I have no idea where this story fits into the larger smear campaign campaign against the Duchess of Sussex, but I wanted to talk about it separately because it comes from Vanity Fair rather than the Daily Mail or The Sun or whatever. It’s a Vanity Fair exclusive about Meghan’s pregnancy, and how she’s already considering a birthing plan which would be unconventional for the royals. Even though the Duchess of Cambridge also reportedly considered a home-birth plan – Kate ended up giving birth to all three children in a hospital – it seems like Meghan might for-real avoid a hospital birth, or that she doesn’t want to give birth in the Lindo Wing of St. Mary’s, like Kate.
Sources have told Vanity Fair that Meghan wants a different experience from the royal wives who have come before her and the couple have been looking at “options,” suggesting they may not have their baby at the private maternity wing where Prince William and Harry were both born, and where Kate Middleton gave birth to all three of her children, praising the staff for their incredible level of care. Patients pay upwards of £7,500 for the privilege of giving birth at the hospital, where the finest champagne is on the menu.
Aides will not comment on where Meghan and Harry are planning to have their baby, and it’s possible they have not yet decided, though Meghan is already under medical care. The couple sought medical advice before traveling to Fiji and Tonga last month by which point Meghan had had her 12-week viability scan. The plan is for the Sussexes to be living in Windsor ahead of the birth, and they could consider a hospital in or close to Windsor. There is even some talk that Meghan, who has had a straightforward pregnancy so far, might opt for a home birth, although given this is her first baby, doctors will likely advise a hospital birth.
The exact due date also remains a closely guarded secret. Palace aides have said the baby is due in the spring. It is thought Meghan was close to 15 weeks pregnant when she and Harry carried out their Commonwealth tour last month, meaning the baby could be born as early as March.
The run-up to the birth will be a busy one. The couple are drawing up plans for a nursery and a mother-in-law suite so that Meghan’s mother, Doria Ragland, has a place to stay at Frogmore Cottage in Windsor. “Doria plans to be around a lot when the baby arrives, and there are plans for her to have a dedicated space at their new home,” a source said. “She wants to be on hand to help Meghan and Harry with the baby. Doria will be involved and if she’s involved she will be encouraging Meg to go for a natural birth.”
Meghan and Harry will most likely move into Frogmore Cottage a few months before Meghan gives birth, which would probably mean that they’re looking into hospitals and doctors close to Windsor Castle, one would think. While Meghan and Doria might like the hypnobirthing/home-birthing vibes, I just don’t think Meghan will go that route. She knows her age, she knows that there could be complications, and she knows it’s better for her – in her position – to give birth in a hospital. My guess is that this is just a way for the Sussexes to let it be known that they’re not going to copy William and Kate’s birthing plan or their Lindo Wing presenting-the-baby thing. Maybe Meghan and Harry will present their baby at a different hospital.
Photos courtesy of WENN, Avalon Red.
Meghan can have flexibility to deliver her kids, she’s not having the children of the future king.
What on Earth does this have to do with anything. Most royal babies were born at home, Lindo is a brand new tradition with William. There’s just going to go the safest route.
I’m sure they are just going to pick a hospital that’s closest to wherever they are.
William and Harry were not born at home! Neither were the York girls.
jiminy
Obviously, but in the grand scheme of royal births giving birth at home was the tradition. Giving birth at the hospital started with The Queen’s grandchildren.
My point is that this child is still a royal baby and as the great-grandchild of the Monarch and grandchild of the future Monarch safety is the most important. People are acting like the Sussex baby is already irrelevant even though Charles will be King! This baby still matters for the next 20 plus years.
What? BRF babies haven’t been born at home in a long, long time. I remember seeing pictures of Charles and Diana walking out of the hospital their sons were born at, so theres nothing brand new about royals giving birth at the hospital. The Queen was the last royal to give birth at home, and now 2 generations of the BRF have given birth at the hospital
@Beth
Please read the comment above you because I already stated what you just said. It is a brand new tradition when the BRF has been around for hundreds of years. Hospital births have only been around since the middle of the 20th century.
Until the modern era, most women gave birth at home because going to the hospital to have a baby just wasn’t a thing. I am betting that Meghan will want to be in a hospital or a hospital associated birthing center just because her age and it being her first birth, raises the risk of possible complications.
@Chaine
Yes I’m aware; that was the point I was making. H&M will go the safest route.
Diana was the first to do the Lindo wing presentation. Prior to that the Queen gave birth at home. So something that started in 1982 isn’t exactly an old tradition. And Fergie didn’t use the Lindo nor did the others. Kate decided to copy Diana but that doesn’t mean Meghan is breaking any protocol if she goes elsewhere as most other royal ladies have delivered elsewhere.
As a yoga enthusiast, Megan has shown she is plenty flexible. I imagine she would be okay wherever she gives birth. I remember the Doc telling me to push, but I didn’t feel the urge. I remember wanting to get off the table, but they wouldn’t let me. I remember wanting to walk and walk and walk…but they wouldn’t let me. In the end, because I wasn’t able to follow my natural instincts, my baby went into distress and I ended up having emergency surgery….twice. So if Megs wants to go her own way, I say, have a doc available in case something goes seriously sideways (she’s 10 years older than I was, but likely healthier overall) and listen to your own body….it knows what it is doing better than any (male) doctor ever could.
