We Should Care Less About Kate Middleton's Second Pregnancy

When news of the Duchess of Cambridge's second pregnancy was announced on September 8, the Internet immediately exploded into a flurry of excitement.

In the nine months to come, we can expect endless media coverage of 32-year-old Kate Middleton's baby bump, maternity wardrobe and morning sickness.

According to the BBC, William and Kate's second child will be fourth in line to the throne. While any pregnancy is a joyous occasion and a reason to celebrate, the media will not allow this to be just another pregnancy.

In the months leading to the birth of royal baby Prince George last July, the Duchess' royal pregnancy quickly became a highly public affair. With constant speculation on her weight gain or loss, high-end maternity wear and personal health, the media revealed its obsession with the glamourized image of pregnancy.

What about the other face of pregnancy, the one which is rarely discussed? According to Hope Exchange, anywhere from one in three to one in four pregnancies end in miscarriage. In Canada alone, 7.1 out of 1,000 births were stillborn, as of 2009.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 800 women die each day as a result of causes that stem from pregnancy or childbirth. There is also the fact that a staggering 99 per cent of these deaths take place in developing nations.

Who is sharing the tales of these women, as they are no longer here to share their own unhappy endings? There is no fairy tale for these deceased women, and certainly no media coverage of their pregnancies under incredibly different conditions.

The royal fascination with Kate Middleton's newly announced pregnancy isn't a unique situation. Duchess of Cambridge or not, she is just another woman aiming for a healthy and successful pregnancy.

It just takes a fleeting glance at Instagram or Twitter to fully understand the dominance of celebrity culture in pregnancy and motherhood.

On September 4, former Jersey Shore reality star Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi shared a candid photo of herself posing with her two-year-old son, Lorenzo, as he kisses her baby bump. The 26-year-old is expecting a baby girl in October. Instantly, the reality star's fans began liking and commenting on the Instagram photo.

Where are the "Likes" and comments for the hundreds of pregnant women and new mothers in developing nations, who are also searching for support, encouragement and empathy after a life-changing experience?

Although the life of a former reality star is greatly different from the life of a royal, both of these examples demonstrate how celebrity culture pushes a specific idea of pregnancy into the spotlight. It is easier to discuss Kim Kardashian's latest baby outfit for her young daughter North West than it is to read statistics on miscarriage. A struggling underage mother in a developing nation is a distant issue, while the Duchess represents luxury and sophistication in the face of pregnancy.

However, it may be time to ask for a balance and listen to the 99 per cent of pregnant women whose voices we have not yet heard. These women may not be A-listers or royalty, but their unique stories should matter to us just as much.

By Fatima Syed

The Purple Fig is an online women's blogazine with an emphasis on realistic and inspiring personal stories from women of all age groups, lifestyles, and nationalities. We feature essays about parenting, the journey to womanhood, feminism, overcoming challenges in both career and personal life, and issues surrounding sexuality, relationships, and family life. This is where women go to be inspired by the knowledge they are never alone.

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