New Zealand Woman’s Weekly

WAITING FOR BABY How Kate got her way

- Judy Kean

THE LITTLEST CAMBRIDGES CAN’T WAIT TO WELCOME THE NEW MEMBER TO THEIR FAMILY

She wanted three – he was happy to stop at two. But Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge got her way and with a sibling for Prince George and Princess Charlotte due any day now, both she and William are excited about the impending arrival of their third child.

Kate is feeling quite relaxed and confident about having baby number three, says a friend. “She is very comfortabl­e and happy. Kate enjoys the final trimester and is full of energy.”

She has spent recent weeks exercising in the hope it can reduce labour pains, reveals the pal. “Kate bounces up and down on a rubber yoga ball to prepare for labour, and walks as much as possible.”

This technique may be able to help with back pain and labour contractio­ns, and it’s also thought it can shorten the first stage of labour.

Kate (36) apparently didn’t have any pain relief during her

first two labours and is hoping she won’t need it this time either. A royal insider reveals, “Kate is very good at giving birth naturally. William is terribly supportive and will be there cheering her on. He’ll be very hands-on during the birth.”

Meanwhile, George and Charlotte’s excitement levels have reached fever pitch. “Everyone is excited for the new baby,” says the source. “George and Charlotte have been full of questions about their new brother or sister. William and Kate have made them feel very involved in all the baby preparatio­ns that have been taking place at home.”

It’s a surprise in many ways that they are getting a younger sibling because many people thought Kate and William would call it quits after Charlotte, partly because of the severe form of morning sickness, hyperemesi­s gravidarum, that Kate suffers in pregnancy. It was so bad with George (4) and Charlotte (2) that nobody expected her to want to go through it again. Plus William (35) had made it clear that he was happy with two children.

But Kate told friends, “Never say never.”

“Kate always wanted more than two children, it was William who needed to be

persuaded,” says another friend. “As one of three, Kate wanted at least three herself. William was more reluctant, not just because he was one of two, but because George was quite a difficult baby.

“Then they had Charlotte and she was a lot easier. Now the idea of a newborn doesn’t seem half as challengin­g as they have done it twice before and they have got all their staff in place.”

There have been rumours that Kate and William will be hiring a second nanny, to work alongside current nanny Maria Borrallo (46), particular­ly because of the new baby, but also because there have been concerns about some of George’s behaviour. The youngster can be a handful, as seen at the wedding of his aunt Pippa Middleton (34) last year, when he got a stern telling off from his mother for not doing as he was told.

But a palace source says at this stage, they are holding fire on employing another full-time nanny, as they hope they will be able to manage with Maria alone. “Three children under the age of five is going to be hard work, but Kate and William seem to thrive as parents, so it’ll be a challenge they enjoy. They don’t feel the need for an additional nanny. They feel they can handle everything with the same arrangemen­t as before.”

That arrangemen­t includes drafting in granny Carole Middleton to help out where necessary. When George was a tiny baby, Kate and William moved in with the Middletons so Carole could help her eldest daughter get used to motherhood. That didn’t happen with Charlotte and is unlikely to happen this time around. But now the family is based in spacious apartment 1A in Kensington Palace, there will be plenty of room for Carole (63) to come and stay if Kate needs an extra pair of hands with the older children, as well as the new baby.

Kate is booked to have the baby at the private Lindo Wing of St Mary’s Hospital, where George and Charlotte were also born, but for a while it looked like the duchess was going to opt to give birth at home.

“Catherine has said she would love to have her baby at home,” says an insider.

“She discussed it with William and he was very supportive. They both thought it would be lovely for the family to have a home birth, particular­ly for George and Charlotte. Above all, they both agreed that having a home birth would save a massive intrusion into the day-to-day running of any hospital where she gave birth.

“They were very concerned

about the chaos caused with the first two children as hundreds of press and public camped outside for several days, and they would like to avoid a repeat if they could. They don’t think it is fair on other patients at the hospital and people visiting their relatives.”

However, her doctors wanted her to be in hospital, with a team of 20 obstetric and paediatric experts on stand-by, and vital equipment on hand should anything go wrong. The insider says Kate will be going to hospital for the delivery, but will most likely try to stay at home for as long as possible throughout the labour. It’s a short drive from Kensington Palace to St Mary’s, so unless the baby comes in a rush, there shouldn’t be a problem with getting there on time.

Her medical team will include obstetrici­an Alan Farthing, who oversaw the births of George and Charlotte. He was planning on retiring, but has stayed on to deliver the third Cambridge baby.

Depending on how the birth goes, Kate and the baby may well go home after just a few hours. With Charlotte, Kate was in hospital for just under 12 hours, arriving at the hospital a couple of hours before her daughter was born at 8.30am on May 2, 2015 and leaving nine hours later, after showing off her tiny newborn to the public and media waiting outside. She spent the night in hospital with George, who arrived at 4.24pm on July 22, 2013, and left the next morning.

Kate’s hospital bag has been packed for some weeks, and according to one source, includes toys George and Charlotte have given her as good luck tokens. She also takes a cameo pendant the Queen gave her and her mother’s black onyx beads for good luck, along with vanillasce­nted aromathera­py candles and calming music.

“Kate is ready – now it’s just up to baby,” says the source.

 ??  ?? Above: Just like her own family, having three children was Kate’s dearest wish. Right: The duchess is also hoping she and William will be able to get by with only current nanny Maria.
Above: Just like her own family, having three children was Kate’s dearest wish. Right: The duchess is also hoping she and William will be able to get by with only current nanny Maria.
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 ??  ?? After suffering from debilitati­ng morning sickness, Kate is finally able to enjoy the latter stages of her
pregnancy.
After suffering from debilitati­ng morning sickness, Kate is finally able to enjoy the latter stages of her pregnancy.
 ??  ?? Kate spent the night in hospital after giving birth to George in July 2013. Left: Dr Alan Farthing helped deliver George and Charlotte (above). He will also oversee the arrival of their sibling.
Kate spent the night in hospital after giving birth to George in July 2013. Left: Dr Alan Farthing helped deliver George and Charlotte (above). He will also oversee the arrival of their sibling.
 ??  ?? A four- minute drive from Kensington Palace, the Lindo Wing of St Mary’s Hospital is all ready for Kate to have her third baby there.
A four- minute drive from Kensington Palace, the Lindo Wing of St Mary’s Hospital is all ready for Kate to have her third baby there.
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