Kate Middleton Hypnobirthing: Duchess Considering Hollywood Technique to Combat Labor Pain?
Kate Middleton is reportedly considering using hypnobirthing techniques during her upcoming labor in a bid to ease the natural birth process.
The Duchess of Cambridge, 31, is just weeks away from delivering her and Prince William's first royal heir and she is said to be exploring the idea of hypnobirthing, which seeks to alleviate the pain of child birth. The unique birthing method, which is said to be popular amongst Hollywood stars, often reduces the need for an epidural.
"Kate's very excited about the idea of hypnobirth," a source told Now magazine. "She's exploring lots of options but thinks it sounds very interesting."
Get Our Latest News for FREE
Various Hollywood actresses including Jessica Alba and Angelina Jolie are said to be fans of hypnobirthing. During the procedure women use various breathing exercises and visualization techniques throughout labor and this reportedly helps combat pain and significantly reduces labor time.
"It's not like the clock in front of your face and you go out and you wake up and you got a baby. Basically, my husband takes me through sort of a meditation. He'll say, 'You're relaxed, and you're floating on clouds,' while you're going through labor and your contractions," Alba previously explained to talk show host Ellen Degeneres about her hypnobirthing experience with her daughter Haven.
"I'm just concentrating on breathing and staying relaxed because it's when you get tense that makes the whole labor worse and more painful,"she continued adding "That's all it is. It's not like a weird thing."
Middleton, who is due in July, is no stranger to breaking royal tradition and she will reportedly again do so by breast feeding her newborn. The late Princess Diana was allegedly the first royal family member to breastfeed her first born son William.
"I'm sure she'll do exactly what most women in this country do which is to breastfeed," author Daisy Goodwin said in an interview on "20/20: Bringing Up Baby: Royal Edition."
