Duggar announcement on tomorrow's Today show!

[deegack]

They most certianly DO have everything to do with it being #19. Every baby puts stress on moms body and saps more resources. She doesn't have adequate recovery time in between so she is more depleted gonig into each pregnancy. Add that to her advanced maternal age, multiple c-sections, and her tendency to eclampsia and that would make each preganacy higher risk than the last. It would be medically irresponsible to try to have any more at this point.

ETA: actually, the older the mother the greater the odds are that she will have eclampsia, and having had it with one pregnancy significantly increases the risk with future pregnancies.

Once you have pre-e your chances of having it again go WAY up. To add to it Michelle had HELLP syndrome which is a very serious form of pre-e. It means your liver and kidneys have started shutting down. I had both when I was pregnant with DD. Fortunately, I was able to hold off giving birth until she was 35 weeks. I was cleared to try for number 2 but after several failed IVF cycles we moved on to adoption. You can't do anything to prevent pre-e/hellp but there are a few things you can do once symptoms start showing.

 

[charming23]

I hope that if it is Anna who had the baby, that both are healthy and happy.

While 19 kids is not what I would choose for my lifestyle, I choose not to judge their choices. I do worry about what more pregnancies would do to Michelle, but it is her choice.

 

[bdcp]

I bet Anna had the baby. I know I read online that Josie was in the hospital recently. She spiked a fever and had a seizure (parents were out of the country, the oldest kids saved her).

Lots of perfectly healthy kids have had seizures with fevers. I just think it's no one's business what a family who takes good care of their children on their OWN DIME does. I think they're a wonderful, loving family and if they want to have more kids, that's their choice.

And, pre-eclampsia can and does happen to all ages. I'm just amazed at all the live and let live people when it comes to a lot of other social issues who can't stand the fact that this family have made the choices they have and none of us are paying for it. People who will defend every lifestyle choice under the sun, but heaven forbid that a family chooses to have more children.

 

[rie'smom]

I think we need to stop giving these people attention and maybe they'll stop procreating.

They had a bunch of kids before anyone paid them any attention. Ignoring them won't change anything.

 

[princessmom29]

I have never seen the show, so I must ask. Has she ever given any indication that she wants to "escape" this lifestyle? Certainly she knew her husband's (and his family's) beliefs before going into the marriage. I mean I've never seen the show and I know who they are and what they believe. Was the marriage pre-arranged and that is why she has been forced into a lifestyle from which she must escape?



Again. I don't understand why it is so sad. It isn't a choice I would make, but it isn't up to me to dictate the choices that family makes. Also, should something happen to the mom I would not have to live with the consequences, and I am sure they understand those consequences. Frankly, I admire anyone who sticks to their convictions -- especially when it is hard to do so -- even when I do not share those convictions.

Also, I know 3 "quiver-full" families, and they are all lovely people with extremely nice and caring children.

In the first quote I was referring to the daughters born into the family. The theory was that one of them many be marrying. I don't think that will be allowed until the lottle ones can care forthemselves because there is no way mom can do it without them. They weren't given a choice. I think having 19 children and expecting teenage daughters to raise them amounts to abuse, even if it deosn't fit the legal definition. No one is getting what they need in that equation. No teenage child our just barely young adult without children of thier own should be placed in the poisiton of primary caregiver to their extremely premature infant sibling. It is a miracle that child didn't die from the latest episode with the parents out of the country and leaving her in the care of kids!

Anna has already miscarried one child because she got pregnant too fast after the first one. She was also born into this lifestyle and not given a choice, so yes I am sorry that she is going to perpetuate this cycle and end up expecting her teenage daughters to stand in for her as mom becuase it is just not possible to raise that many children and be a real mom to everyone. She is gonig to run her body in the ground and end up giving birth to another Josie at some point, or worse, losing her life. That makes me sad. How could it not?

I get that many view this as a lifestyle chioce and that they have a right to do want they want, and I guess they do, but I still feel sorry for the children born into this who don't get a voice or a choice. I cannot imagine growing up as one of the later born children in this family and having a teenager for a standin mom. What kind of upbringing is that really for a child??

I don't think anyone's convitions are worth throwing away a human life, and I cannot believe any higher power would demand that.

 

[FredinFL]

Anna and the husband don't want 20 kids, they want a few, I think that she said 3 or 4 on one of the shows.

 

[princessmom29]

Lots of perfectly healthy kids have had seizures with fevers. I just think it's no one's business what a family who takes good care of their children on their OWN DIME does. I think they're a wonderful, loving family and if they want to have more kids, that's their choice.

And, pre-eclampsia can and does happen to all ages. I'm just amazed at all the live and let live people when it comes to a lot of other social issues who can't stand the fact that this family have made the choices they have and none of us are paying for it. People who will defend every lifestyle choice under the sun, but heaven forbid that a family chooses to have more children.

They KNEW this micro premiee was in fragile health, and yet the still left her with teenagers to travel. That is irresponsible. Period. I cannot support behavior that puts children at risk, and asking teenagers to raise their siblings does just that. I don't think they are taking good care of their children. Adequate under the law would be a better definition.

