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Pregnancy

05th Oct 2017

Kate Middleton’s pregnancy has sparked a rather unexpected trend

The Kate effect strikes again.

Anna O'Rourke

Would you consider this?

She’s long been a style icon, selling out pieces as soon as she steps out in them, but it seems her influence even extends to birth plans.

Shortly after her pregnancy was announced in September, it was reported that Kate Middleton wants a home birth for baby number three.

It was once tradition for royals to have their babies at home, most recently with Queen Elizabeth who gave birth to all of her children including Prince Charles at Buckingham Palace, but more recently royal babies have been born in hospital.

News that Kate is keen on giving birth at home has caused a lot of people to consider doing the same.

Private Midwives says it has had 44 per cent more enquiries about home births since word of Kate’s preference got out.

“We’ve seen a definite rise in interest surrounding home births,” Private Midwives’ Linda Bryceland told Country Living.

“With many of the services she and other A-listers utilise becoming more readily accessible and affordable, we’re seeing expectant mothers being presented with more and more options.”

A survey of 1,600 UK adults by the company found that home births are something many prospective mums are thinking about.

Almost one in three respondents (29 per cent) said they’d rather give birth at home.