The Duchess of Sussex will welcome her first child with Prince Harry this spring.
Baby Sussex will be here before we know it!
Still, little is known about where Meghan Markle plans to give birth. The duchess is expecting her first child after marrying Prince Harry in May of last year.
According to reports earlier this year, Meghan, 37, was considering delivering at Frimley Park Hospital in Surrey, near the couple's new home at Frogmore Cottage. She wouldn't be the first royal to give birth at the facility: Prince Harry's aunt, Sophie, Countess of Wessex, gave birth to both her children there in 2003 and 2007.
It has also been suggested that Meghan might opt for a home birth. However, due to Meghan's age and the fact that this is her first child, it seems likely that doctors would advise her to deliver in a hospital.
Lastly, the storied Lindo Wing of St. Mary's Hospital in London -- where Kate Middleton delivered all three of her children with Prince William, and where Princess Diana delivered both Princes William and Harry -- is also said to be in the mix. A source told Page Six that they would be "hugely surprised if Meghan didn't give birth at the Lindo Wing" touting the facility's "security and resources needed for a royal birth."
Additionally, The Telegraph reported that staff at the Lindo Wing were told "not to take holiday in April" -- Meghan's expected due month -- but that "no one is confirming anything."
The catch: St. Mary's is located in central London, about 23 miles from Harry and Meghan's new home in Windsor, while Frimley Park is just shy of 15 miles away.
Wherever the royal baby takes his or her first breaths, it stands to reason that Meghan will opt for the most organic process possible.
In a Vanity Fair report, a source close to the couple allegedly said that Meghan was planning a "natural birth," which is typically indicative of vaginal delivery without pain medication, such as an epidural.
"Her mother is very into anything that is holistic and natural, and having been brought up with yoga and mindfulness, it’s all very much part of Meghan’s birth plan," the source told Vanity Fair. The source noted that Meghan's preparations for childbirth have included hiring a doula, undergoing acupuncture and learning the Hypnobirthing technique, which is a fairly common pain management practice rooted in self-hypnosis and deep relaxation.
While Baby Sussex's due date hasn't been officially revealed, Meghan has hinted that the littlest royal is expected to arrive between late April and early May. Other royal birthdays that fall within that time frame include Queen Elizabeth II (April 21), Prince Louis (April 23) and Princess Charlotte (May 2).
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