Debate: Does The World Have The Right To Know That Kate Middleton Is In Labour?

This morning at around 7.40am, I scrolled through my Twitter timeline to see a tweet from Piers Morgan saying that the royal baby was officially on its way. My first assumption was that the press had had a tip off about it, but I quickly realised that Clarence House had announced the fact that Kate Middleton had gone into labour, on its official Twitter account.

Clarence House tweets the announcement of Kate Middleton going into labour

 

My reaction went something like this:

1. Wooo! The royal baby is coming!

2. Oh. Is it WEIRD that Clarence House tweeted to say Kate Middleton is in labour? I mean, tweeting to say she has had the baby, I can understand, but is it right that the Duchess of Cambridge has the entire world knowing she is probably 4cm dilated, listening to Calvin Harris whilst trying to stay in the hypnobirthing ‘zone’ and breathing through bloody painful contractions?

 

Pregnant Kate Middleton and Prince William

 

Here, two mums debate the issue…

 

Was It Right For Clarence House To Announce Kate Middleton Going Into Labour, On Twitter?

“Yes!” says mum of two Fi Star-Stone from Childcare Is Fun:

“I think it’s exciting that we know Kate Middleton is in labour! It’s a huge historical moment and one we’ve been waiting for. I’m sure she’s known all along it would be this way – after all, Kate is a celebrity, not just a royal now!

“Lots of mums have ‘public’ births – I decided to live tweet my labour in 2010, not to ‘dispel birthing myths’ as many newspapers who covered the story said, or to ‘promote pain relief free labour’ as other papers insisted on writing about, but simply to share a positive homebirth experience with those people who wanted to follow my experience. Surprisingly, I had a few nasty tweets sent my way, but the majority were supportive and lovely. And to be honest, the support really helped with the whole pain relief.

“I managed a good ten hours of tweeting before I had to hand over to my husband. I needed to start concentrating a little bit more! Afterwards, I had a few emails from celebs and people all over the world, saying thanks for being brave and for showing a positive birth story. I loved it and felt so lucky to have an awesome birth.

“I’d do it again in a flash. And I’m really excited that the news of the royal baby’s birth was announced!’

“No!” says mum of one and writer Michelle Davies…

“Kate Middleton and Prince William’s baby will be the most written about and scrutinised infant of modern times. He or she will make Harper Beckham look like Greta Garbo.

“So is it too much to ask that they are given a bit of privacy coming up the birth canal?

“It makes no sense that the world has been informed Kate’s gone into labour. We don’t need to know. All Clarence House’s announcement has done is to stir up the media frenzy to hysterical levels and heap more pressure on Kate at a time when all she should be thinking about is her and the baby she’s trying to push out.

“Labour can be terrifying for first-time mums, and we all know it doesn’t always go according to plan. Kate doesn’t need the added stress of knowing the world is speculating how many centimetres dilated she is, or whether she needs an emergency c-section.

“My partner and I still cherish the time immediately after our daughter Sophie was born, before family and friends were informed of her arrival. It was just the three of us, wrapped in a bubble of bliss. With a statement to be made within minutes of their child coming into the world, how sad Kate and William have been robbed of experiencing that too.”

What do you think about this? Please do comment below with your thoughts!

 

Clarence House announces Kate Middleton going in labour on Twitter

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9 Comments

  1. German Girl in London
    July 22, 2013 / 12:19 pm

    Kate Middleton chooses to be in the public, so being pregnant is part of it.

  2. July 22, 2013 / 12:23 pm

    I’m sure there wouldn’t be official tweets without their permission. I’m also pretty sure they’ll give a statement when they’re good and ready, and still get chance to have the precious first moments in privacy. The royals would be gutted if there was no media interest, so I think it’s fine for us to know. X

  3. Jayne Bradshaw
    July 22, 2013 / 12:24 pm

    I think that Clarence House is right to announce it. Better to control it than some newspaper doing so.
    I doubt the DoC will be giving a second thought to anyone right now other than her and her baby. When I had my 1st they could have announced Robbie Williams was in the next room & I wouldn’t have given a damn (well not much of one anyway).
    You are totally in a zone whilst in labour and the rest of the world won’t matter, not today at least. I think William has done a fabulous job at protecting Catherine in her pregnancy and will do so in the coming weeks and unless she is currently watching the news she will be oblivious (for now) to the outside world all watching and waiting.
    I’m afraid the public fascination with Catherine means that news about her is met with excitement (to most) I think Clarence House are just keeping the news controlled, or as controlled as they possibly can.

  4. July 22, 2013 / 12:30 pm

    When I had my son last september I did send out a tweet in the morning. I was sitting in the maternity ward waiting for my planned C-section and it was weirdly surreal and hysterical. I posted a pic of my big belly and my hubby and I in “scrubs”. I don’t find Clarence Houses’ tweet too weird at all. Hopefully it means hospital staff aren’t being pressured into leaking info. BUT it is exciting news because for the first time if Kate has a girl she can succeed to the throne.

    Must say when I saw Kate Middleton in Peter Jones back in June (yes in the baby department) she looked amazing and made me realise how completely tardy with my appearance I became in the later stages of my pregnancy.

  5. July 22, 2013 / 12:47 pm

    I’m with you!
    I can understand Clarence House making a statement purely to avoid the endless speculation and rumours that would no-doubt have kicked-off as soon as there was a hint of Kate’s departure from home. But the poor girl could be there for a long time yet before there is any news. Just let them get on with it on their own!

  6. EssieRae
    July 22, 2013 / 2:30 pm

    I thought it was royal protocol to announce that she was in labour. That’s what the press releases had previously said would happen. Very exciting either way!! My sister-in-law in Australia is also in labour with my nephew, he may share the royal baby’s birthday :-))

  7. July 22, 2013 / 2:32 pm

    I don’t seen any problem with it being announced. A birth is such an exciting event, most people do want to share it! And it’s not like she’s having cameras shoved in her face and a load of journalists hovering around her bed as she pushing, so she does have privacy anyway. GOOD LUCK KATE! x

  8. Honestmum
    July 22, 2013 / 6:50 pm

    There’s always a chance it would have been found out if not announced as people have been camping for days outside the hospital and it’s a public, working hospital. I’m excited for the announcement outside Buckingham Palace. A bit like Diana’s funeral, I suppose it’s bringing the nation together in some kind of ‘imagined community’ although this time for something celebratory x

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