Category Archives: Celebrities

Beyonce’s Baby Blunder

An official statement was made today that says Baby Blue is taking over a whole floor, but is in an executive suite, with their own security detail and that she was not born via c-section, scheduled or otherwise. As you’ve … Continue reading

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The Duggar Family

I would like to extend my well wishes and thoughts to the Duggar Family though this difficult period of their lives after welcoming their 19th baby, Josie Brooklyn Duggar yesterday, December 11th 2009 via emergency cesarean section for Pre-E after … Continue reading

Posted in Celebrities, Cesarean Section, DONA International, General, Media, Prematurity | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

The first Duggar grandchild is born at HOME.

Anna Duggar, famous for being the wife of Josh, son of Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar, had her first baby last night. While there were some cameras and video, like at many normal births, this baby was also welcomed lovingly … Continue reading

Posted in Celebrities, Doulas, Homebirth, Media, Midwifery | Tagged | 7 Comments

Ricki Lake debates Dr. Lisa on the The Doctors

Part One Part Two What do you think about what was said in this debate?

Posted in Birth Centers, Celebrities, Cesarean Section, Homebirth, Hospital Birth, Jennifer, Labor and Birth, Obstetricial Interventions, Research, VBAC | Leave a comment

Salma Hayek Breastfeeds Another Woman’s Baby

There has recently been much talk about Salma Hayek breastfeeding an African baby whose mother had stopped producing milk.? Here is an article in Time Magazine about the incident (scroll down to see the video). I have heard that some … Continue reading

Posted in Breastfeeding, Celebrities, Jennifer, Media | 2 Comments

Orgasmic Birth on 20/20

Last night 20/20 finally aired the segment on Orgasmic Birth. I was really fearful about how it would be protrayed since the topic was “Extreme Parenting.” I felt that they were even handed and neutral, even interested. Christiane Northrup, MD … Continue reading

Posted in Celebrities, Labor and Birth, Natural Childbirth, Obstetricial Interventions, Robin | 2 Comments

Celebrity Homebirthing

When I read stories like this one about musician, actress Charlotte Church, my faith in the media is somewhat renewed. There are positive influences for young women pertaining to birth, though in America in particular, those good influecnes are too few and far between. But there is hope.

I remembered hearing about Celebrity Baby Blog. Their year in review for celebrity homebirths received several positive, encouraging comments. What’s more, these celeb-moms have a great influence over their legions of fans and even for trends of the season. In 2008, Laila Ali anticipates a home birth along with Charlotte Church, and other homebirthers are speaking out, like Maria Bello, from the latest Mummy movie.

But birthing isn’t a fad; our survival depends upon it. Natural births, home- and waterbirths, all births in which families realize their options and responsibilities give us that much more positive influence on the world around us. The work we do as birth activists is ultimately to awaken others to the importance of positive birthing, mother- and baby-friendly care, education and empowerment.

“Birth is the epicenter of women’s power,” says Ani DiFranco, which says much coming from such a feminist icon. Nearly all mothers are superheroes, and we have the power to do amazing things, even if we’re not super stars. How many have you awakened lately?
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Will Tori Spelling Have a VBAC?

Tori Spelling of Beverly Hills 90210 fame is expecting her second baby. Her first child was born after her water broke and an induction that failed by cesarean section. Tori had been outspoken about taking Lamaze classes and wanting a vaginal birth.

After Liam was born she was initially very happy and said nothing negative about her birth. But as the weeks and months followed she admitted to being disappointed that she wasn’t able to have a vaginal birth. She never said she was upset about the cesarean or felt like it was a bad thing, but merely that she was sorry to have not had a vaginal birth – two very different thoughts.

When she got pregnant this time, with a daughter due any day, I really thought that she was someone who had a great chance of having a vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC). Now the rumors are flying that she’s in surgery, probably as I’m typing this, to give birth to her daughter. If that’s true I wonder why. She’s been healthy, looked great and been active. She had a non-repeating factor for her cesarean. So my guess is that if she’s having a repeat cesarean, it’s her doctor. One quote she made about him immediately after Liam’s birth stuck in my head:

“I asked Dr. Rothbart if he’d do a good job, and he said, ‘Well, Angelina didn’t complain.’ So I was like if Angelina let him do a C-section in Africa, I am ok. I felt comforted by that.”

Yikes. She talked about the pain of recovery and how hard it made life. Tori discussed her difficulties with breastfeeding, which, while she never connected it to the c-section, studies show us it was the most likely culprit. I wonder if she’s thought about how hard that will be with two babies? But she was seen getting a pedicure yesterday and her hair done last week. I just pray she’s only nesting and not pre-surgical nesting.

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Posted in Celebrities, General, VBAC | 4 Comments

The Business of Being Born: A Critique

The Business of Being Born is in the news this week. This article specifically talks about the skyrocketing number of c-sections.

Incidentally, Christina Aguilera, despite being warned by Jennifer Block, the author of Pushed, joined the ranks of other stars who are too posh to push and went ahead with her scheduled c-section to avoid the pain of childbirth. However, it would seem that she did not escape the pain of childbirth by undergoing major abdominal surgery.

I saw a screening of The Business of Being Born last night. It was at a college campus in St. Paul, Minnesota. It was sponsored by an organization called Ten Moons Rising. Overall I thought the film was good, it was full of educational information, touching scenes of births, not so touching scenes of births, and several bits of humor thrown in as well. It was a well made documentary and would appeal to many types of people.

Spoiler Alert: If you’ve seen the movie and want to read my more in depth review click the “read more” button under this entry.

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Posted in Celebrities, General, Homebirth, Hospital Birth, Induction, Jennifer, Labor and Birth, Media, Midwifery, Natural Childbirth, Obstetricial Interventions | Leave a comment

It’s a…

homebirth!

Charlotte Church welcomed a daughter late this week in her home in the UK. She had previously talked about a home water birth. All we know now is that it was a midwife attended home birth.

While we don’t normally talk about celebrity births, I thought it was important for the pontential positive press this may attract. Hopefully this one birth will attract the attention of other women who are looking up to ce Continue reading

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