah “average” is so hard with labor! My first was 44 hours (active labor) and my second– born last week– was only six hours from start to finish! If they are requesting DVDs and such I’d imagine things are still early and there might not be a babe till tonight. I wonder how long the royal doctors will let her go, though.
It could be sooner than that. You usually go to the hospital when contractions are between 3-6 minutes apart. Of course, as work-averse as she seems to be, she’s probably telling it to hurry up and make an appearance so she can rest, lol!
Hoping for a healthy baby, and congratulations to the family!
At 6am (ET), they were saying she was in early labor. When I was pregnant, they said that could last multiple hours. I’m sure since she’s royalty, they probably had her come in early to monitor her.
I see no problem with having multimedia gadgets nearby. I was bored out of my wits when I had to stay in hospital, so whatever works.
It’s unlikely that they waited at home until contractions were steady at 5 minute intervals. I believe that they went to St Mary’s at the first sign of imminent labor-sporadic cramping, leaking amniotic fluid, etc. Easier to get in unobserved in early hours and all services are at hand. No matter the opinions of them personally, they are first-time parents in an extremely high-profile situation. There’s enormous family pressure to insure the safest outcome for the 3rd in line. Nerves are to be expected & if they’re able to watch movies, it doesn’t sound as if this is a fast labor.
Watching movies also sounds reasonable if she has had an epidural.
They are probably waiting for the surgeon to arrive for waity kaity’s PLANNED C SECTION.
I’m not a Kate defender, but I don’t think she is having a c-section (at least not one that was planned).
I do think she got an epidural though… and once you have an epidural you are usually comfortable and trying to rest… or pass the time in some other way.
Recent first time mum here and my labor went fairly quickly. Water broke 5 days before my due date (somewhat unusual for first babies) and from the time we checked into hospital until baby was born was about 11 1/2 hours. They did give pitocin to speed along since they want you to get moving once water has broken. If her water broke, she should deliver within 24 hours.
Best of luck for an easy delivery and lovely baby. I’m excited!
Just want to post something that I’ve been saying for a while on here… Carole Middleton was right!!
As soon as Carole spilled the baby would be a Leo, I knew the press was misled about the due date. Carole has the inside scoop. Carole knows what’s up. Here we are, late July, and Carole is once again right on the money.
If I was a gambling woman, I would bring Carole to the racetracks with me.
Baby will come tomorrow, maybe early morning, but it will be July 23rd. A proper regal Leo.
I’m not really into the star signs and such, but DM posted this:
Baby will be a Cancerian if born before 4.54pm today but a Leo if born after
Diana, Princess of Wales, was a Cancerian while Princess Margaret was Leo
Sooo…. if the baby is born at this point, would it not be a ‘proper Leo’?
You’re probably right. I do think they’ll avoid a C section if at all possible & this could easily take another 12+ hours. There are so many different variables that most 1st timers really don’t know what to expect. A lot depends on whether or not the waters have broken yet. Sometimes that happens well before contractions start.
I’m surprised they didn’t have a bag with a laptop, DVDs, etc. in it to take with them. That makes me think they left in a big rush.
Maybe they didn’t realize they would have ‘spare time’. I keep mentioning an epidural… it is possible Kate wasn’t really planning for one, but decided to get one, and they found themselves comfortable and… waiting. 😉
Well, waiting IS what she does best!
Her Epitaph will be an ode to waiting.
First time moms usually have longer labors, but they won’t let you go any longer than 24 hours after your water breaking(risk of infection is higher). Idk if in labor means her water broke or she’s having contractions.
So it could be anytime between now and tomorrow night. Really never know. My mom never had her waters break on their own so her labors were almost 2 straight days for all 3 kids. My water broke and my daughter was born 25 hours later via forceps.
What exactly is wrong with the commenters? This is a Royal Baby. She/he will make history and have a role that none of us can expect to ever understand. More important and significant than any of us will ever be. It is a special baby and a special day. God Bless Kate, Will and the Royal Family.
More important and significant than any of us will ever be.
