By Pam
TLC will have to be making some changes once again to the title and graphics of their hit show 19 Kids and Counting. Michelle Duggar and her husband Jim Bob are expecting their 20th child. The couple revealed this to the Today Show this morning.
Michelle shared with the Today Show that she is over the first-trimester morning sickness and that she was in good health. Apparently she has been working out as many as six days a week over the past year and feels she is in the best shape she has been in many years.
The Duggar’s 19 children range in age from 23 years to 23 months. Michelle had a very difficult pregnancy with the youngest child, Josie. Josie was delivered three and a half months premature and weighed only one pound, six ounces at birth. She overcame many complications at birth and is now a healthy toddler who will celebrate her second birthday in December.
Michelle is under the care of a high-risk pregnancy doctor for this pregnancy and says she is being cautious, eating a lot of protein and green vegetables and abstaining from caffeine. She will have her very first scheduled Cesarean section since her last pregnancy required a special cut on the inside of her uterus.
Michelle said their children were shocked when they surprised them with the news and at first thought their Dad was joking when he told them. Jim Bob is thrilled that they are adding to their family and mentioned that they would now have an even number – “We didn’t want to stop on an odd number.”
They will find out whether they are having a girl or a boy around Christmas.
The season finale of “19 Kids and Counting” airs tonight on TLC.
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OMG – I hope she stays healthy.
Wild.
Umm, congratulations….I think. I really don’t know what to think about this. I assume the complications from the previous pregnancy don’t affect future pregnancies? Hope not. I wish them luck and hope everyone stays healthy.
Can’t say that I’m surprised by this. I’m glad she seems to be taking a lot of precautions and hope for a happy and healthy 9 months!
I hope the best for this Family!
For her health reasons ~ I hope she considers getting her tubes tied after this one.
Jim Bob needs a long time out!
I hope all turn out healthy and things go smoothly. I would hate for anything bad to happen, but I can’t help but wonder if these people are ever going to use some common sense (that God gave them) and call it quits before tragedy strikes.
Seriously! Coming from someone who has only one child this is beyond my comprehension! I’ve read that they are totally self sustaining and take no Gov’t money so if it works for them it’s fine with me.
Yikes!!! I was innundated with images of deflated balloons when I saw this news.
((sigh)) No surprise, I guess. Having their last dangerously baby premature did slow down the turnaround time for Michele’s baby production….but, seriously, the Duggars MUST be going against reasonable medical advice at this point, both for mother and baby’s health. I think people have a right to do whatever they want (within reason) when it comes to making choices about their family, but I DO hope they considered that they were VERY lucky with the last baby and the next child might not be so lucky. That seems an awful big risk to take for another human being’s life.
Like everyone else, I hope they get a happy ending….and then, for pity’s sake, STOP!!
errr….”dangerously premature baby”
deflated balloons imagery referring only to well-used uteruses (uteri?), hee, hee (yes, I’m 12)
LMAO ^
Well, I hope they both come through okay because if not, that’s another daughter or two who will never leave home. Michelle can do what she wants with her own body, but I wish she’d give her daughters a break from child-rearing and housekeeping. And the sad part is, the only way they will get away from that is by getting married and getting their own house and kids to care for. Although I wonder if some of the girls will “find it in their hearts” not to marry because they are sick of housework? Michelle will have to stop having kids eventually and the workload should decrease.
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They gave the same old “we purpose to stay debt free” and “buy used and save the difference” lines in answer to the question of how do they support all those kids. They never mention that they get paid for their show, and their church appearances.
I have learned a lot from watching both the Gosselin family and the Duggar family about not making judgments about the way that others live their lives. From what I’ve seen on the show (which I know can’t be the full story, but they don’t appear phony), the Duggars are a happy, healthy, functioning family. They don’t believe the same things I believe, but even the (older) girls that everyone is so concerned about do appear to be happy. So I can’t judge them too harshly.
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As for the pregnancy, I hope for the best for Michelle and the baby. They are living what they believe, and so again, I feel like I can’t judge them too much. I think they know the risks of the pregnancy. I am not religious, but at least intellectually I do understand the concept of putting it in God’s hands.
I believe Michelle is 45? Realistically this is probably the last one (although I hesitate to say that and be proven wrong!)
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Even being beyond the optimal age for child bearing, the odds are still in her favor that she will have a healthy baby with no birth defects. I think the family can handle what is thrown at them though. Their faith is incredibly strong. I wish them all the best.
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That said, I understand Kiki’s concerns regarding the older girls. Their lives (despite being on TV) are rather insular. I don’t know if the girls would really have the ability to break free? With 20 kids though, you have to think there might be at least one free thinker that will break away. It will be interesting to see in the years ahead if they continue to stay in the public eye how this plays out.
