As the world waits for Kate to give birth, Zoe Arnold shares some tips to induce labour.
It seems ‘Waity Katie’ is exacting her revenge … with representatives from the world’s media literally camping outside her hospital, waiting for the delivery of her baby.
We can all assume the Duchess is now officially overdue, after the Queen jokingly remarked her heir had better come before she went off on summer holidays.
The pressure! Forget the media: when one’s Granny-in-law happens to be HRH — it must be hard not to feel a teeny bit of stress about the most anticipated birth since … ?
Many Mums have been there: the due date comes, then goes. You feel a tug, a pain, a rumble … then nothing. Your belly will tighten … then nothing again.
It’s frustrating: your legs are swollen, your back is sore, the Moses basket is made up — you are ready! — but your baby is not.
In the days after my firstborn was due, my midwife gave me a number of natural remedies to start the ball rolling.
I drank pineapple juice (it’s supposed to soften the cervix) — nothing.
I drank red raspberry leaf tea (an expensive disappointment).
I walked (my back screamed in pain).
I had acupuncture (alleviated back pain, but no baby).
I ate the spiciest curry known to man (truly awful, but it had a worse effect on my husband than me).
Finally, I was prescribed castor oil to get things, ahem, moving. Joyfully it worked, and my daughter was born later that day — six days overdue.
Another friend, a good 20kg heavier, was told to take her husband to the bedroom and, well, go for it! As much as you can “go for it” when you feel about as amorous as a beached whale. It didn’t work, and her scheduled caesarean went ahead.
My friend’s not alone; with another swearing a combination of an afternoon romp and an evening curry was what finally spurred on her baby to come out, 10 days late.
So the Duchess has her options open.
Maybe she’s at home, drinking raspberry leaf tea and practising yoga. Or taking bumpy car rides on her parent’s farm.
Or she might be able to switch off and enjoy the calm before the storm.
Savouring the lovely last days of anticipation, where all you can think about is this little person who you already love so much.
Your say: Did you wait patiently, or try every trick in the book to get labour started? Did anything work?
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