Meghan Markle struggles: Duchess may be ‘lacking family guidance’ - expert claims
MEGHAN MARKLE may be “lacking family guidance” as her mother lives overseas, a childcare expert has told Express.co.uk.
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Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, may be lacking the support and knowledge only a mother can give during her first months with Archie Harrison Mountbatten Windsor, according to Angela Spencer, childcare expert and founder of Babyopathy. Ms Spencer branded “unfair” the negative comments Meghan has received by social media users and commentators in the past months and outlined how the Duchess may be missing some “family guidance”.
She told Express.co.uk: “In a world of instant information at our fingertips we actually seem to have less knowledge, especially where pregnancy, birth and motherhood is concerned.
“I am guessing because we do not live in the close knit family communities we used to where knowledge would be passed down, more and more women are turning to the internet for guidance.
“As Meghan’s mother Doria has returned to her home in the US, and Prince Harry’s mother is obviously not present, Meghan might be lacking that family guidance.”
Meghan’s loving mother Doria Ragland lives in Los Angeles.
Despite having travelled across the pond ahead of the birth of Archie on May 6 and for his christening two months later, she is still based in the US and cannot be physically close to her daughter at any time of her day.
The miles separating Meghan from her mother at this difficult time may have affected the Duchess and left her slightly unprepared over motherhood.
Ms Spencer said: “No matter how many birth stories you read, every birth is unique and unknown and the best you can do is make a birth plan with your wishes ranging from ‘your perfect dream birth’ through to being aware of things that can go wrong or change your ‘ideal’ birth and how you would like to handle it.
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“In my opinion, it is better to be aware and prepared and not need something, than to be unprepared and traumatised more because choice or understanding in the moment is taken away.“
The distance from her mother, paired with the stress of being a new mum under the lens of public scrutiny, may have left Meghan feeling “alone and disconnected”, Ms Spencer said.
She continued: “Any celebrity who has a baby is ultimately a new mum.
“No matter how much help they might have, they may also be feeling totally alone and disconnected from their family support network.
“Regardless of their status, every new mum needs support, help and advice, - they should certainly never be berated by the press.”
Meghan is also facing the pressure of being a perfect mother, with social media users highlighting what they believe she is doing wrong and comparing her to models they believe more fitting.
Ms Spencer continued: “Many celebrities paint a picture of new motherhood on social media that is completely unrealistic, meaning that other mums may feel that they should be able to “keep up” with their peers.
“We need to change the negativity surrounding maternal mental health and support all mums, celebrity or not, or we are just adding to an increasingly negative trend”.
While Doria isn’t physically close to Meghan, the yoga instructor is still a very important presence in the life of the Duchess and her husband Prince Harry, according to an insider.
Speaking to the Mail on Sunday, the source Doria is on the phone with Meghan whenever she needs it and she is even giving pieces of advice to the Sussexes on everything - from post-natal recovery to staff issues.
They said: “People think Doria is hippy-dippy and chilled out because she’s a yoga instructor,’ says my source.
“But, like any mother, she’s hard as nails when it comes to protecting her daughter.
“Meghan’s nickname is Tungsten and she inherited that steely determination from Doria who is, at Meghan’s request, very hands-on in her life.
“Harry adores Doria and thinks she’s incredibly wise,’ the source added. “These days, the Sussexes trust very, very few people even in their own respective families.
“Doria is one of the last family members either of them can turn to, and consequently she’s extremely influential in their lives.”