Meghan Markle baby: Why Meghan Markle could have a caesarean? Or will she be induced?
MEGHAN MARKLE fears she may need a Caesarean section, insiders have revealed, despite her intention to do everything in her power to have a “normal, natural birth”.
Meghan Markle baby: Duchess to have home birth says expert
Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex is said to be nervous over the prospect of having to ditch her natural birth plan for a Caesarean. Aged 37, Meghan is considered a “geriatric” maternity patient and giving birth after 35 for the first time increases her risk of a troublesome labour. But given that many believe the American’s due date is long passed, is a caesarean an option or will she need to be induced?
Although nearly one in every five births are from “geriatric” mothers, pregnancy over the age of 35 carries more risks compared to an expectant mother in her twenties.
As an older mother, you are more likely to conceive more than one baby both through natural and assisted conception.
Older mothers are also at a greater risk of developing health conditions which might mean more help is required when giving birth.
There is also a greater chance that mothers over the age of 35, already have conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure which could impact how the pregnancy progresses and lead to birthing complications.
A source told the Sun on Sunday: “Meghan is nervous about complications such as an emergency Caesarean and doesn’t want the pressure of having to look immaculate on the hospital steps just hours later.
“Like any anxious first-time mum, she’s worried about the birth itself.
“As she is over 35 she is considered a slightly older mum - which sometimes can lead to some complications.
“Meghan also has the added stress of the world’s attention on her - everyone wants to catch the first glimpse of the new royal addition.”
The chance of caesarean increases the older you are so a doctor is more likely to offer a caesarean in order to protect the baby and to enable them to manage increased risks associated with “geriatric” mums.
There is a greater likelihood of a caesarean in cases where there is long second stage of labour, a risk for babies in awkward positions and a risk of babies becoming distressed during labour.
As the Duchess of Sussex belongs to a “higher risk category” when it comes to giving birth, there is much speculation that she will undergo a caesarean or be induced on her due date.
In the UK, the practice in most cases is to wait until week 42 of pregnancy to see if labour begins naturally before offering to induce the pregnancy.
But a research from 2017 carried out by various UK institutions, including the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, the Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecologists, and the University of Cambridge, found “inducing birth one to two weeks earlier in first-time mothers over 35 could reduce stillbirths by two-thirds”.
This could indicate that Meghan, who is considered an “older first-time mum” could be induced on her due date, to lower the risk of stillbirth.
On Wednesday, it was announced that Prince Harry will be abroad between May 8 and 9 for a planned visit to the Netherlands.
Prince Harry will head to the Netherlands to “officially launch the one-year countdown to the Invictus Games The Hague 2020”.
Royal correspondent for 5 News, Simon Vigar, claimed the Duke of Sussex would “postpone the trip if Meghan is in labour”.
But, the announcement fuelled speculation the royal baby may have already been born or will be born before Prince Harry leaves.
An induced labour is one that is started artificially and is a fairly common procedure - every year one in five labours are induced in the UK.
If a baby is at risk or overdue, an induced labour is used to help labour the baby.
Home remedies such as having sex, eating spicy foods and going for long walks are believed to be natural ways to induce labour.
But, if these fail to work, babies can be induced by a doctor which will essentially enable natural labour and contractions to begin.
Many women who have been induced are more likely to have an assisted delivery where forceps or ventouse suction is used to help the baby out.
But induction doesn’t always work - and in these cases another induction or a caesarean section is offered in its place.