Flexibility does nothing to help if there is a placental abruption, if the baby is stuck for some reason, if there is cord prolapse, or if any of a host of other emergency complications arise. Having a doctor on hand might help mitigate some circumstances, but unless they arrange for a fully-staffed operating suite in the dining room, having a home birth is inherently riskier than a hospital birth. I’m sure they can find a birthing center that provides the amenities of home while still being attached to a hospital in case of unforeseen events.
I agree with comments on the risk of home birth. I mean, in an ideal world, yes, home births are great. In the real world, TONS of things can go horrifically wrong, and quickly, to put both the mother and baby at risk, including things like shoulder dystocia.
I dont know if half of these stories are true of course, or if it’s just a media narrative to prove how “different” the two women are, but I for one am getting exhausted. It feels performative, and for that I hope its mostly false. I love royal gossip, I just wish they would find a new angle already…
I was loving the first stories that came out about how the Queen and Meghan were becoming really good friends.
Regardless of the fact that this baby is not the offspring of the future KoE, the baby will still be in line to the throne. And Megs is smart to know that when all things are taken into account, it will be best to give birth in a hospital. No way will she be tone deaf and bring the staff to her nor will she put her baby in harms way by not having all the best of modern medicine at her disposal.
This is the most bizarre pitting of Meghan vs. Kate yet. Of course they are going to choose a hospital close to their home in Windsor. Labor is unpredictable and I don’t think Meghan wants to deliver her baby on route to London.
There’s a private hospital in Windsor, The Princess Margaret Hospital.
I don’t think they will present their baby to the world and why would they their baby isn’t an heir or relevant to the monarchy.
I really hope they post pictures through the media.
No need to present the baby.
The York girls and Wessex son were presented to the world so why wouldn’t the Sussex baby be presented. This baby will have a full HRH title in a few years and live on Windsor grounds with full-time security.
That’s because Pedo Andy always likes to pretend HE is next in line to the throne lol
There really is no need for H &M to “present” the child in front of the hospital. While I am eagerly looking forward to seeing the baby/babies (if the twin rumors are true!), I’ll settle for a pic or two (or more 😊) of the baby/babies happily nestled in a bassinet or his/her parents’ arms at home.
I think they should present their baby. Pretty little babies are good PR.
For the same reason that some high profile celebs post pictures of their child shortly after the birth or arrange a photoshoot with one trusted publication, to prevent being endlessly pursued for the “first picture” of the baby. It takes away the giant payday for the paparazzi to get the first picture if they present the baby to select press reps outside the hospital. Yes, I am aware that some (many?) celebs post pictures of their infants because they’re thirsty, but I do believe that for some, letting one picture out in a controlled situation is the better alternative.
However would Celebitchy keep going without the Royals. 😆
I don’t know if they will be able to move into Frogmore Cottage ahead of the birth, spring is only 3 months away! I doubt that will happen. Doesn’t the cottage need extensive renovations? They are not going to want to live in the cottage as it undergoes renovations, not with a new baby (unless there’s a wing they can live in away from the all the noise of construction). So much dust everywhere, it won’t be good for the baby to breathe in. This is exactly what my parents are doing this week (and I think they are bananas for doing it but they have no choice as the closing of their old house is this month). They bought a new house and they will have to live in the downstairs level of their house for at least the first 2 months since they gutted the kitchen and are entirely having it redone. We’ve been wearing face masks whenever we go over because the house is a mess of dust and construction materials. They won’t be able to live in the master bedroom since they are having the entire master bathroom redone as well as the guest bathroom along with other work like built ins/reconfigured closets etc. They are essentially moving into a construction zone of a house. They have no small kids so it’s alright for them. But I doubt Meghan and Harry would want to start off their new life as parents with construction in the background.
I mean – I’m sure they can hire enough people to have nearly around the clock work being done. It could be completed relatively quickly that way.
If she is due as early as March, then a few months beforehand is…pretty much now. Next month at the latest.
Will FrogCott be ready in time? Had the renovation already started when their plans were announced?
Being a bit pedantic, but spring is technically from March 20 until June 21st, so she could be due anytime pre-June 21st and still be considered to be delivering in the spring. But that’s probably still not a ton of time to do a major renovation on a building that I’d imagine not only has a fair amount of issues to resolve but also is subject to laws protecting historic buildings.
Will Frogmore Cottage really be ready by March? Im assuming they will be doing extensive renovating.
They have the Cotswold; they can stay there until it’s ready. That’s probably where she’s been, prepping the temp nursery.
This is what I came to say. Frog Cott will not be ready by March, not for a family with a newborn. That location needs a lot of work, judging strictly by photos and what’s been posted in the media.
And she can have her baby wherever she wants, that’s a decision between her and her doctors.
Yeah, it looks rough in those pictures.
