Duchess Treatment: Home Birth Enquires Surge Following Royal Baby News
New research has revealed that Brits are now seemingly taking more than fashion and style advice from celebrities, royals and A-listers and taking inspiration from their birth plans too.
Britons planning on starting a family are being inspired by the Duchess of Cambridge when it comes to their birthing plans, according to new research.
The country’s largest private provider of home birth services, Private Midwives, has experienced a 44% increase in enquires following the royal baby announcement, as the Duchess of Cambridge has expressed that she intends to have her third child at home.
The company has experienced a tenfold increase in bookings of its private midwife services in five years, as Brits are more frequently investing in additional services and practices to help aid peace of mind and relaxation during pregnancy.
Linda Bryceland, director of midwifery, quality and safety at Private Midwives, said: “We’ve seen a definite rise in interest surrounding home births following the Duchess of Cambridge’s announcement, with many of the services she and other A-listers utilise becoming more readily accessible and affordable, we’re seeing expectant mothers being presented with more and more options. It’s now even easier to tailor birthing care and plan a journey that suits mothers-to-be.
“As well as a rise in awareness, there is also an increase in professional career driven women who in the current economic climate do not want to take time off work for antenatal appointments – their partners also frequently struggle to get time off to attend antenatal appointments.”
For those who plan to give birth in hospital, over half would opt to have their baby in a birthing suite if it was possible, for a labour more akin to those celebrities who have given birth in the infamous Lindo Wing at St Mary’s Hospital in London, such as Amal Clooney.
In addition, 34% of Brits now plan on celebrating the imminent arrival of a child, with a babymoon. Baby moons are the latest pre-birth trend, becoming almost as popular as a hosting a baby shower and see the soon-to-be-parents embarking on a relaxing or romantic holiday before the baby is due.
Celebrities such as Beyoncé, Serena Williams and young royals like Kate and William have all enjoyed breaks ahead of their births.
Private Midwives is a Care Quality Commission registered and regulated service which connects expectant parents with expert midwives who provide antenatal care, birth care and support, and postnatal care at times and locations that work best for parents-to-be.
All midwives are registered and regulated by either the Nursing and Midwifery Council (UK) or the Nursing and Midwifery Board for Ireland.
For more information, visit www.PrivateMidwives.com