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

[Butterandsugar]

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?

AccidentallyRunToWindsor No, I did ask her if she got this from the Crown but it was something her own Gran told her.

From some of the replies it sounds like something initially offered to wealthy woman and latterly forced upon women by doctors as late as the 80s

I know what Queen Victoria chose for her later children. She chose the best pain alleviation known at the time.

Now that everyone knows better, we do better, subject to the idology of the midwives attending of course.

I don't know why you are so snippy about this. You don't have to defend your ignorant manager. Unless this is a reverse?

They were still doing this in 1998 in a small town hospital during my obstetric placement. Not chloroform but mega doses of pethidine (150mg) and temazepam all the women who received this cocktail were barely conscious during labour.

It's not a reverse. It makes no sense for me to come on asking if I'm being unreasonable if this was something I actually believed in the first instance.

I don't believe she's ignorant to tell a story about royals choosing a particular course of treatment when it turns out that a royal did choose that course and went on to publicly recommend it.

I know one woman who gave birth to her fifth child under total anaestecia - because it was posh and expensive and they were able to pay for it. She found it to be traumatising, waking up and having a baby pushed in her arms, yes yes, she's yours. I understand wanting to skip labour pains, but not the feeling of giving birth!

My mother was ‘knocked out’ for our births in the 70’s.

She was happy to be.

my mum had epidurals for all 4 of us - doctors and science were more respected in the 50s/60s/70s, we've moved on from 'this wonderful medicine is going to make you much better' to the pros and cons etc.

I can see in the days of having many babies, fogginess might've been a price worth paying, especially if you'd already had several babies, but equally can see how if that was your only experience of birth, it would be very strange.

I can't imagine how tough you must've had to be to have so many babies.

What utter drivel do you read .....

This was common practice for lots of people...majority of people for several years!!
And ultimately - who cares!! Is a baby healthily born? That’s enough

Tbf clarkl2 I don't actually read the Guardian, it came up when I searched for a source.

I don't read it because it's click bait (which I totally recognise is ironic given my earlier title issues )

So apologies on that front!

Isn't the Lindo Wing private rather than NHS? I just did a quick Google and their website says that they've provided care for mothers and babies since the 1930s. So it's not NHS and it's not unequal in that anyone who can pony up the money gets the same care.

My brother was born abroad in 1950 and me in the UK in 1961 and I think my mother had standard deliveries with both of us. She did tell me that she was induced with me as she was considered ancient at 40; the consultant was apparently totally pissed off when he found himself at my birth in the early hours rather than mid-morning after golf.

My dad's cousin was born in the UK in the early 1950s though and nerves were permanently cut in her face by a forceps delivery so I'm now wondering.

Queen Victoria chose chloroform in 1853 and 1857. She also lived in palaces without electricity until 1883, wore corsets and crinolines, and was ferried around in a coach. She had nine children - other women had similarly sized families, and childbirth was very dangerous back then for all, rich and poor alike. Henry VIII had a servant to wipe his butt. He also had several wives beheaded. Just because something was done in the past by members of the royal family or their forebears doesn't mean it is still done.

You might easily have been the one proposing the notion and being rebuffed. Reverses do happen. Sometimes the subsequent insistence that the 'other person' was being reasonable in their claims unmasks the reverser. Why would someone be so loyal to the manager whose theory had been laid to rest so comprehensively?

"And ultimately - who cares!! Is a baby healthily born? That’s enough"

No it's not.

If women can have a birth which is safe AND satisfying, and that they can be helped to achieve this buy giving them care which is kind, competent, and works with rather than against normal physiology, then why the hell not?

So glad that I had a midwife who made me feel like my feelings and wellbeing really mattered when I had my second and third.

This thread is making me realise I was lucky, twice! First in the 60s, I was in hospital but didn't get any attention. Another mother needed the nurses more as she was profoundly deaf (hearing aid off as it blocked the beepers) and sadly had had a still birth the previous year.
First baby, coming? Oh, no dear, it'll be hours yet! I didn't even get the dreaded statutory shave and enema as the next time I said 'The baby's coming', only few minutes later, there was no doubt! Completely natural birth!
My second was an accidental home birth as he popped out before the ambulance arrived, again, as natural as could be.

Because she wasn't wrong, I was - next time a reigning monarch gives birth we can call and ask to be sure.

I actually quite like my manager, and as countless posters have described the practice isn't impossible (which was my AIBU), was something that some actually opted for (and a whole load did not) and continued for some women up until the last 20 years making Henry viii a poor comparison...so I'd have to say someone calling her ignorant or an idiot IBU.

I’ve never heard this... however what does piss me off I’d when Kate was pregnant all 3 times they act like she’s the first person in the world to be pregnant and have pregnancy issues.

"I can't imagine how tough you must've had to be to have so many babies."

Or to live without central heating, disposable sanitary towels, antibiotics, cars....

Ergot was also used in bygone years for childbirth. Yes ladies you too could have your baby tripping your tits off 🙃🤤

She was as wrong as she could have been, Butterandsugar.

Her theory was preposterous.

The idea that because a few women have done this as late as 20 years ago does not make it less ridiculous because it is downright dangerous.

Could women push during twilight sleep?

Surely the extensive use of forceps must have me any that birth injuries were even more shockingly common than they are now?

Meant, not 'me any'.

'My friend was one of the midwives that helped deliver princess Charlotte - there wasn’t anything unusual about the birth. Although bless her, she won’t reveal anything about it other than to say it was quite normal but just with more staff on hand'

Sorry but no. Not 'bless her' that's gross breach of trust & confidentiality. I'm ashamed of your friend. Also means one of the 3 midwives blabbed. And anyone associated with the profession knows exactly who those 3 are. Disgraceful.

We'll just have to disagree mathanxiety.

As ridiculous as it might be it is possible, it absolutely did happen, was significantly connected to the royal family, was opted for in QVs case in order to avoid the experience of childbirth and occurred far more recently than I think most would expect.

I've already told her she was right and I was wrong so there's not much point arguing it now

Agatha the midwife probably shouldn’t have said anything that’s true. But I wouldn’t be upset about it. what’s shameful imo is Kate having three midwives two obstetricians and four paediatricians when in some hospitals women barely get the care and attention they need (and most midwives probably want to give if they could) from one midwife.
Let alone a whole team of doctors and nurses.

She paid for her care. She can have what she wants. She still deserves privacy.