All I know about this is I’m an American and I had our son in the UK where it is very different to the US.

The midwives don’t get involved all that much and they try to avoid ‘intervention’ as much as possible.

I had an 8lb 13oz and it was my first and I am petite (compared to Gwyn I’m tiny) and they never considered taking me to the operating room. In the end they suggested forceps but they let me suffer for a LONG time.

Everyone I know thought it was outrageous that I had no pain relief and was in the second stage for so long. I did ask for it, but they kept telling me to just hold on a bit more and then it was too late for it.

I also think 60 hours is her total time which could include a lot of the first stage.

Didn’t she have Apple at the Portland Hospital in London? Famous for celeb babies here in the UK and they are a very midwife led team famous for it actually. THere is a reality show about that maternity hospital itself.

I’m going to say Julia for # 1

For # 2 Gwyneth! I read in People magazine that she was in labor for over 70 hours! If anyone remembers Gwyneth origially wanted a water birth at home, Gwyneth probably attemped the water birth but because her labor was so long gwen’s mifwife probably suggested she go to the hospital where they most likely performed a c-section

gwyneth for surE

everybody remain calm.

I can’t believe Gwyneth had a c-section as is afraid to say it!!!!!!!!! She’s bragging about her “natural” birth all the time… Unbelievable!

Sorry guys, wrote so furiously I forgot to spell check above :0)

No guesses but just wanted to let Ami know that a 9 lb 11 oz baby isn’t THAT big! And I agree with dangermouse, her labor wasn’t that long…obviously she is counting her early labor when contractions are spaced far enough apart and aren’t that strong. btw, her baby was born in the UK.

Ami, babies are born everyday that are 10, 11, even 12 lbs and they are born vaginally. Women are capable of birthing babies that are larger sized. Trust me! We’ve become so c-section happy in this country and doctors have taken away our belief in ourselves that we can birth naturally. Unfortunately, epidurals make it harder for the baby to decend properly and for the Mom to feel when it is the right time to push therefore making cesaereans more common.

Sorry to go on and on but it just irks me when I hear people say that just because someone had a long-ish labor and a 9 lb baby it must have been a surgical birth. SO not true!

This is an add-on comment to my my above comments,!-Helen Hunt for sure, #2 Gwyn-Remember!!!Baby Apple was 9lbs!and ?oz.She had to of had a c-section to be in labor that long with a baby that big!

dangermouse, I’m pretty sure that Apple was born in the UK. I remember reading that Gwyn’s family had to fly over and barely made it.