
I must admit, 48 hours ago, I didn’t even know who Harry Kane was. But now I, and every other woman on the planet who has ever given birth, it seems, has an opinion about him.
You see, Harry’s wife just gave birth, after which he excitedly tweeted:
“Our beautiful addition to the family! Vivienne Jane Kane. So proud of @KateGoodlandx for having the most amazing water birth with no pain relief at all #mygirls #hypnobirthing”.
Our beautiful addition to the family! Vivienne Jane Kane. ???? So proud of @KateGoodlandx for having the most amazing water birth with no pain relief at all ???????????? #mygirls #hypnobirthing pic.twitter.com/a6BM4CkFM1
— Harry Kane (@HKane) August 8, 2018
Those six little words have got the interwebs up in arms: with no pain relief at all.
Putting aside for a moment that he is a thrilled new dad who has just watched his partner give birth to his baby, and so he is on a massive high, amazed at what she has done (and would have been just as proud and amazed if she did have drugs, I’m sure)… We’ll park that for a moment, and unpack the implications of his message.
He’s copped a lot of flack for daring to suggest that he should be “proud” of his wife for the drug-free labour, with comments like this one, from UK broadcaster Julia Hartley-Brewer:
“I’m delighted for @HKane & his family but why on earth should anyone be ‘proud’ of not having pain relief while giving birth? Utterly absurd! There’s a reason why women get pain relief during labour: because it bloody hurts.”
I’m delighted for @HKane & his family but why on earth should anyone be “proud” of not having pain relief while giving birth? Utterly absurd! There’s a reason why women get pain relief during labour: because it bloody hurts. https://t.co/kyFVqInnsR
— Julia Hartley-Brewer (@JuliaHB1) August 8, 2018
Top Comments
I have had two vaginal births with epidurals and am not ashamed of it - if anything the drugs helped me 'enjoy' it (as much as it's possible to do so).
I understand where people are coming from with the shaming thing but I don't think he's post does this, he is just proud that his wife got through it - let's face it, drug-free birth is very painful and I take my hat off to women who have done it.
IF he had attributed the labour to her strong will, credited hypno-birthing for the intervention free birth etc - then yes, I would have an issue with this, as none of these things influence the outcome. But he didn't do that, and I think a lot is being read into his simple post.