Will Kate Be Induced This Week?

As another day breaks in London without any sign of a Royal Baby arrival, Kate Middleton, who is now thought to be as much as five days overdue, may soon be induced.

Several reports have suggested that the Duchess's due date was on Saturday, but “Whitehall sources” have told The Daily Telegraph they were briefed that the due date was actually Thursday, April 23.

If Kate does not go into labor naturally in the next two days, then she is likely to be advised that her labor should be induced soon.

Kate, who is a fan of the natural birthing method called hypnobirthing, is unlikely to welcome such chemical intervention, and it is generally considered safe for a mother to wait up to two weeks past her due date. If Kate refused to be induced—far from impossible—the Royalists original prediction of a May 4 date of birth would look increasingly likely.

Doctors at the Lindo Wing, the private maternity ward at St Mary’s Hospital, Paddington, where the Duchess will give birth, do not, however, usually wait more than a week.

A source whose children were born at the Lindo Wing told the Telegraph: “The doctors don’t normally wait for more than a week.

“They will probably already have been in touch with Kate and talked about which day would suit her best to go in and be induced if the baby doesn’t arrive in the next couple of days.”

Inducing labor is generally considered a very safe procedure, and involves a hormone gel, applied internally to mimic the hormone prostaglandin, which is released naturally during labour. If that does not work, another hormone called oxytocin can be delivered into the bloodstream via a drip.

Prince George was reportedly born three days late when he arrived at the hospital in July 2013.

Prime Minister David Cameron has defended William and Kate for opting to use private health services rather than the NHS.

Asked if he was disappointed the Royal Family did not use the NHS, Cameron told Sky News today: “I think it’s a total matter of choice for people—what they use and where they have their babies. All I hope and pray for is there’ll be happy, healthy news for that wonderful couple and for the whole country.”

Britain has a general election on May 7.