The Birth of HRH Princess Charlotte of Cambridge: May 2, 2015

[royalistbert]

I do wonder what source does the DM have about Carole moving in.

 

[Jacknch]

Several off-topic and/or argumentative posts that having nothing to do with the birth of Princess Charlotte nor even vaguely related to it have been deleted.

 

[US Royal Watcher]

Charlotte is cute and fat with fat cheeks and lovely baby fat that just makes you want to kiss her all over.
On a related issue....to the woman on here who have had children, how long did you stay at the hospital? I think Kate didn't beat Victoria's time, but they seemed to be ready to go quite fast. So I was just wondering how it was dealt with by other women.

My youngest is 15 and I stayed about two and a half days. I think it is pretty common now for women to go home the next day. It's usually better to recover at home as long as the mother and child are healthy and there were no complications. We know that Catherine has plenty of practical and emotional support. She not only has her family, but she has a staff, including a nanny. She also has access to the best of medical care and body guards who are trained to deal with emergency medical situations.

Also, there are all sorts of bacteria and viruses in hospitals, no matter how many times things are sterilized. I have heard that there are sections of of Europe where home deliveries are more common than hospital deliveries. Hospital deliveries have only been the norm for about 50 or 60 years.

Hospital care was very important years ago, but medical technology has now evolved to the point that good medical care can be provided at home. We will all spend less time in the hospital throughout our lives than our parents and grandparents did.

 

[Iluvbertie]

It was reported that Zara left with Mia after 6 hours.


I also have a niece who left after 6 hours in the UK but her sister was 8 hours here in Australia.

 

[XeniaCasaraghi]

6 hrs and 8 hrs makes me wonder why doctors stopped making house calls. But then again it's probably best to be at a hospital in cSe of complocations with the baby or mom. Just recently I believe some woman had between a 60-76hr labor here in the states.

 

[Isabella]

6 hrs and 8 hrs makes me wonder why doctors stopped making house calls. But then again it's probably best to be at a hospital in cSe of complocations with the baby or mom. Just recently I believe some woman had between a 60-76hr labor here in the states.

Well, I think it's an oft-debated topic, but it's considered by most to be a good idea to give birth in a hospital because of potential complications, like you mentioned. From what I can tell, it certainly seems that women in the US stay in the hospital longer after giving birth (I don't think I've ever heard of someone leaving the same day). I've also noticed that most of the people I know (both in real life and online) who expressed shock/surprise at how quickly Kate left the hospital after Charlotte's birth were almost all Americans. The only thing that surprises me about how quickly some women are discharged is the fact that post-birth complications aren't necessarily apparent in the first 6 or 8 hours. I know Kate would certainly have access to medical care even at home, but do ordinary people tend to get at-home check-ups or anything? I just don't know how exactly that process works.

Also, while it doesn't necessarily surprise me that Kate or other royal women leave the hospital so quickly, I do wonder how they manage to walk out and stand in front of the press (and in high-heels, no less). I've never given birth, but my cousin had her first baby around the same time that George was born, and she was shocked at Kate's ability to go stand out there and speak to the press for a few minutes so soon after having given birth (because, from her perspective, that would've been near-impossible).

 

[Iluvbertie]

Those hours are post-birth and thus not including labour. I would imagine that if the woman had had a protracted labour they would stay longer but when it is a straight forward, normal birth then there is no real reason to stay in hospital.


As for the post-birth care. My niece had a nurse call in and see her about three hours after she arrived home and again the next morning and every morning for a week or so.


As for Kate walking out so soon - that is one of the arguments given to justify the 'surrogacy' theories that are all over the internet - especially on Royal Gossip and less so on Royal Dish.

 

[Isabella]

Those hours are post-birth and thus not including labour. I would imagine that if the woman had had a protracted labour they would stay longer but when it is a straight forward, normal birth then there is no real reason to stay in hospital.

Oh, yes, I realize we're talking post-birth. I think part of the reason it makes me slightly worried about leaving so soon is because when I was born, my mother was only in labor for 6 hours, and it was a straightforward, normal birth. However, my mother did have some relatively minor, non-life threatening complications afterward (although I don't think they were immediately apparent), and she ended up staying in the hospital for 6 days. I've also heard of cases where women developed complications at home but didn't realize how serious they were because they weren't accustomed to what's considered normal, whereas a medical professional would be. Of course, I realize a lot of people (especially royals) are surrounded with help of various kinds once they get home, be it a nurse or family members.