Nope. Those of us who live in the U.S. don’t live in an aristocracy, and this baby isn’t actually significant to our lives at all. It’s just gossipy escapism to talk about it. Even in Britain, plenty of people are way more significant than the royal family is now, and more will become so. You never know, someone commenting here might be the next J.K. Rowling.
Thank you Emily C. That was very well stated.
Well at the risk of wasting precious time, I’d like to respond. This baby is important to me. Diana meant something to me many years ago. I watched the courtship when they were dating, watched their wedding was delighted to see Wills and Harry born! I wept at Dianas accident and will never forget watching live the announcement that she died. So sue me. I’m excited for Will and Kate, and delighted at the prospect of the new baby. So excuse my excitement I believe in life, love, royalty and the future. You all can have your Brangelina, I find that boring and sickening to a degree that makes me physically ill. Long live the Queen!
@Dee so you believe in love? The love between Charles and Camilla or the fake love between Charles and Diana,the chosen virgin.I think it is sickening that Charles was pressured to marry Diana a woman he wasnt in love with due to duty
Really? what is the child’s role? How does this child contribute to society anymore than any other child born in that hospital today? From my perspective this is just a major celeb having a baby on the same level as the the Brangelina twins.
Ahhhh….what? I hope this is firmly tongue-in-cheek. Although it WILL be staggering the power this Holy Anointed bebeh will wield. The laws he or she will write. The armies he or she will command. The sweeping social reforms he or she will enact….Or, you know, the new hat she will wear or the actress he will date. Hurrah!!!
Thanks for the laugh, Dee 😀
..and good luck, Kate.
You give royals too much credit. How many of them have cured cancer? AIDS? Ended world poverty? Starvation? Have they eradicated smallpox or TB?
Are any of them ever likely to be in a position to actually do any of these things? No, they’re not nor will they ever be. It’s okay though…they’re still sooooo much more important than the mere commoners who might actually accomplish these things.
This child will cut ribbons for the rest of his/her life and this is called “making history”???
Todays royals don´t make history, they have zero power. They smile in front of the cameras to support charities. That´s all. No historical significance.
Politicians and Freedom Fighters f.e. make our history now, but royals? Not anymore. The modern royals will be only briefly mentioned in the history books in 100+ years.
Kim must be so relieved at being able to finally publish North’s pictures. I’ll bet money she was waiting for Baby Crumpets so she could share the spotlight.
The bottom line is, these people are living a fairy tale that many of us daydream about every once in a while, and it’s fun and interesting to read about what they’re doing. I don’t really care what Cumberbatch is doing, although I do care a teeny bit about what Hiddleston is doing…… just a teeny bit 🙂
This is the hardest that Kate has worked in… well, ever!
It’s a BOY!!!
8 lbs 6 oz., good and healthy size for a baby.
I really wanted it to be a boy, so i am glad.
I wanted it to be a girl, but a boy is just as great. 😀
George Arthur Henry Charles is my bet for the name.
The baby was born 4 hours ago, London time, and just managed to be a Cancer before the signs changed.
So the tabloids were wrong about sex and due date
SHE DELIVERED A BOY!! I KNEW IT!!! Congrats!!!!
Boy – it’s a boy! 8 lbs. 6 oz.!
It’s a boy!!
It’s boy!!
Yay for healthy (so far that we’ve heard) baby boy!
What were the front runner for boy names?
IT’S A BOY!!!!
So it’s a boy. And I guess this makes him the Prince of Cambridge?
And I know this might sound crazy, but I have a feeling that this boy might grow up to be the opposite of his parents. Yeah I know, I’m making judgements on a baby that’s just a few hours old, but there it is.
Good size baby! I would have thought KK would have one at least that big. Lol you really can’t always tell by how the mum carries.
Congrats to Kate and Price William on their big healthy boy!!
I wonder if Kate had a snitfit about any of the nurses at this hospital…..just wondering, that’s all.
If that is true, how odd that Catherine did not have her mother in the delivery room with her, since she is a mama’s girl.
How do i entry my personal laptop which may be hooked up to a router thru my personal give good results personal computer to find out webcam?
How to do a new fictitious site on the nature revealing his or her ideas?