I wouldn’t worry about them not being prepared. They have everything at their disposal. I was 7 months going on 8, when we finally got the keys to our home. It was a doer upper and needed a lot of doing & we were doing as much as we can to make it habitable before I give birth whilst still working. I gave birth a week after I finally took my maternity leave, so much for having a breather but I wouldn’t change it for the world. Harry & Meghan will be fine.
I’m here for Meghan chancing hospital. Make those royal reporters pressed!
I think Meghan will give birth at a hospital but I also believe Harry and Meghan will try to avoid presenting their baby aftwrwards. I think the home birth is the last resort if they cannot get the media to lay off and cannot guarantee that they can get in and out of the hospital quietly.
I see Meghan doing a birthing center or at the very least a water birth or something in a hospital. I hated being forced to lie down during my labors. It went against all my instincts and I am convinced it would have been less painful had I been able to move about and birth vertically vice horizontally. Either way, I hope they don’t feel pressured to present the baby immediately with a full face and coiffed hair on Meghan.
Even Princess Anne had the press outside when she had Peter. I remember because the staff presented him with a Paddington Bear. I don’t think they’d risk the bad PR of hiding from the press.
They need a good private hospital in central London. The Portland is the celeb favourite but even things go wrong there and you’re then in an ambulance to the nearest nhs hospital. I think she’ll end up at St Mary’s it’s got both.
Btw the Lindo Wing is part of St Mary’s Paddington.
No offense Rosie, but I absolutely think they will avoid the press given their treatment of Meghan lately. I think Harry doesn’t care about PR anymore and is just done with the press. I think Meghan will follow his lead on this one considering all of the horrible things they’ve said about her.
I’m hoping they don’t present the baby, if I was her I wouldn’t – PR be damned. After the way the press have behaved towards her and I can only imagine the sly comments they will make about baby Sussex. I wouldn’t subject my child to that, they would never get a picture if I was her! Sod ’em!
I hope they skip the presentation but release pictures that include Charles visiting with the new baby. That’ll stir things up.
Rosie, you got that info from tumblr loool
There are only a handful of mixed private & NHS hospitals in central. She doesn’t have to pick the Lindo wing, but if they do choose London, I guess the security would be easier as it’s already been set up 3 times for the Cambs. They could pick a Berkshire hospital but I just think if they don’t do the first pics when baby Sussex is born, it could be taken as “Why is the first mixed raced child of the RF not being shown to the world?” type of thing.
Ooh what’s Tumbler? I’m only going on where I’ve heard of famous peeps having their babies. If there are other Private/NHS maternity hospitals available then they can have their pick. I wouldn’t advise anyone with a choice/money to pick just NHS or solely private. In an emergency you need one of the central London NHS hospitals but NHS can be pretty dangerous….for us plebs.
I agree that anyone’s instinct would be to hide away and restrict access. It’s a bit harsh on the BBC, ITV and Sky news who I don’t think have been reporting on this. The Times reporting has been fairly balanced. Not all sections of the media have been out to get her. It’s a difficult one, hopefully they will get advice nearer the time and find a solution they are happy with.
I have the feeling that Meghan, due to all this rumors about her being difficult and other nasty things will “fall in line” as to speak. Harry might not care about PR as he is saved by his status as Diana’s son and the son of the future king, but she does. She will do mostly by the book as she has mostly done. Changing hospitals it’s not a big deal if she won’t be living in London.
I am sorry that the media aren’t giving her space and are haunting her with stupid stories. Leave the woman alone.
Id like it if they stooped expecting royal women to look great and picture perfect hours after giving birth. I hooe its later than that and shes wearing flats, no makeup-stop covering up how exhausted in pain and emotional you are to make others feel better-you just gave birth you earned those wrinkles, bags unders your eyes, messy hair, etc. i really hooe she makes a statement with that. No heels, no blowout
There’s a hospital in Windsor. She doesn’t have to come to London to have her baby. And she and Harry can decide if they want to present their kid to the public or release a photo later. Something tells me they will establish their plan prior to the birth so the press will know whether to camp out or not.
Not all UK hospitals are of the same standard. If the hospital in Windsor is excellent ok but Uk hospitals are different to the US. If you have any serious problems whilst having being treated in a private hospital you are immediately transferred to an NHS hospital. The central London NHS hospitals are generally of a much better standard. Having babies in an NHS hospital is a lottery due to underfunding and the fact they can’t control how many admissions they get in a day. I can’t see her risking her baby in any way so I’m sure it will be in one of the big NHS/private hospitals prob Lindo but maybe making her entrance/exit through a back door.
What are you on about Rosie? Have you had a negative experience with the NHS? I can only say good things about the care I received from Jessop’s an NHS hospital in Sheffield, their midwives/health visitors in 2 gp’s as we moved houses so have had to register to the one closer to us. NHS hospitals are being challenged and stretched but I think it’s mostly due to mismanagement especially with funds. I still think the NHS hospitals are still better than most US hospitals.
I sometimes wonder if they aren’t better off just moving to US or Canada. She’d be closer to her friends and her stomping ground and gosh, how much they could do for charity without being bound by boring Kate and stupid rules. They would thrive.