Josie Duggar

[BC]

A previous post stated that the Doctor attributed this premature baby to the fact of Michelle's age and not because she had been pregnant so many times. That being said, do you think now that she and Jim Bob know what has happened due to her age, they will stop trying to have any more? I really doubt it since they say they are leaving it up to the Lord. I agree with all that, but I also think the Lord expects us to take care of ourselves and if we are putting ourselves or someone else in danger, then we need to consider it.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

A previous post stated that the Doctor attributed this premature baby to the fact of Michelle's age and not because she had been pregnant so many times. That being said, do you think now that she and Jim Bob know what has happened due to her age, they will stop trying to have any more? I really doubt it since they say they are leaving it up to the Lord. I agree with all that, but I also think the Lord expects us to take care of ourselves and if we are putting ourselves or someone else in danger, then we need to consider it.

Good points--but there are many 40+ who do that and docs actually help women in that age category through in vitro if they cannot get pregnant on their own.

I still haven't watched the show (haven't had a moment, yet)--but in general, since this was related to her age--I'm not sure it is anything less than hypocritical to judge her for it given the rest of the population who are having babies in that age category.

There is increased risk, but it isn't a contraindication by any means. If it were, it would certainly be discouraged by the medical community and they certainly wouldnt' be endangering women by providing infertility treatments if it were to kill them.

Of course, given that she has many children to care for, it would certainly give me pause. But I'm kosher with using NFP. I had never intended to go the "as many as God will give me route". I do not begrudge the family for their choices though adn will defend their rights to make those choices even if they do not follow suit with what I would do personally.

Perhaps God will guide them to NFP--I'm not sure. I've not heard their statements in context, yet. But I haven't yet known (from what we see and hear) the family to not do anything without prayerful consideration.

 

[kidshop]

A previous post stated that the Doctor attributed this premature baby to the fact of Michelle's age and not because she had been pregnant so many times. That being said, do you think now that she and Jim Bob know what has happened due to her age, they will stop trying to have any more? I really doubt it since they say they are leaving it up to the Lord. I agree with all that, but I also think the Lord expects us to take care of ourselves and if we are putting ourselves or someone else in danger, then we need to consider it.

Is the title of the show still 'And Counting?' It may not be the Lord so much then, as TLC. I really depise TLC. They do not give up their money makers easily.

Having pregnancies very close together is also not recommended for optimum mom/baby outcomes, along with age of the mother. It will be interesting to see when the next pregnancy is. I said it before, it's the hook for the show ('and counting'). I don't think they're done.

 

[DMRick]

This is a TV show. If something were to happen to one of their children, would they want to explain at the begining of each show, when they introduce the kids, that this child has gone to heaven? I think that would be a very hard show to watch, to have it front and center each week. I think TLC is, as usual, capitalizing and that they should have waited (just my opinion) to change the name. I believe they consider the child they lost one of their children as well, but that child is not 'counted' on the title. Your mileage may (and prob does) vary, but I still don't think they should have changed the title of the show quite yet. Nothing to do with erasing a child from their memory, everything to do with how many children are on the show.
That said, I still wonder if they have been given positive opinions from the docs on how Josie is doing.

I hate to sound morbid, but....

as of this week's people magazine, Josie is alive (and well for her age as of the date of the article) and is 6 weeks old and Michelle has finally gotten to hold her.

And even if she were to pass tomorrow--it will not change the fact that the Duggar's had 19 children.

While they certainly wouldn't be raising 19 if that were to occur, I don't know of any family who "deletes" a child from their memory when they die so young.

As others have said, her condition can change for teh better or for the worse without warning.

But they have 19 children regardless. I would find it incredibly tacky to air a show without the name adjustment and and pretending via show title that she doesn't exist when she very clearly does.

 

[DMRick]

Is the title of the show still 'And Counting?' It may not be the Lord so much then, as TLC. .

Yes, it is.

 

[BC]

I was certainly not judging her for it, I just wondered if being told this was a result of her age, if that would make a difference to them when considering another pregnancy. Agreed that 40 plus women are still trying to get pregnant, but most of them don't have 18 already and most of them haven't had a pound plus preemie either.

 

[3prettyprincesses]

This is a TV show. If something were to happen to one of their children, would they want to explain at the begining of each show, when they introduce the kids, that this child has gone to heaven? I think that would be a very hard show to watch, to have it front and center each week. I think TLC is, as usual, capitalizing and that they should have waited (just my opinion) to change the name. I believe they consider the child they lost one of their children as well, but that child is not 'counted' on the title. Your mileage may (and prob does) vary, but I still don't think they should have changed the title of the show quite yet. Nothing to do with erasing a child from their memory, everything to do with how many children are on the show.
That said, I still wonder if they have been given positive opinions from the docs on how Josie is doing.

