Kate Middleton Steps Out with New Royal Baby Just 7 Hours After Birth. Kate Middleton appeared together with Prince William and their son on the steps of the hospital just seven hours after her birth. It caused a wave of reactions.

There she stood with her brand new baby: perfectly groomed hair and make-up, in a dress and on heels. And there were quite a few reactions. Many mothers were surprised that Kate looked so fit, or pitied that Kate had to do this through the protocol of the British royal family.

Not that special
That Kate came out so quickly after her birth seems to be intense, but that is not so bad, says midwife and writer of delivery books Beatrijs Smulders. “I’ve been doing this work for forty years, and I’ve seen a lot of Dutch women who were as bold and proud as Kate after the delivery.”

Smulders also watched Kate and William on the steps of St. Mary’s Hospital in London in awe. “She stood out,” she says. Smulders does not find it very special that Kate was on her feet again so quickly. “It differs from person to person, of course, but you can feel great after a birth.”

According to Smulders, it has everything to do with the so-called ‘energy kick.’ You get that by adrenalin and endorphins. “Shortly after giving birth, you are relieved, and all those substances are released, and you want to get back on course as soon as feasible to show your baby around the world,” explains Smulders. “It is a primal feeling, like a lioness who wants to show her young.”

Just when your delivery lasts longer, you get a bigger energy kick after the time, says Smulders. “It is meant for the survival of the species, the first 24 hours you are extremely alert, and you want to take care of your young.” Then comes the time of the cake. “Kate is just in bed in her palace the day after, so I dare to bet,” laughs Smulders.

First child
How fit you are after birth depends of course on how massive the delivery is. Whether you like your first, second, or third child, also plays a significant role in this. “A first birth is always heavier and often takes 24 hours, and that first baby has to clear the way”, explains Smulders. “With the second or third child, you often see that the mother is back on her feet shortly after giving birth.”

Example
At Kate, a nail technician and a hairdresser would have come to the hospital to prepare the new mother for the photo opportunity. Smulders has never experienced anything like this before.

She understands that the Duchess must look flawless. “It is a pity that she runs on pumps and looks like nothing has happened, but this is the Brittish way, and Kate was also tricky in a bathrobe for the press.