Edit to add: I see you added a couple of things - interesting about the post-birth care. I don't think it's the norm to have nurse check-ups at home in the US, which is perhaps why the hospital stays are longer.

Interesting about the conspiracy theories - do they have similar theories about other royal ladies who leave the hospital so soon? Because I know Kate's not the only one, but I realize a lot of people don't pay attention to other royal families.

 

[Princess of Durham]

Those hours are post-birth and thus not including labour. I would imagine that if the woman had had a protracted labour they would stay longer but when it is a straight forward, normal birth then there is no real reason to stay in hospital.


As for the post-birth care. My niece had a nurse call in and see her about three hours after she arrived home and again the next morning and every morning for a week or so.


As for Kate walking out so soon - that is one of the arguments given to justify the 'surrogacy' theories that are all over the internet - especially on Royal Gossip and less so on Royal Dish.

People cannot seem to accept the fact that everyone is different. With my first child I could very well have done what Kate did. I had minimal medication/sedation and I think that makes a huge difference. As to the "surrogacy" theories I think that is just an excuse to make such comments because there were people saying that BEFORE she had George. It seems for some people if you are not enormous during your pregnancy then CERTAINLY you must have had a surrogate. Just more excuses to bad mouth Catherine, IMO.

 

[Pranter]

I had all 3 of my children without medications. I could of gone home during the same time frame Kate did with the second 2. The first was 2 months early and 3 days of labor so I stayed longer.

My daughter had a baby in December...she went home within 24 hours. That seems to be the trend I am hearing about nowdays.

Using midwives is on the rise too and home births.


LaRae

 

[camelot23ca]

People cannot seem to accept the fact that everyone is different. With my first child I could very well have done what Kate did. I had minimal medication/sedation and I think that makes a huge difference. As to the "surrogacy" theories I think that is just an excuse to make such comments because there were people saying that BEFORE she had George. It seems for some people if you are not enormous during your pregnancy then CERTAINLY you must have had a surrogate. Just more excuses to bad mouth Catherine, IMO.

I think most women with straightforward labours and no post partum complications could do what Kate did. Someone did her hair and makeup, she got dressed in the clothes someone else brought her, maybe walked to the hospital exit, (she could well have been pushed in a wheelchair up to then), stood outside with the baby and smiled for a minute or two before getting into the car and being driven to her home, where supportive family and staff were waiting to take care of her every need.

 

[US Royal Watcher]

Oh, yes, I realize we're talking post-birth. I think part of the reason it makes me slightly worried about leaving so soon is because when I was born, my mother was only in labor for 6 hours, and it was a straightforward, normal birth. However, my mother did have some relatively minor, non-life threatening complications afterward (although I don't think they were immediately apparent), and she ended up staying in the hospital for 6 days. I've also heard of cases where women developed complications at home but didn't realize how serious they were because they weren't accustomed to what's considered normal, whereas a medical professional would be. Of course, I realize a lot of people (especially royals) are surrounded with help of various kinds once they get home, be it a nurse or family members.

Edit to add: I see you added a couple of things - interesting about the post-birth care. I don't think it's the norm to have nurse check-ups at home in the US, which is perhaps why the hospital stays are longer.

Interesting about the conspiracy theories - do they have similar theories about other royal ladies who leave the hospital so soon? Because I know Kate's not the only one, but I realize a lot of people don't pay attention to other royal families.

You raise an interesting point about women not necessarily recognizing abnormal symptoms. I think that is why Catherine stayed in the hospital a little longer with George.

Regarding the high heels, I probably could have done it but there was no incentive--the world's media wasn't waiting at my door.

 

[Isabella]

I think most women with straightforward labours and no post partum complications could do what Kate did. Someone did her hair and makeup, she got dressed in the clothes someone else brought her, maybe walked to the hospital exit, (she could well have been pushed in a wheelchair up to then), stood outside with the baby and smiled for a minute or two before getting into the car and being driven to her home, where supportive family and staff were waiting to take care of her every need.

Really? Honestly, the consensus of most women I know was that they couldn't imagine (and I won't go into all the reasons why they felt that way, but it certainly gave me a new understanding of why it might not be such a comfortable thing to do). I was sitting and watching the TV with my mother as Kate left the hospital with Charlotte, and my mother nearly passed out when she saw that Kate was wearing high-heels so soon after giving birth, and she was swapping stories with some other people who felt the same way. Obviously Kate had help getting dressed, etc., but I'm not sure it would be so comfortable to be dressed up at that moment, even if it is only for a few minutes. Of course, Kate might not have felt comfortable at all, and perhaps you're right that most women could do it if they were in her situation.

