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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Royals being put to sleep to give birth? *MNHQ edited the title for some sort of clarity*

297 replies

Butterandsugar · 13/03/2018 12:44

Posting in here for traffic, and also in case my lack of experience is at play here.

I have just been advised that when the royal family are due to deliver their babies they are put to sleep and someone else does the "work" for them because it is deemed too traumatic an experience.

Note, apparently this isn't a long winded and not really accurate attempt at saying they have caesarians.

I have scoffed at this, but an being told that this truly is the case. AIBU to not see how this is physically possible? And why on earth something like giving birth is deemed below the royals if so?

OP posts:
MayFayner · 13/03/2018 14:02

Buda Sad

MargaretCavendish · 13/03/2018 14:03

It's so they don't accidentally revert to their lizard form while in the throes of pain.

But surely the doctor has to already be in on their secret, due to the egg?

paxillin · 13/03/2018 14:04

MNHQ edited the title for some sort of clarity Grin Grin

Original poster
Butterandsugar · 13/03/2018 14:04

Ah yes, well now that the lizard aspect has been mentioned it all makes sense I suppose 😂😂

I had honestly thought the whole thing was nonsense so to hear that it did happen, and meant that some mothers missed out on spending whatever short time they had with their babies is really quite sad

OP posts:
Haffiana · 13/03/2018 14:05

Er, not sure that the new thread title is any better... You put a dog to sleep, not a royal. Grin

MarSeeAh · 13/03/2018 14:06

For a mad moment I thought someone was posting that they'd heard the queen was going to be 'put to sleep' so Charles could take over. Confused

Yip, me too!

justforthisthread101 · 13/03/2018 14:09

My DMIL's two first children were delivered like this.

She got a bit of surprise when she had DH Grin (number three)

Original poster
Butterandsugar · 13/03/2018 14:11

I know re. the new title - still a bit woolly but this time not my making. Though at least the butterfly enthusiasts can rest easy

OP posts:
OlennasWimple · 13/03/2018 14:17

At least they have given up the custom of having the Home Secretary present to witness the births of potential heirs to the throne...

iklboo · 13/03/2018 14:18

@MargaretCavendish No, they have special midwife lizards who look after that. And the doctor is also a lizard. They can't be too careful Wink

Becca83 · 13/03/2018 14:19

I gave birth under a general anaesthetic just 3 years ago! I have absolutely no recollection of the actual birth at all. It was an emergency though, so no time for a spinal, they just knocked me out.
Really sucked actually as I didn't get to meet my baby for a long time and the first few hours are very hazy.

MsHarry · 13/03/2018 14:20

Your manager? Oh right must be true then.

GnotherGnu · 13/03/2018 14:20

The title made me think of that question in QI about who was the last monarch to be murdered. People were coming up with Charles I and suchlike, but it was pointed out that it was in fact George V, because his doctor deliberately drugged him to hasten his death. The story goes that this was in order to meet the next edition of The Times, but in fact it seems to have been in response to Queen Mary and Edward VIII telling the physician that the did not want his life needlessly prolonged if his condition was fatal.

Theresasmayshoes11 · 13/03/2018 14:22

Fucking hell imsgine ever having Dianne Abbott or Amber Rudd at your birth! You would need the bloody drugs. Horrific

redandsilver · 13/03/2018 14:22

Who WOULDN'T wanna be put to sleep SEDATED when giving birth?

Let's not sugar coat this; it's one of the most horrendous and painful things most women will go through...

Original poster
Butterandsugar · 13/03/2018 14:23

Hmm MsHarry I came on and started the thread with the point that this sounded like utter nonsense...

...and then was told via a number of replies that is has happened in the past.

OP posts:
The80sweregreat · 13/03/2018 14:26

I've never heard of this before but an american author wrote a book about the royals and she said that ( if its fact or not i do not know) the Queen Mum had to have some kind of sperm donation in order to have her girls. i read this book years ago and was thinking ' that can't be right' as IVF etc wasn't around in the 1920 or 30s, but she said that it was.
If this did happen ( and who knows and it was a long time ago) i would imagine she might have been happy to have the sleeping labour! it sounds a bit dangerous for todays world , but then im not a doctor and just had two 'normal' births - which hurt a lot.

DannyLaRuesBestFrock · 13/03/2018 14:31

I know someone on private phone number terms with her and she's very down to earth and says "fuck" a lot

Okay yes.

I also know someone on private phone number terms with her Maj and she told this person who has her private phone number, that she hates it when everyone knocks about outside their house when they are trying to go to church, or just wants a sunbathe on their balcony.

JessieMcJessie · 13/03/2018 14:33

There is a twighlight birth in Outlander too (for those who follow it)- that part was set in the early 60s in Boston. Claire Fraser is forced into it against her wishes, seemed to me like a comment on medical attitudes at the time and would dovetail with Andrew’s birth as portrayed in the Crown.
But of course not nowadays, what nonsense!

Zaphodsotherhead · 13/03/2018 14:35

I was avoiding this - it was titled 'Monarchs being put to sleep'...and I assumed you had a dog/horse called Monarch being pts today...

it's been nearly two years since my old boy was pts, and I STILL can't bear reading about someone else in the same situation.

Sorry. As you were.

Original poster
Butterandsugar · 13/03/2018 14:38

Oh no Zaphodsotherhead I'm sorry Flowers

OP posts:
QueenAravisOfArchenland · 13/03/2018 14:38

The birth described in Plath's The Bell Jar, for those who have read it, was also a "twilight sleep" one, and IMO Plath really captures the dehumanising effect of it.

I really don't think most women WOULD want to be unconscious for birth. I sure as fuck wouldn't and I've had two vaginal births, one with zero pain relief. It wasn't good physically or psychologically for women, it wasn't good for babies. It was done because doctors thought they knew better.

Zaphodsotherhead · 13/03/2018 14:42

Thanks Butter. Was so pleased when the title changed and I could join in! Have learned many new things thanks to this thread!

pallisers · 13/03/2018 14:42

Twilight sleep - my mil had her first couple of children like this - she hated it.

What I don't understand is did they use forceps to take the baby out once the woman was knocked out? Speaking as someone who has had a forceps delivery, I wouldn't wish it on anyone.

January87 · 13/03/2018 14:44

I've heard rumours that Kate is planning to break royal protocol and have a home birth for baby number three.