Why Prince Harry, Meghan Markle Will Hire 'Traditional Nanny' Instead Of Doula

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are planning to be hands-on parents to their firstborn, but they will reportedly also enlist the help of a traditional nanny.

Sources with knowledge of the situation told Daily Mail's Charlotte Wace that Markle does not plan on hiring a doula, a non-medical assistant who provides support during pregnancy and the early days of motherhood, like what previous reports claimed. The Duchess of Sussex reportedly also does not plan on going for a New Age-style of birth.

Reports of Markle's mother, Doria Ragland, moving permanently to Britain and living with the couple to help take care of their first child are apparently also untrue, according to the insiders. Prince Harry and Markle reportedly plan to be hands-on parents to their child and will hire the services of a nanny to look after their son or daughter later this year when they go on a rumored tour.

This is similar to what Kate Middleton and Prince William did after welcoming their three children: Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis. The royal couple brought in nanny Maria Borallo, who is a graduate of the prestigious Norland College, when their eldest son, Prince George, was a few months old. However, it is believed that Markle could decide to hire a nanny when their child is younger than that.

Norland College refused to comment when asked if Prince Harry and Markle's people approached them for help in hiring a nanny.

Markle and Prince Harry have reportedly asked help from some of their friends who already have famillies. The couple have apparently been "listening to advice" from their pals, including George Clooney's wife Amal Clooney, who gave birth to twins in June 2017. Markle reportedly also sought the help of best friend and stylist Jessica Mulroney, who has three kids.

As for her maternity leave, Markle will reportedly follow in Middleton's footsteps for this and take formal maternity leave. She will likely stop attending royal engagements for a few months. However, the duchess apparently wants to continue working behind the scenes for her various causes during that time.

"This is her first baby and there will be a certain degree of playing it by ear," the source said.

For now, Markle is still actively taking on royal duties eight months into her pregnancy. This week, the duchess is set to join a panel that includes singer Annie Lennox and former Australian prime minister Julia Gillard to celebrate International Women's Day, according to Kensington Palace's announcement. The panel is set to discuss issues such as "access to education and limitations in employment."