Anya,
“With 20 kids though, you have to think there might be at least one free thinker that will break away”
That is so funny because the neighborhood that I grew up in has become extremely Orthodox Jewish. My Mom still lives in the same house and all of her neighbors have at least 8 kids. When I see the girls in their long skirts and long sleeves even in the summer, I think exactly the same thing! There is a fine line between “believing” in something and “being brainwashed” into something! I have seen the Duggars show and I do marvel at how calm and sweet the Mom seems. Just like the Orthodox kids, the Duggars kids seem very bright and well behaved. Maybe they are doing something right!
Good luck to the Duggars.
http://www.rhrealitycheck.org/article/2011/11/08/maternal-martyr-michelle-duggar-willing-to-risk-life-for-baby-20
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Thought I’d share
Jennie@IW: “I have learned a lot from watching both the Gosselin family and the Duggar family about not making judgments about the way that others live their lives.”
Well said.
I enjoy watching the Duggars for the same reason I enjoy watching Sister Wives and will watch All-American Muslim — it’s interesting to get a glimpse into a life that is very different from your own. I personally would never choose to have 20 children, but I don’t condemn them for their choice. They support the family and all the kids appear happy and healthy.
I do wish Michelle a healthy pregnancy and hope there are no health issues with the new baby. I’ll be watching! 🙂
I have watched this show a few times only because well meaning (or not so well meaning) people have compared me to Michelle Duggar.The tv show depicts the family as happy, healthy, well adjusted, and living closely to their convictions. The Duggar show and Sister Wives are shows that don’t really interest me, I much preferred K+8 for my viewing pleasure.
I must say the entire Duggar family are all beautiful people, well , except JimBob may be a tad over the top. JimBob and Michelle have combined some great genes and DNA to create so many beautiful children. God has truly blessed them.
Yikes!! They are going to have their own orchestra :). I think it’s time for JimBob to have a few.
Heidi, I am looking forward to All-American Muslim, too! It should be interesting…
I think it’s time for JimBob to have a few. ~Wendy
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LOL Wendy, Had JimBob been having the babies, I think the number of kids would be significantly lower.
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It is good to hear that Josie is doing so well. It doesn’t seem like she should be almost two. At least there was some time in between to allow Michelle’s body to rest. I wish them the best. However, if I was Michelle, I would be so tired of the restrictions of pregnancy. I would want some caffeine and to ride some roller coasters.
That was an interesting article, Marnie. One thing I do agree with Michelle Duggar about is that women can have a natural childbirth after a c-section. I think our healthcare system instills fear instead of empowers women when it comes to birthing.
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But I think it is very risky, almost foolish, for someone to leave things up to God knowing there is a high chance of either/both a high risk pregnancy or a life threatening delivery. I’m sure the Duggars wouldn’t do that…at least, I hope not.
I so agree about the birth after c-section. I wanted to try, 2 doctors wouldn’t even consider it, too much liability. The last time he said with 2 prior sections the probability for a vbac complication rises to 5% and that’s not a risk he was willing to take! I was shocked! With our healthcare system the way it is, I didn’t have time to shop for a different doc, I was already dumped by one when I tested positive for gestational diabetes!!
I had a c-section with my first. When the second came along the doctor said I could try, but more than likey I would run into the same situation and the outcome might not be as good. So I choose to have a scheduled c-section, went into labor a week early. I still had my c-section, I still had a perfect little boy and we were both healthy and good. Birth is birth, get the baby out the safest way possible for mother and child, I say.
I should clarify, my doctor said I could try for a vaginal birth the second time. I quit dialating at 7 and after 8 hours of hard labor the doctor took the baby by c-section with my first. I didn’t want to go thru that again or put my baby thru that stress knowing the outcome might not be as good as it was the first time, meaning harm comin to the baby or me.
Opinions about Michelle Duggar’s miscarriage? Does anyone know whether it is significant that it was a second trimester miscarriage? I just wonder if they will try to have more kids.
I know what you mean Marnie. I had to fight literally tooth and nail my entire pregnancy to even try for a vaginal birth. More often than not its about liability. I went to a midwife after my first trimester. I developed gestational diabetes also. Oh joy!
But 30 hours after my labor began (induction) I had a successful vaginal birth and it was such a positive experience. My c-section with our first was awful. I wasn’t completely numb, I didn’t get to hold my child for 4 hours after she was born and she wound up with meconium in her lungs and my recovery was God awful. Sometimes c-section is a very necessary and wonderful thing- but its way overused to the point of abuse (IMO) at this point.
God Bless them! Me personally would of been scared after the expirience with the last baby… Let’s face it, she’s not young anymore and her body must need a rest. When u think about it Michelle has been pregnant all her life. ( Geesh) they love kids so much and made planty of them why not adopt some kids who can sure need a home and some family love?!? I’m not judging, but it’s a lil over the top (20 kids)… they will probably be in their 60’s by the time the youngest ones start walking.. For each is own and god bless them.
I certainly hope this baby goes full term and there aren’t any complications for Michelle. It was heartbreaking watching everything Josie had to go through.