Princess Eugenie is ‘doing really well’ after her C-section due to scoliosis

Princess Eugenie of York at UN to Help Abolishing Modern Slavery

Princess Eugenie had her baby on February 9th. She gave birth at a private hospital, the same one as the Duchess of Sussex, and much like Meghan, Eugenie waited hours to announce the news. Which is her right! It’s her baby and I’m glad she was given the chance to deliver the baby in peace before announcing it on Instagram. I wish the press had not made such a big f–king deal about it when Meghan and Harry did the same. I also think it’s really strange that it’s now been nine days and we still don’t know the baby’s name. But maybe it’s because Eugenie’s birth situation was more complicated than we originally thought. Eugenie stayed in Portland Hospital for more than three full days after the baby was born, and now we’re learning more about Eugenie’s C-section:

Princess Eugenie’s baby boy is “a complete dream.” Queen Elizabeth’s granddaughter welcomed her first child with husband Jack Brooksbank on Feb. 9, and the couple is enjoying their first days as a family of three.

Eugenie, 30, is “doing really well” after having a C-section due to her previous spinal surgery for scoliosis, a source who has spoken to the new mom since the birth tells PEOPLE in this week’s issue. Buckingham Palace confirmed the baby’s arrival, adding that he was “safely delivered.” Eugenie’s delivery was likely more complicated than many new moms’ as she has dealt with severe scoliosis for most of her life and had corrective surgery at age 12, which led to her needing a C-section.

Dr. Mary Jane Minkin, a board-certified OB/GYN at Yale University School of Medicine and member of PEOPLE’s Health Squad, said pregnant patients with a history of scoliosis surgery are evaluated on a case-by-case basis. If the placement of the rods makes an epidural not possible, the patient and doctor will come up with alternative anesthesia options.

The source adds that Eugenie “sounded very content and said the baby is a complete dream!”

Because of coronavirus pandemic restrictions, the baby boy has yet to meet his grandparents, Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, the source says.

[From People]

I didn’t even think about her scoliosis and the epidural before now. So she had a C-section but they probably gave her alternative anesthesia. I remember reading about the old anesthesia methods after finding myself curious about it during Mad Men (the episode where Betty gives birth is WILD). There are all kinds of anesthesia methods, some of which will make women trip their asses off and feel zero pain. I wonder if Eugenie had THAT. Anyway, I hope Eugenie is doing well and I hope she does have some help at home beyond Jack. While she would probably love to see her parents, I’m glad that she has had this time to just be with Jack and the baby. And I do hope we get a name at some point!

Duke of York visits the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital

The Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust reception

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, social media.

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26 Responses to “Princess Eugenie is ‘doing really well’ after her C-section due to scoliosis”

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  1. Linda says:

    When my kids and their partners had babies I always stayed with them to help out for the first week. I’m sure Fergie is there plus a baby nurse plus they’ll be busy with interviewing Nannies. They are by no means deprived of help.

  2. Yup, Me says:

    When I had my son, I ended up needing an emergency c-section. They gave me two epidurals but neither worked and I could feel them prepping me for surgery. So then they just knocked me out and I woke up to a baby. I hope Eugenie got to be awake for her son’s delivery.

    And I couldn’t believe it when my MIL told me that when she had her first baby, they strapped her down to the table. She managed to work her hand free to hold her partner’s hand, but this was in CA in the 70s!

    • Susan says:

      Um, i had a baby in 2013, c section and my arms were strapped down. It’s pretty common I think.

      • Becks1 says:

        Yup, mine were strapped down as well. They were kind of pulled out and strapped down and then a really heavy blanket was placed over my chest/neck. I remember I was shaking so bad with my first (I think a combo of the epidural and nerves) and the anesthesiologist was so nice, he kept one arm on my shoulders while he was monitoring me. Anyway I did have my hands fairly free so my husband was able to sit by my shoulders and hold my hand.

      • Alice says:

        Oh wow, I had two recent c-sections (2017 and 2019) and I did not have my arms strapped down. That sounds scary. My husband sat in a chair beside me and I held his hand and the anesthesiologist was behind my head/next to me narrating what was happening (probably to distract me) and monitoring vitals etc (“He’s almost here! He’s a big boy!”). I had a surgical sheet from mid-chest down but could see the reflection in the overhead light and watched as they pulled my daughter’s feet out and could see the umbilical cord which was cool. I commented on her feet being quite blue and my OB actually paused in confusion because he didn’t realize how I could see. But no arm strapping down with either (one was an emergency c-section and the other planned repeat). Both times after the baby was checked for 5-10 minutes they were laid on my chest with a blanket over them and my husband helping to support them. I’m in Canada for what it’s worth as i’m sure everywhere has their own way of doing things.

