Home birth is Meghan’s favoured choice

THE Duchess of Sussex is considering a home birth at Windsor later this month, friends said.

Meghan, 37, is keen to follow in the Queen’s footsteps by having a midwife-led birth at Frogmore Cottage.

The Queen was born at the Mayfair home of her grandparents and gave birth to each of her four children at either Buckingham Palace or Clarence House.

Sources stressed that Harry and Meghan, who are expecting their first child within weeks, have not ruled out a hospital delivery because a woman having a baby over the age of 35 is at an increased risk of premature birth or the need for an epidural or caesarean.

But a friend in America said the duchess – who still does yoga daily and has “sailed” through her pregnancy – is in extremely good health and sees no reason why she could not enjoy a safe delivery in the privacy of the cottage.

“It is her favoured choice,” the source said, “but it obviously depends on how things are nearer the time.”

If she does go ahead with a home birth, Meghan could give birth without any pain relief at all, but would also have the option of gas and air, a warm bath, a birth pool, or relaxation techniques such as hypnobirthing, which Meghan – who very much favours alternative therapies – is believed to have been studying with Harry.

The option would also have the added benefit of giving the couple the privacy they crave.

It is understood they quickly ruled out the option of using the private Lindo Wing at St Mary’s Hospital, Paddington, like the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

Kate delivered George, now five, Charlotte, three, and 11-month-old Louis at St Mary’s.

Harry and Meghan decided against it because it felt too much like a “goldfish bowl”.