Eclampsia can happen at any age, but the risk skyrockets with age and multiple pregnancies. It was only a matter of time for a woman in her 40's overweight, and with over a dozen previous pregnancies. Their children are paying for the choices they are making, and I don't think it is fair to ask them to. I also don't think it is right to put 19 children at risk of losing thier mother to satifsy some crazy imperitive to have more, or to risk bringing another premie into the picture when the likelyhood is so high that the next pregnancy would be very high risk. If there wern't children involved, sure, do whatever you want, but who speaks for the children in this equation??

 

[princessmom29]

Anna and the husband don't want 20 kids, they want a few, I think that she said 3 or 4 on one of the shows.

And you think thier families won't pressure them to have more? I find thqat highly unlikely since they believe it is God's will that we reproduce as frequently as possible.

 

[Minnesota!]

I hope that if it is Anna who had the baby, that both are healthy and happy.

While 19 kids is not what I would choose for my lifestyle, I choose not to judge their choices. I do worry about what more pregnancies would do to Michelle, but it is her choice.

Ditto!

 

[VAfamily1998]

Once you have pre-e your chances of having it again go WAY up.

I had pre-eclampsia with my first. Went on to have 3 more pregnancies, WITHOUT pre-eclampsia. Did I beat some absolutely incredible odds or something? Do I need to go buy a lottery ticket?

 

[VAfamily1998]

In the first quote I was referring to the daughters born into the family. The theory was that one of them many be marrying. I don't think that will be allowed until the lottle ones can care forthemselves because there is no way mom can do it without them. They weren't given a choice. I think having 19 children and expecting teenage daughters to raise them amounts to abuse, even if it deosn't fit the legal definition. No one is getting what they need in that equation. No teenage child our just barely young adult without children of thier own should be placed in the poisiton of primary caregiver to their extremely premature infant sibling. It is a miracle that child didn't die from the latest episode with the parents out of the country and leaving her in the care of kids!

According to the article I just read
http://celebs.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474979449642
Josie was in the care of sister Jill, who is 20 years old, not a "kid".

And since, as you say, the teenage girls have been raising the youngers all along, they are probably better equiped to handle the care of a child than many 30 year old first time mothers.

 

[chicagoshannon]

I read that Ana was in labor yesterday. It's probably that.

Also, Jana (the oldest girl) no longer lives at home. So the parents aren't forcing anyone to stay home and raise the little kids. Josie (the baby) is about 18 months old. At some point the parents have to get out. Also, they weren't just off on some get away, they were there advocating for quicker adoptions between our country and theirs. They were only gone for 3 days. She (the baby) was healthy when they left town. Things happen.

 

[FredinFL]

And you think thier families won't pressure them to have more? I find thqat highly unlikely since they believe it is God's will that we reproduce as frequently as possible.

Isn't Anna an only child? She doesn't seem like quite that much of a push over to me. Maybe the husband doesn't want that many kids either. They don't seem to be overly controlling of their kids to me.

 

[kacaju]

I am sure the news will be Anna had her baby. She was due June 19th. I only know that because my friends daughter was also due on June 19th and we thought it was funny that she was due the same day as Anna. My friends daughter just had her baby yesterday

 

[WhateverLolaWants]

I read that Ana was in labor yesterday. It's probably that.

Yep. Just checked Facebook and Cousin Amy confirmed the baby has been born. It's a boy apparently - Michael James (gender/name all coming from comments of strangers, though).

 

[FredinFL]

Ooops, (notice no edit ). She's the 5th of 8, no where near 20 tho...

"We would be happy with two or three if that is all God blesses us with, but we believe that children are a blessing from God and we look forward to receiving each gift that He gives us." ~ Anna Dugar

Really, it's their decision tho, isn't it?

 

[VAfamily1998]

Isn't Anna an only child? She doesn't seem like quite that much of a push over to me. Maybe the husband doesn't want that many kids either. They don't seem to be overly controlling of their kids to me.

I'm pretty sure Anna has several siblings (like 5 or 6?). I know she has at least two sisters. I believe her parents have the same Quiverful beliefs as the Duggars. Not all Quiverful have tons of kids.

 

[VAfamily1998]

According to the article I just read
http://celebs.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474979449642
Josie was in the care of sister Jill, who is 20 years old, not a "kid".

And since, as you say, the teenage girls have been raising the youngers all along, they are probably better equiped to handle the care of a child than many 30 year old first time mothers.

Responding to my own post:

http://entertainment.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474979451068

According to this article, Jana, who is 21 was also there. Jim Bob and Michelle were only gone for 3 days, and Josie is described as "grown to a robust 18 pounds and was doing quite well" when they left.

 

[FredinFL]

From what I've heard they did an excellent job of saving the baby.

 

[sookie]

I had pre-eclampsia with my first. Went on to have 3 more pregnancies, WITHOUT pre-eclampsia. Did I beat some absolutely incredible odds or something? Do I need to go buy a lottery ticket?

first pregnancies are at a higher risk than other pregnancies, as is young and advanced maternal age. also women who have had greater than 5 pregnancies are at a higher risk.
it is not something that happens with every pregnancy if you have it with your first, but you are at higher risk of having it in subsequent pregnancies if you had it with your first. does that make sense? its an odds game.

she's also had several c-sections and VBACs - which is scary because she could have an abruption at any time.

i hope that she is not announcing another pregnancy. i bet the next pregnancy will have a worse outcome than this last one.