Anyone hear that Michelle Duggar gave birth very early? Here is the story: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/12/11/michelle-duggar-has-baby_n_388573.html any thoughts on this?  

Wow. That's nuts. The doc the other day asked me what kind of BC I want to be on after the baby and informed me that a baby born within a year of the last birth has a higher risk of being premature. 

She's had 19 kids. I'm guessing that her body isn't the same as it was 15, 10 or even 5 kids ago. 

Oh no, I mean I hate to even say this, but I hope that this shows them that they cannot keep doing this to her body. If they do not believe in BC, use the rythm method or something. I hope her doctor is giving her the best advice that they know possible. I am definitely hoping that that little baby pulls through. It's very sad to have a baby born that early.. Boone, how far along are you? 

30 weeks. 

any thoughts on this? I'll bet her vag looks like Stargate. 

If they do not believe in BC, use the rythm method or something. They don't believe in that either. In their eyes, that is a form of birth control. She had preeclampsia, which could have happened no matter how many children she has had. I'm not defending their choices, but it's also not my place to criticize. In my opinion, as long as they take care of their children, it's nobody's business. 

Ooooo you're almost there! I'm 23 weeks today and I feel like the last couple of weeks have creeped by.. Do yall have everything yet? 

I'm not defending their choices, but it's also not my place to criticize. In my opinion, as long as they take care of their children, it's nobody's business I watched a thing on TV about them. They're completely debt free, have a ton of money because he was like a senator or something, and they built their house rather than have it contracted out. I'm not generally all for overpopulating, but I'm like you...if they can support them, then they're all good...and it seems like they're doing an ok job of it, even though sometimes I wonder if it's really the older siblings who raise the younger ones. 

Oh yes, ChiTown, you are right but preeclampsia effects young women and older women mainly..the older she gets, the more at risk she is for this to happen again. 

The good news is that she's getting so old, she should hit menopause soon! One can hope. But damn, if each of her daughters has like 19 children....OMG. 

If all 19 kids have 19 kids each, they would be able to populate all of Pennsylvania without any need for anyone else.. In the end, they are going to do what they want because they enjoy having children but I hope nothing bad happens to Michelle. And I really hope that little baby makes it.. 

I personal think its ridicious that they are on TV! lol. There are lots of people that have kids more then 8 and they don't get TV shows. But anways I feel bad for the baby! So Tiny, I read a thing saying that she nurses all of her children, which is great! but with the baby being in neonatal care, I don't think she can. Correct me if i am wrong. I just think there is a time to stop. She is getting old and when you get older there are chances of birth defects. I am MORE then sure Michelle is aware of this, since she has had 18 kids prior. I think its selfish for them to continue to have kids, with them knowing the chances of the baby with birth defects and survival. 

They're Christians Im a Christian too! lol- that shouldn't have to do with anything! i know there are lots of "Christian" doctors too! 

They don't believe in things like medical statistics. As long as she's able to concieve they will continue to have babies regardless of the chances of defects or premature delivery. Exactly. The way they see it, God will only give them what they can handle and everything that happens is God's will. Do I believe that? No. But like I said, as long as their kids are well cared for and happy, I don't care how many kids they have. I wouldn't want someone telling me how many kids I should have. 

Im a Christian too! lol- that shouldn't have to do with anything! i know there are lots of "Christian" doctors too! I'm not much into religion, but isn't "Christian" a pretty general term? Aren't there many types of Christians who believe in different things and interpret the Bible differently? 

preeclampsia, which could have happened no matter how many children she has had I had preeclampsia set in at 19 weeks, by 23 weeks i was on bedrest. By 27 weeks my son was born due to this. He stopped growing and my placenta died. He is our first and only. I was 24 at the time too.. Plus at a normal body weight when i got preggers. So it can strike at anytime during the pregnancy, and at any age... 

obviously, her body handles pregnancy extremely well, or she just plain wouldn't have had 19 kids. does anyone know if she still gives birth naturally, or if she has to have c-sections? most hospitals will deem a woman who's had 5 or more children high risk delivery, simply because your muscles for pushing have no real tone left in them. it's hard to push a baby out when your muscles are so stretched and overworked like that. 