 

[Princess of Durham]

The point is, I don't think women realize what they can do if they HAD to. All the difference in the world. It was only for a few minutes but I'm sure she was very glad to get home and into comfy clothes and probably bed or at least "reclining".

 

[QueenJen]

Hospitals are great when and if you need them, but they are also full of superbugs which are resistant to antibiotics. The best thing is to give birth there, so if you have complications, you've got the best care available at hand. If everything goes well and you have support at home - the best is to go home as soon as your medical team says you can. You and your baby are at risk because you are both vulnerable. Sad, but true.

 

[VictoriaB]

Edit to add: I see you added a couple of things - interesting about the post-birth care. I don't think it's the norm to have nurse check-ups at home in the US, which is perhaps why the hospital stays are longer.

There is a huge difference in maternity care from country to country. I trained as a midwife (not nurse please) in the UK and also worked as one in Australia.

In Britain it is (or was when I practiced) law that all post partum mothers and neonates must be examined by a midwife (not nurse) twice a day for three days and then daily for a further 7 days. Districts can then continue visiting until 28 days post partum if necessary. My district visited on day 14 & day 21 and more often if necessary.

This would be why the midwife was seen going in on Sunday and probably why they stayed a couple of days in London.

You simply cannot compare the situation in, say the U.S. with the situation in the UK.


Sent from my iPhone using The Royals Community mobile app

 

[casualfan]

Hospitals are great when and if you need them, but they are also full of superbugs which are resistant to antibiotics. The best thing is to give birth there, so if you have complications, you've got the best care available at hand. If everything goes well and you have support at home - the best is to go home as soon as your medical team says you can. You and your baby are at risk because you are both vulnerable. Sad, but true.

Excellent point!

Regarding Kate wearing high heels, people are aware that her uterus is not in her feet, right?

 

[Iluvbertie]

I used the term 'nurse' because I was under the impression (based on my sister-in-law who is a nurse and a midwife and couldn't become a midwife until she had completed her general nursing course) that midwives were also nurses.

 

[XeniaCasaraghi]

I thought Kaye wore flats when she left with George. And Kate wasn't that small in the last months before George was born, she looked like she had swallowed the great pumpkin, like most women do. Plus both times she has shown her stomach is still big after her babies were born.

 

[Dman]

Catherine wore wedges when leaving the hospital with George. Also, she had a good nights rest after giving birth to him and had some energy to talk to the press afterwards. This time around, Catherine left the hospital just a few hours after giving birth to Charlotte. I totally understood why she and William didn't talk to the press this time. You could tell Catherine was tired, but she pushes herself through it all with a nice smile and happiness. I can tell that she's a strong woman.

 

[Sunnystar]

I thought Kaye wore flats when she left with George. And Kate wasn't that small in the last months before George was born, she looked like she had swallowed the great pumpkin, like most women do. Plus both times she has shown her stomach is still big after her babies were born.

She wore wedges when she left the hospital with George. I was impressed with the heels though my older niece, who worked for about a year as a Medical Assistant in an OB-GYN's office, didn't seem too impressed when we were chatting about it last night.

 

[Tiggersk8]

It has been a very busy few days w/getting ready to come down here to Toronto for my Annual Canadian Stars on Ice Trip, so talk about playing catch up w/the thread...Wow!!

Now...Speaking of Toronto...I'm going to be down here for a couple more days and would love to get a piece of china marking the little Sweetheart's Birth for my Collection. However, I haven't got a clue where to go in Toronto to find something like that. So if anyone in the Toronto area could help me out, it would be appreciated very much, just keep in mind I'm in the Downtown Core and it needs to be easily accessible too.

Thanks in advance!!


Sent from my iPad using The Royals Community mobile app

 

[Moonmaiden23]

Hospitals are great when and if you need them, but they are also full of superbugs which are resistant to antibiotics. The best thing is to give birth there, so if you have complications, you've got the best care available at hand. If everything goes well and you have support at home - the best is to go home as soon as your medical team says you can. You and your baby are at risk because you are both vulnerable. Sad, but true.

You are right. I used to believe that large, modern hospitals were the cleanest, most sterile places on the planet. Then I became desperately ill with a 105 degree temperature less than 24 hours after routine gynecological surgery. Instead of staying for 2 days as originally scheduled I was there a week. I was miserable.

