The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are now parents of three, welcoming their newborn baby boy into the world yesterday.
Kate Middleton was admitted to the Lindo Wing at St. Mary’s Hospital in the early hours of Monday morning (London time) with the latest royal addition arriving on his exact due date of April 23rd, less than six hours after Kate arrived at the hospital.
While there is no confirmation of the Duchess’ birthing style, there have been reports she used the technique of hypnobirthing during the birth of baby number three, as well as with Prince George and Princess Charlotte.
Furthermore, midwives at the Lindo Wing reportedly trained in hypnobirthing ahead of the royal due date.
Celebrities such as Angelina Jolie and Jessica Alba have used the techniques, which are said to help women achieve a deep state of relaxation and to include a shorter first stage labour, less intense pain, a shorter hospital stay and less fear and anxiety after the birth.
Describing the technique to Ellen DeGeneres, Alba said: “Basically my husband takes me through sort of a meditation. So he’s like saying, ‘You’re relaxed and you’re floating on clouds, while you’re going through labour and your contractions.”
“He just sort of does a guided meditation,” she continued. “I’m just concentrating on breathing and staying relaxed because it’s when you get tense that makes the whole labour worse and more painful. That’s all it is. It’s not like a weird thing.”