Oh, I know preeclampsia can happen to anybody at ANY age! I just feel that sometimes people need to take a step back and look and think. Is it really worth it? I know that the baby will more enlikely survive! But a baby being born that premature can cause so many other problems. Yes, she is Christian and they will take whatever God gives them. And that they "don't believe" in medical statistics and all that, but when is enough? She knew she had preclampsia, that isn't good for a baby or the mother and her being 43 and having another baby ontop of preeclampsia and her galstones and whatever else medical problems she is having. I think is VERY selfish! 

preeclampsia, which could have happened no matter how many children she has had Once you've had preeclampsia you're more likely to have it in your next pregnancy. That happened to my aunt and her doctor advised against having more kids. 

And yah she kind of takes care of her kids. She just mainly has them! She is too busy being pregnant in the mean time. She makes the older kids get the younger ones ready. 

where is the list of disabilities that has pregnancy on it? i chased my oldest kid around just fine while i was pregnant, despite puking all over the place for a month and a half. my husband was deployed and my neighbors SUCKED. it was not that bad. she has extremely well behaved children from the look of it, and the majority are old enough to be doing their own thing most of the time. doesn't she homeschool them too? 

does anyone know if she still gives birth naturally, or if she has to have c-sections I actually just watched the special they did a few weeks ago haha. She had a c-section with the 2nd pregnancy(twins, I believe), and has done mostly vaginal births since then. I agree that her body handles pregnancy well. Yea they have 19 kids, but at least they aren't living off of the government. There are some people who only have 2 or 3 kids who either can't work or won't work and they still feel the need to have more children. Those are the people I have more of a problem with. 

They don't believe in that either. In their eyes, that is a form of birth control. She had preeclampsia, which could have happened no matter how many children she has had. I'm not defending their choices, but it's also not my place to criticize. In my opinion, as long as they take care of their children, it's nobody's business Well said Chitowngrl. I agree 100%. 

Yea they have 19 kids, but at least they aren't living off of the government. There are some people who only have 2 or 3 kids who either can't work or won't work and they still feel the need to have more children. Those are the people I have more of a problem with. This! 

Yes she homeschools all of them and they are very rarely playing with any other children (besides the other families who fit their lifestyle)..there is nothing wrong with having a big family. Hell, it was a big thing back in the day to have 12 or so children but there comes a pint where 1. Not only is she risking her future childs health but her own and 2. She is risking leaving her husband and all 19 children alone because the older she gets, the more at risk she is to die. I know we are all at risk to die during childbirth but I mean 19, yeah that's risky.. I just hope that they step back and realize that this time it came really close to losing another one and that little baby is gonna have to fight every minute of the day for her life, so maybe that should be it. 

ot only is she risking her future childs health but her own and 2. She is risking leaving her husband and all 19 children alone because the older she gets, the more at risk she is to die. I know we are all at risk to die during childbirth but I mean 19, yeah that's risky.. I just hope that they step back and realize that this time it came really close to losing another one and that little baby is gonna have to fight every minute of the day for her life, so maybe that should be it. well said! 

but at least they aren't living off the government yes, I find that they take better care of their 19 children than some parents take care of their 2 kids..sad but true. When a family with 19 kids takes better care of their family than the lady down the street with her 2, you know that lady needs to watch the show to get some pointers:) 

She had preeclampsia, which could have happened no matter how many children she has had. I had pre-eclampsia with my first son and was told it wouldn't happen again. With my second baby, I had a perfectly healthy pregnancy. It just depends on the person/pregnancy. My 1st was born 5 weeks early and in the NICU for 10 days. It sucked, but I had no control over it. I feel bad for her. No matter how many kids you have, its never good to have a baby that early or in the NICU. I'm sure she's scared out of her mind. 

I just hope that they step back and realize that this time it came really close to losing another one and that little baby is gonna have to fight every minute of the day for her life, so maybe that should be it. I didn't read the article. How far along was she when she delivered? My sister-in-law delivered when she was only 4.5 -5 months pregnant. When my neice was born she could literally fit into the palm of your hand. She made it through just fine with awesome doctors. She is behind on things because she has cerebral pulsey (spelling is all wrong i know) but all in all other than that she is very healthy and lives a normal lifestyle. She may be at risk because she is so old but in her eyes if god wants her to stop having children then she will, if god has "other" plans(death) for her then that is what his plan is and she will most likely take it. Some extremely religious people seem plain crazy to some whom are not as religious. IDK. She can do what she wants, or in her case i guess whatever god wants her to do. there is nothing wrong with a big family