Who Is Lauren Mishcon? New Details About Meghan Markle's Doula
The Duchess of Sussex is due to have her baby soon. Who is her doula?
getty Royal baby fever is reaching new heights as Meghan Markle reaches the final weeks of her pregnancy. The Duchess of Sussex is due to deliver her first child this spring and everyone has been watching her growing bump as she appears at different events.
The Royal Family is famously tight-lipped when it comes to the births of little princess and princesses. We don’t know what gender this baby might be, nor is there any news about baby names slipping out. Everything about the new arrival will be a royal suprise.
What we do know is that the Duchess and her husband Prince Harry are laying plans for the birth of their child. They have allegedly made arrangements give both in the Lindo Wing at London’s St Mary’s Hospital, which is also where Prince Williams and Duchess Katherine had their three babies. There are also rumors that Meghan has added a modern twist to her birth plan and has hired a doula. Papers in the UK are reporting that London-based doula Lauren Mishcon has been visiting the parents to be and may also be on hand for the royal birth
Who is Lauren Mishcon and what will her role as a royal doula be? Read on for more.
1. What’s a doula?
A doula is "a trained professional who provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support to a mother before, during and shortly after childbirth to help her achieve the healthiest, most satisfying experience possible.” A doula acts as a support partner before and during birth, and some doulas provide postpartum services to help a mother and newborn as well.
2. Part of the team
Markle has reportedly hired quite a few medical personnel in addition to her doula. According to reporting in The Daily Star, Meghan has retained two obstetricians, three midwives, three anesthetists, four surgical staff, two special care baby-unit staff, four pediatricians, one lab technician and three or four managers. Allegedly, all of these people are being asked to abate from alcohol leading up to the birth and will be on call 24 hours per day.
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3. Family ties
Lauren Michcon, the doula who may be working with Markle has a connection to the Royal Family. Her husband is Oliver Mishcon, grandson to lawyer Victor Mishcon. His firm Mishcon de Reya represented Prince Harry’s mother Diana in her divorce from Prince Charles.
4. Experienced doula
Lauren Mishcon has been working as a doula for over a decade, according to her professional profile. She says that, “Giving birth for the first time had a profound effect on me and since then I have felt a strong desire to help other women achieve their own empowering, positive birth experiences.” After the birth of her first son in 2007, she trained to become a Recognised Birth Doula with Doula UK.
5. Philosophy
Mishcon says she keeps and open mind when it comes to childbirth. “My philosophy is that there is no right or wrong — childbirth just happens! and being open to the process and feeling informed, safe and secure enough to let go is the best way to achieve a positive birth.”
6. Continuing study
In addition to her practice as a professional doula, Mishcon has been continuing her training by observing others in her field and attending seminars and lecture. She is also the editor of Doulaing Magazine. She says, “I have written freelance about birth for Juno magazine and others and I was the Doula Expert for Pregnancy & Birth Magazine from 2009-2011. In 2014, I became a Doula UK Birth Doula Mentor.”
7. Unconfirmed
Of course, rule of patient — and royal — confidentiality guide Mishcon and she is unable to tell the press who any of her clients are. When asked by The Sun about her role in Markle’s birth plan, she replied, “Well, I am obviously not at liberty to talk about who, or who might not, be my client. So I can’t possibly . . . I wouldn’t be able to talk to you about anything.” But the doula has been seen visiting the royal couple at their homes in Great Tew, Oxfordshire, and at Kensington Palace.
The Duchess is due to deliver the royal baby in April.
Rebekah Kuschmider has been writing about celebrities, pop culture, entertainment, and politics since 2010. Her work has been seen at Ravishly, Babble, Scary Mommy, The Mid, Redbook online, and The Broad Side. She is the creator of the blog Stay at Home Pundit and she is a cohost of the weekly podcast The More Perfect Union.