Meghan Markle 's wish to have her first royal baby at home and as naturally as possible may be shattered if she doesn't go into labour soon, doctors have warned.
The Duchess of Sussex is now believed to be a week overdue which means the likelihood of medical intervention being required is growing.
Doctors have said she may have to go into hospital if there is no progress in the next 48 hours, reports the Mail on Sunday .
If a hospital birth is required, it's likely that Meghan and Harry will opt for Frimley Park Hospital in Surrey.
Induction is normally offered to mums-to-be between seven and ten days after the due date, although they can go up to two weeks if mother and baby are doing well.
Yesterday there were reports that Meghan and Prince Harry are "happy and relaxed" waiting for the arrival at their Frogmore Cottage home.
However as Meghan is 37 she may need to be induced sooner rather than later.
Obstetrician Clive Spence-Jones, of the Whittington Hospital in North London, said: "A recent study found that women over 36 should consider induction around their due date, as they are at higher risk."
If Meghan is induced there will be very little chance of a home birth as it goes against national guidelines, which also applies to private doctors.
Women who have been induced are more likely to have other assistance in the rest of the birth, including forceps or ventouse suction.
The NHS website states: "Induced labour is usually more painful than labour that starts on its own, and women who are induced are more likely to ask for an epidural.
"Your pain relief options during labour aren't restricted by being induced. You should have access to all the pain relief options usually available in the maternity unit."
Induced labours are quite common, and it happens in about one in five pregnancies.
It's done by inserting a tablet or gel into the vagina.
It can take several hours to start working, and many mums-to-be are sent home to wait for it to kick it.
In some cases a hormone drip is also used.
If induction doesn't work and the mum still doesn't go into labour, doctors and midwives may advise doing a caesarean.
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