Women Pregnancy

Japan’s Princess Kiko, who is pregnant with a possible heir to the throne, has developed complications with her pregnancy and needs rest, is likely to give birth ahead of her September due date through a Caesarean operation, the Imperial Household Agency said on Tuesday.
She has symptoms of placenta previa, a condition in which the placenta drops too low in the uterus, an Imperial Household Agency spokesman quoted palace doctor, Ichiro Kanazawa, as saying.
“There is a high risk of early bleeding, infection or preterm birth triggered by the placenta previa,” Kanazawa said. “To prevent these possible complications, the princess will have to rest for some time.”

Kiko’s pregancy has been closely followed in Japan, no boy has been born to the imperial family since 1965, spelling crisis for the monarchy. Masako and Crown Prince Naruhito have one child, a daughter, four-year-old Princess Aiko. If it is a girl, the law will need to be changed — highly controversially — to allow Aiko, the four-year-old daughter of Crown Prince Naruhito and Princess Masako to rule one day.