Kate Middleton, The New Royal Baby, and Second Baby Slumps

New Royal Baby and Second Baby Slumps

Kate Middleton is possibly only days away from giving birth to her second (probably adorable!) royal baby, and yet the fanfare and excitement is nowhere near what it was before Prince George was born. Sure, people are speculating on what the couple might name their child (guesses include Alice and Diana for a girl and Sam for a boy)—and of course we don’t know the gender yet, but let’s face it: people just seemed a lot more invested in Kate Middleton’s first pregnancy, and I think that’s really a bummer.

Don’t get me wrong—I think the Duchess of Cambridge deserves a bit of privacy, and that the level of scrutiny around George’s birth and first few months must have been overwhelming for her—but I think the lack of attention around her second child isn’t out of courtesy for the royal family, but more a reflection of how most people just don’t get as excited about second babies. That might be exaggerated when the older sibling is set up to be King of England someday, while his little brother or sister is dubbed the “spare heir.” Oof.

Here in the U.S., many moms skip baby showers altogether after their first child, or only have a “sprinkle” party instead of a full shower. Of course people care when their loved ones continue to grow their families, but culturally, there’s a bit of a been-there-done-that attitude around subsequent pregnancies and births that I frankly wish didn’t exist.

Here’s the thing. Yes, when you’ve had a child, you at least know some of what to expect, and you might still have some of the gear, etc; but every pregnancy, just like every birth and every child is different and special. In my eyes, we should celebrate each one to the fullest. I can only hope that behind closed doors and away from prying eyes, that’s exactly what Will and Kate are doing.

Do you have more than one child? Did you have a full-blown baby shower for baby #2 or #3, or did you keep things low key after your first child’s birth? Tell me what you think in the comments!