A new mom might cherish the restful reprieve of a longer hospital stay, but I agree with you. If both are healthy they should get out of there and go home asap!!

 

[VictoriaB]

I used the term 'nurse' because I was under the impression (based on my sister-in-law who is a nurse and a midwife and couldn't become a midwife until she had completed her general nursing course) that midwives were also nurses.

Not necessarily in the UK. Most are but it's possible to only train as a midwife. A nurse does not have the skills, training or qualifications to perform the role of a midwife.

I stopped referring to myself as a nurse (I am an RN and RM) once I got my midwifery qualification.

I'm not knocking nurses. They just have very different skills. I could not do the work that a specialist ER nurse or theatre nurse or paediatric nurse etc can do. I simply didn't have the skills or training. I did agency nursing in the year before I left the profession and I was completely out of my depth caring for sick people after spending 15 years working in midwifery.

Again, I think it's a nationality thing. One of the reasons I left midwifery once I came to Australia was that I found it so frustrating that I couldn't work the way I had been trained.


Sent from my iPhone using The Royals Community mobile app

 

[Kellin]

Of course, I realize a lot of people (especially royals) are surrounded with help of various kinds once they get home, be it a nurse or family members.

I think they must have some kind of emergency equipment in the palaces for different cases, because some complications can't wait too long.
Absolutely normal births don't occur very often, so I understand why some mothers have to stay longer in hospital.

 

[HighnessN]

Different health systems work differently. My guess is that women in the US stay longer in hospital post delivery because hospitals and doctors are trying to avoid litigation.

Things are different in South Africa. I work in the public sector and we do not have the beds & staff to keep a woman & baby in hospital if there were no complications during delivery. We observe them for 6 hours and they go home. They then have a 1 week follow up at their local clinic.

In the UK, I think that they stay longer in hospital and on discharge they are under the care of a community midwife who makes a home visit (someone from the UK can correct me on that)

So I wasnt shocked when Catherine left hospital the same day, especially since she has world class specialist at her beck & call.

 

[Iluvbertie]

I remember when Diana left the hospital with William there were murmurs that she had left too soon. It was 21 hours after she gave birth. With Harry it was much the same.


Anne was only in hospital for two days with Peter in 1977 (the same hospital of course)

 

[Molly2101]

Not necessarily in the UK. Most are but it's possible to only train as a midwife. A nurse does not have the skills, training or qualifications to perform the role of a midwife.

I stopped referring to myself as a nurse (I am an RN and RM) once I got my midwifery qualification.

I'm not knocking nurses. They just have very different skills. I could not do the work that a specialist ER nurse or theatre nurse or paediatric nurse etc can do. I simply didn't have the skills or training. I did agency nursing in the year before I left the profession and I was completely out of my depth caring for sick people after spending 15 years working in midwifery.

Again, I think it's a nationality thing. One of the reasons I left midwifery once I came to Australia was that I found it so frustrating that I couldn't work the way I had been trained.


Sent from my iPhone using The Royals Community mobile app

I am just midwife trained - no nursing training at all. Most midwives get quite tetchy when people refer to them as nurses as we are not nurses.

It's really common for women who are extremely low risk and have had straight forward births to go home just over 6 hours later. The midwife visits the family at home the following day. In Kate's case it's probably even even better to be at home as I am sure she has all the help she needs to allow her to not have to move much from the sofa!

 

[Iluvbertie]

As I explained I used the term 'nurse' because my sister-in-law is a nurse who had to be qualified as a nurse first before she was allowed to do the extra training required to be a mid-wife. As she is the only person I know who is a mid-wife it seems that I have erroneously assumed that the minimum requirement to be a mid-wife - that of being a registered nurse - has changed since she did her training in the late 1970s.


It seems either the standard has changed since the late 70s or is different in different countries.

 

[AdmirerUS]

I remember when Diana left the hospital with William there were murmurs that she had left too soon. It was 21 hours after she gave birth. With Harry it was much the same.


Anne was only in hospital for two days with Peter in 1977 (the same hospital of course)

Fortunately, these days the new mom is consulted about how they feel and when they would like to go home. Insurance may put on upper limits, but asking the patient what they would like is appropriate. In Kate's case, insurance was not an issue. She left when she did because she wanted to and I find that wonderful. Happy US Mother's Day to all our Mom's!