Her doula has a unique connection to the royal family.
By Alison Cerri — Written on Feb 04, 2019
With Spring 2019 drawing nearer, anticipation for the arrival of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s royal baby is growing.
The announcement that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are expecting their first child came in October 2018, five months after their royal wedding.
The latest news about Meghan’s pregnancy is who will join her while she is giving birth. Meghan has reportedly hired a doula who has been working with both her and Prince Harry as her due date closes in.
What is a doula?
According to Dona International, a doula (pronounced “doola”) 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.” The term is Greek, and means “caregiver” or “woman servant.”
It is different from a midwife, as midwives are trained medical professionals who perform medical services related to birth. Doulas instead provide mental and emotional support. Meghan is also harkening back to royal birth centuries ago, as doulas were used during those times.
A source told Us Weekly that “Meghan is focused on calm and positive energy around the birth—she’s a big believer in that.”
The Sun has reported that Meghan’s doula is Lauren Mishcon.
Mishcon was asked on the Doula UK forum if she would be providing her services for the Duchess of Sussex; Mishcon prefaced her response with a winking emoji, and said, “I’m busy in Spring. I could not possibly say.”
This doula is not just some random “specialist hand-holder.” She also has an interesting connection to the royal family.
1. She used to work for a West End actor’s agency before becoming a mother.
Mishcon, 40, began working in the world of birthing acting careers. She decided to switch careers after giving birth for the first time in 2003 to the first of her three sons.
She writes on her page on the Doula UK website, “giving birth for the first time and 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.”
2. She heard about doulas on a radio station.
Mishcon discovered the way in which she could fulfill her calling through Radio 4. The program explained the role of doulas. The North Londoner then decided to become one and completed training in 2007 to become a Recognized Birth Doula.
Since then, she has gone through all kinds of trainings, and in 2014, Mishcon became a Doula UK Birth Doula Mentor.
3. Mishcon is a doula in high demand.
It’s no wonder the Duchess of Sussex chose Mishcon for the job: aside from being a doula, Mishcon is the editor of Doulaing Magazine.
As a doula, Mishcon only helps a few women a year — but she is essentially on-call for the mother the month leading up to her due date, along with providing services throughout pregnancy, as well as post-partum. Mishcon notes all her services on her website and asks to be contacted regarded availability and prices.
4. She's connected to Princess Diana and Prince Charles' divorce.
Lauren is married to Oliver Mishcon, whose grandfather was the head of Mishcon de Reya, the legal firm that handled the royal split over 20 years ago.
Alison Cerri is a writer covering entertainment, news and lifestyle topics. She is a senior at Susquehanna University studying publishing and editing.