  3. Cecilia says:

    9 days going on 10. And still no name, no pic of the baby face. Where is the “we paid for your wedding so show us your baby” crowd? Oh right, upset because meghan is pregnant again….

  4. Couch potato says:

    What kind of close friend runs to the press like that? Am I the only one thinking the source is Fergie?

  5. Fern says:

    If they couldn’t do an epidural to try for a vaginal delivery, then they very likely could not do a spinal either (they are similar as they go in very similar locations, but the spinal is what they use for scheduled c-sections). Likely she had to be put under general anesthesia.

  6. Bibi says:

    too much going on with HM, they are going to withold the baby’s name and photo so they can get their full press moment at a better timing. I mean, unless they are ordered to pull it out to deflect from yet another fail by the Queen or palace. no fun to be used that way…

  7. LittlePenguin says:

    I love how open she is about her scoliosis and love her a bit more for talking about having a c-section. I wish more people understood that c-sections aren’t a vanity thing all the time, there are actual medical reasons for having one.
    I am too am hoping for a name soon!

    • June-O says:

      I still have trepidation talking about my c- sections, even though no one I care for would ever judge me. There’s just an unfortunate stigma surrounding it, even when you know there is no “failure” involved. However, one benefit is that my c- sections went very well and I recovered quickly, so any worried expectant mums who ask me about it are relieved to hear a non- horror story. My mum in law says I was recovered and up and about more quickly than she was after natural childbirth.

      I didn’t want to speculate, but I suspected that Eugenie had one because she was so swollen leaving the hospital, probably due to all the extra fluids they give you following the surgery. I was more swollen leaving the hospital than when I went in!

      • Waitwhat? says:

        I had two sections (first baby after 52 hours in labour, third baby after 4!) and a forceps delivery inbetween and that was *much* harder to recover from.

  8. Amy Bee says:

    I’ll repeat what I said on another post. I think BP told Eugenie not to announce the name of her baby so not to distract from the press’ attack on Harry and Meghan.

  9. Becks1 says:

    I didnt think about how her previous surgery would impact the birth, but I’m glad the delivery went well and there werent any complications.

    For c-sections, there is a difference between a spinal and an epidural, I think (depending on where the needle is placed?) but my guess is if there was an issue with that, then she had general anesthesia so she was “out” for the birth.

    • SmalltownGirl says:

      The needle can actually be in the same spot. My friend had twins and was recommended to have an epidural because it would cut down on time if they had to go to emergency c-section as the spinal could go in the same spot.

      • Becks1 says:

        The needle may be in the same place but its where the anesthesia goes that is different. They are similar though. I had an epidural with my first (bc I labored for a long time) and then just the spinal with my second.

  10. Murphy says:

    Uh I doubt they did twilight sleep for a cesarean birth, that sounds inhumane

    • alibeebee says:

      My sister got put completely under for all three of hers due to issues with administering and epidural.. so it is possible.?

  11. Em says:

    Eugenie and Jack can release their baby’s name when it suits them. Everyone is healthy is the important part. The only thing I want to know is why they are back at Frogmore Cottage? And why isn’t the British media asking as well? There was tons of news when the Sussexes moved their stuff out to make room for Eugenie & Jack. Days later they moved to Andrew’s massive estate and we all wondered if Frogmore Cottage is haunted or if Wills made them vacate. Remember that? *shudders* And now they moved back in with their baby boy? What’s happening? The only thing I can figure is that they renovated the cottage somehow. Maybe they had it repainted and had to vacate because of Eugenie’s pregnancy. Obviously I’m the only one who cares about this. I’ll just let myself out.

    • Original Penguin says:

      I suspect the Royal’s had advanced warning that the Christmas lockdown was coming. If they hadn’t moved in with A&F when they did- they would have been classed as a separate household and unable to mix at Christmas.

      The Cambridge’s had left London for Amner at a very convenient time to avoid getting stuck at KP before the travel ban

  12. Neo sun says:

    Ok, I love her but must comment on this. I had 2 scoliosis spine surgeries at 14. I subsequently had 2 children naturally in my 30s. Yes, an epidural was not possible. But that is because my fusions were in the bottom half of the spine. Here’s was in the top half where epidurals are not applied. She did not need a C section due to scoliosis. Maybe for another reason.

    • ClaireB says:

      I wonder if her scoliosis affected her pelvis somehow? That was my first thought, before I read the article and they talked about the rods/spinal anesthesia.

      • Coco12 says:

        That was my first thought too. I have a double major curve that required two surgeries when I was 12 and I had trouble pushing my son out during his delivery (he was vacuumed out after 3 hours of pushing). My hips/legs/shoulders are all out of alignment because of my scoliosis, it would make sense that the pelvis would be affected too.