Meghan Markle recently revealed her unique birthing experiences given birth to the couple’s two children, Prince Archie and Lilibet. The Duchess of Sussex brought Archie into the world at Portland Hospital in London. Then a year later, she gave birth to Lilibet at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital in California. From the décor to the family’s excursions, both births were replete with personal touches that embodied Markle’s focus on emotional healing and wellbeing.
During Archie’s birth in 2019, Markle hired an Ayurvedic doctor. This decision really underscored her focus on creating balance in her life and body. She used nitrous oxide, known as laughing gas, to take the edge off the pain of labor. Interestingly, Prince Harry admitted in his memoir, “Spare,” that he made more use of the gas than his wife during this process.
Markle’s delivery room, for example, featured a framed portrait of Princess Diana. This touching gesture honored Harry’s late mother, Diana, Princess of Wales. A Nando’s meal was sneakily brought in by the couple’s bodyguard, exemplifying the couple’s desire for comfort during the intense experience of childbirth.
Markle’s experience with Lilibet in June 2021 was a world away. During her pregnancy, she incorporated ‘Golden SuperLattes’ made with turmeric into her diet, viewing food as medicine, as she stated: “So much of it was about seeing food as medicine.” This integrated approach welcomed Mindy’s mental health. She and Prince Harry danced their hearts out to the ‘Baby Mama Dance’ song to celebrate Lilibet joining their family.
Holistic wellness—specifically curating her lifestyle and diet around Ayurveda—contributed heavily to the health of both pregnancies. Her commitment to this ancient Indian practice is just one example of her deep-seated commitment to physical and mental wellness.
“When her contractions began to quicken and deepen, a nurse came and tried to give some laughing gas to Meg,” – Prince Harry
Yet the glaring contrast between the births of Archie and Lilibet highlight the degree to which individual circumstances can affect the experience of giving birth. As each event went along, it was imbued with distinct and individualized rituals and practices that all felt rooted in and resonant with Markle’s values.
