How does
she do it? She makes childbirth look easy - even down to the light coloured
dress, tan tights and high heels worn less than 10 hours after pushing out a
baby.
If there
ever was an advert for natural birth, Kate Middleton is it. She glowed, smiled
and looked relaxed whilst holding her brand new baby in her arms just hours
after giving birth.
For Kate,
I reckon it’s because of all the support she got during pregnancy, labour and
her positive attitude to birth. After her 1st birth she apparently told friends
about her 'perfect, natural birth’ and it was suggested that she had used
hypnobirthing (positive affirmations and deep relaxations).
Media
reports have suggested that Kate had a natural birth, which means no epidural,
no doctors - just two strong, independent midwives tuning into the needs of a woman
and her body. How else could she feel capable enough to transfer home so soon
after giving birth?
If I had
to guess, she laboured at home as long as possible – supported by her midwives
- then moved to hospital when she was around 5cm and labour was fully
established. That way the adrenaline of going into hospital didn’t stall the
labour. Once ready to push, all that the midwives had to do then was catch the Royal
baby. It is even believed she gave birth upright, much like her late
mother-in-law Diana (as revealed by Sheila Kitzinger in A Passion For Birth), co-incidentally in the same London hospital.
It just
goes to show that all you need is good preparation and a midwife. Oh and if
you’re a princess, perhaps a hairdresser!
Kate
enlisted midwife Arona Ahmed and Professor of Midwifery at Imperial College,
Jacqui Dunkley-Bent, to be by her side. They were the same midwives who
assisted in the birth of Prince George and probably among the most qualified
and well-respected midwives in the UK.
But apart
from having good support, Kate is also said to have educated herself well about
giving birth and written out a full birth plan of her preferences for a
hands-off labour. This means that she controlled the birth herself, and knew
instinctively what to do. Education about birth gives you power and leads to
less medical interventions it gives you the confidence to say “I need more
time” or “I do not consent to that”. These two simple phrases often mean that
caregivers leave you to find your own groove during birth which helps you to
feel more in control of the situation.
The
cornerstone of Cuidiú antenatal classes is informed decision making, which
encourages people to become informed, ask questions, and then make their own
decisions, even if this is contrary to hospital policy on inductions and
interventions.
We use an
acronym tool called BRAIN (see box) as a way of empowering women to have a
voice in labouring suites when hospital policy puts them on the clock to dilate
by 1cm every hour. If their body doesn’t comply with this extremely fast rate
of progress, they are given the damaging label of ‘failure to progress’, which can
often lead to a traumatic use of forceps or c-birth.
Using your B-R-A-I-N during labour:
Benefits: how will this help me, my baby & my labour?
Risks: what risks to me, my baby & my labour?
Alternatives: what are my other options?
Instinct: what does my gut tell me?
Need time: what if I do nothing
right now? I would like to wait for now.
The
increasingly medicalisation of birth has led to an increase in feelings of
dissatisfaction with birth and a rise in the number of women suffering birth
trauma, post-traumatic shock and post-natal depression. Studies show that it’s
not just about holding a baby in your arms at the end of it, it’s about how you
feel, because it can haunt you for years and affect you deeply.
A survey
from the Birth Trauma Association in 2010 found that nearly 70 per cent of
women did not have the birth experience they wanted. A third said they were not
treated with dignity and respect, and were not given proper information and/or
explanations during their labour. Many cited ‘loss of control’ and ‘lack of
communication’ as key factors in their negative experiences, and some said they
felt ‘bullied’, ‘ignored’ or ‘dismissed’ by overstretched staff.
Sometimes
a birth does not go according to plan. Babies can be positioned unfavourably,
or various complications can occur which mean the baby needs to be taken out
quickly. Not everyone can have such a seemingly straight-forward birth as Kate
Middleton. But quick birth can be traumatic too, given that it doesn’t give the
mind and body enough time to process what’s going on, and can lead to giving
birth in unplanned locations, which can contribute to shock.
No birth
is ever easy and we don’t really know the truth of Kate’s birth or how she’s
feeling because she never reveals anything personal. Fair play to her for
putting on such a public display of looking flawless in pale clothes just 10
hours after the birth. That’s the last thing I ever felt like doing after I
squeezed a baby out after my exhausting labours. I just wanted to take to my
bed and sleep for a week and cuddle and feed my baby.
The upshot
is preparation, preparation, and more preparation. The more you know about what
could happen will give you confidence, strength and arm you for any discussion
you might need to have the birth both you and your baby deserves.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Amy Vickers is a recently trained Cuidiú antenatal
teacher running new classes packed full of up-to-date, evidence-based
information to empower you for a satisfactory and normal birth. If you wish to
join Amy’s low-cost Cuidiú 1-day weekend classes in Midleton, east Cork, please
get in touch.
References:
Hodnett,
Gates, et al. 2012. Continuous support for women during childbirth. Cochrane
database of systematic reviews.
Kitzinger, Sheila. 2015. A Passion for Birth: My Life: Anthropology, Family and Feminism. Pinter & Martin. London.
Korte, Diana & Roberta
Scaer. 1992. A Good Birth, A Safe Birth. Harvard Common Press, 3rd ed.