I agree with this. I think it would be horribly painful for the Duggars to have to rename the show 18 kids and counting should something (God forbid) happen to Josie. I was surprised that TLC changed the shows name so quickly and my first thought was what if they baby doesn't make it. I'm sure it was TLC capitalizing, they are in it to make $. I hope this family pulls through. They seem to be handling it well and praising God during such a trial. I wish them the best.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

This is a TV show. If something were to happen to one of their children, would they want to explain at the begining of each show, when they introduce the kids, that this child has gone to heaven? I think that would be a very hard show to watch, to have it front and center each week. I think TLC is, as usual, capitalizing and that they should have waited (just my opinion) to change the name.

She's alive right now and has a rightful place in this family. At anytime any one of their children could pass away. We should not judge what has not occurred. They have 19 live children as of now.

Is TLC capatilzing--perhaps...but the Duggars have 19 kids, right? Or did I miss a memo?

The HAyes family doesn't pretend that their severely disabled daughter doesn't exist--and the show is called table for 12-b/c that is how many sit at the table each night.

The Duggars have 19 kids and even if tragedy falls upon them, they will still have had 19 children.

The "taboo" nature of being hush hush until things are perfect is so disturbing. I would be offended if I delivered now and my family pretended there were only 3 kids until this one came home.

I'm sure the Duggars would have been offended if Josie were not counted.

 

[DMRick]

That's why we both get to have opinions, and no you didn't miss a memo as you well know. I was never suggesting Josie didn't exist, and I don't think anyone could have thought I was. I was actually thinking of the hurt this could cause to her family if she doesn't make it. Don't know what the rush was and I think they rushed it..but then I don't happen to think any of these shows should even be on TV after what we watched happen with the other family, so that may be part of why I feel the way I do.
I don't plan on defending why I feel like I do. It's just my opinion, and you have yours . They do have 19 children, and I guess if we go by the title, they are still counting...so maybe we should just assume there will be more.

She's alive right now and has a rightful place in this family. At anytime any one of their children could pass away. We should not judge what has not occurred. They have 19 live children as of now.

Is TLC capatilzing--perhaps...but the Duggars have 19 kids, right? Or did I miss a memo?

The HAyes family doesn't pretend that their severely disabled daughter doesn't exist--and the show is called table for 12-b/c that is how many sit at the table each night.

The Duggars have 19 kids and even if tragedy falls upon them, they will still have had 19 children.

The "taboo" nature of being hush hush until things are perfect is so disturbing. I would be offended if I delivered now and my family pretended there were only 3 kids until this one came home.

I'm sure the Duggars would have been offended if Josie were not counted.

 

[3prettyprincesses]

She's alive right now and has a rightful place in this family. At anytime any one of their children could pass away. We should not judge what has not occurred. They have 19 live children as of now.

Is TLC capatilzing--perhaps...but the Duggars have 19 kids, right? Or did I miss a memo?

The HAyes family doesn't pretend that their severely disabled daughter doesn't exist--and the show is called table for 12-b/c that is how many sit at the table each night.

The Duggars have 19 kids and even if tragedy falls upon them, they will still have had 19 children.

The "taboo" nature of being hush hush until things are perfect is so disturbing. I would be offended if I delivered now and my family pretended there were only 3 kids until this one came home.

I'm sure the Duggars would have been offended if Josie were not counted.

I don't think anyone is saying Josie doesn't have a rightful place in this family. Of course she does. My point was that it would be terribly painful for the Duggars to have deal with the shows name change should little Josie not make it. It's not a case of being hush hush till it's all perfect. It's more of trying to lessen any future pain this family might endure should their newest child not make it. Much like a woman who's miscarried. Usually (not always of course) when a woman miscarries, she's hesitant to tell everyone till she's past the time she miscarried before.

 

[DMRick]

I don't think anyone is saying Josie doesn't have a rightful place in this family. Of course she does. My point was that it would be terribly painful for the Duggars to have deal with the shows name change should little Josie not make it. It's not a case of being hush hush till it's all perfect. It's more of trying to lessen any future pain this family might endure should their newest child not make it. Much like a woman who's miscarried. Usually (not always of course) when a woman miscarries, she's hesitant to tell everyone till she's past the time she miscarried before.

I understand what you are saying and I feel the same way.

 

[Nancy]

A previous post stated that the Doctor attributed this premature baby to the fact of Michelle's age and not because she had been pregnant so many times. That being said, do you think now that she and Jim Bob know what has happened due to her age, they will stop trying to have any more? I really doubt it since they say they are leaving it up to the Lord. I agree with all that, but I also think the Lord expects us to take care of ourselves and if we are putting ourselves or someone else in danger, then we need to consider it.

I'm quoting this word for word from the People article...the link here gave a very condensed version..this is on page 84 3rd column, almost at the end

"-and, despite the uncertainty about her future, they won't rule out having baby # 20. Says Michelle: "We'll just wait and see what God has in store."

 

[pigletgirl]

I can hardly comprehend saying to someone, I'm expecting #20. Its really outraegous.

But I caught a glimpse of the show, and I really hope that baby pulls through!! But sounds like so far, she's doing well.

 

[laurie31]

That's why we both get to have opinions, and no you didn't miss a memo as you well know. I was never suggesting Josie didn't exist, and I don't think anyone could have thought I was. I was actually thinking of the hurt this could cause to her family if she doesn't make it. Don't know what the rush was and I think they rushed it..but then I don't happen to think any of these shows should even be on TV after what we watched happen with the other family, so that may be part of why I feel the way I do.
I don't plan on defending why I feel like I do. It's just my opinion, and you have yours . They do have 19 children, and I guess if we go by the title, they are still counting...so maybe we should just assume there will be more.[/QUOTE]

I have a friend who is a Quiverfull believer. She and her husband have ten. People always ask them if they're having more. They do not know. Seriously. They do nothing to prevent, but also nothing deliberately to cause a pregnancy. They just...um...come together as a couple...whenever they desire, and if they get pregnant, then they do. They don't necessarily WANT another child, but if one happens, then it does. So Jim Bob and Michelle will still be "and counting" until she goes through menopause. I cannot imagine that they will purposely try to prevent a pregnancy, even with all they've been through.

And as for changing it to 19, they did wait almost 2 months after all. How much longer should they wait? I think even if things had gone badly, they would still have changed the title. Regardless of the outcome, the baby was born and they do have 19 children.

I was skeptical about watching the episode, but I thought it was done very tastefully. Hopefully in a couple of months, we'll get a "Baby Josie comes home" episode.

 

[DMRick]

And as for changing it to 19, they did wait almost 2 months after all. How much longer should they wait? I think even if things had gone badly, they would still have changed the title. Regardless of the outcome, the baby was born and they do have 19 children. .

I don't have an answer. Just thinking of how painful it could be for them. My grandfather actually had 24 children, however, if you asked how many children he had, once two passed shortly after birth, he said 22 (he also took what God gave him, but he also needed them to work his farm, and the older were more like parents to the younger, especially since he was a single dad raising all those kids. My grandmother left very shortly after the birth of the youngest never to return. She remarried and lived near them but didn't contact any of the children). I was just thinking of the begining of the show, when each child is introduced. If Josie didn't make it (although again, I think TLC knows better than we do, how she is doing, and that may be why they changed the number) I just happen to think it could be painful, as well as confusing for people watching the show and not knowing. But hey, it's their show, so maybe they even had something to do with changing it. I can't help thinking that it's just another way for TLC to capitalize on the show.

 

[DMRick]

Perhaps God will guide them to NFP--I'm not sure. I've not heard their statements in context, yet. But I haven't yet known (from what we see and hear) the family to not do anything without prayerful consideration.

I believe that is against the Quiverfull beliefs. There is a book coming out soon, written by someone named Kathryn Joyce and that was one of the things she talked about in an interview.

 

[luvmy3jewels]

Michelle's age combined with her developing severe pre-eclampsia so early in this pregnancy puts her at an extremely high risk for any future pregnancies.

I was diagnosed with pre-eclampsia with all three of my pregnancies (when I was in my late 20's) and with bedrest was able to carry all three almost to term. After my last child, my Dr. advised dh and I that it was too high a risk for me to have any more children. Since I would have liked to have had a fourth child, it's something that has me really torn between the desire of having another child and the knowledge that I need to be here (on earth) for my three children that I already have.

I think that most Doctors would advise them not to have any more children, but I really believe that Josie's birth will not prompt the Duggars to begin taking preventative measures for pregnancy(either NFP or other methods). I guess their faith in God will allow them to accept any future tradegies that may occur.

 

[BibbidiBobbidiBOO]

Josh and John David save a 6 yr old girls life! She is at the same hospital as Josie now.

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/35217293/ns/today-today_people/

 

[cheermom1]

WOW that made me tear up!! so glad she is ok!!

 

[pigletgirl]

Wow! Good for them! I hope that little girl pulls through ok!