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Filed under: Bump Watch, Celeb Parents, In The News, Weird But True, Media
Michelle Duggar with her 18th child, Jordyn-Grace Makiya on Friday, Dec. 19, 2008. Credit: Beth Hall, AP
Some say that Michelle Duggar is crazy. After all, being pregnant with her 19th baby, who's due in March 2010, isn't typical. But the 42-year-old, who herself is the youngest of seven siblings, seems to have everything under control. On her reality-TV show, 18 Kids And Counting on TLC, she exemplifies a remarkably stress-free mom, never letting anything get under her skin.
She talked to ParentDish by phone from her Arkansas home -- secreted away in her upstairs office -- about what life is like as a pregnant mom in a house of 20 and counting.
ParentDish: Congratulations! There must be a lot of excitement in the house right now.
Michelle Duggar: The children are doing their lessons now. Math, English, spelling, music.
PD: Who's running things while we're on the phone?
MD: My 16-year-old Jessa is the school coordinator. I think she's harder on them than I am. With her they have to get at least a B-plus or else they do it again. I'm more lenient; a low B or a C would not be horrible. Some come crying, "I have to repeat another lesson."
PD: How are you feeling?
MD: We are thrilled. I feel sick and tired a lot right now.
PD: How do you handle the morning sickness?
MD: I keep almonds around and protein and pretzels. It keeps it bearable. I don't throw up all the time. I just feel sick on and off all day long. I have a friend who's a doula and she told me to keep protein snacks handy, like beef jerky, cooked chicken in the fridge. It helps. Salty pretzels kind of help, so I keep pretzel sticks around. We all love pretzels, so I keep tons around. It's a favorite snack.
PD: How does it feel to know that your child will be younger than your grandchild?
MD: I am just amazed. Being 42, I was wondering if could still have another. That season of change is happening a bit, so I figured I would just enjoy hugging and loving on my grandbabies.
PD: Now that you're both pregnant at the same time, is the relationship with your daughter-in-law any different?
MD: Anna asked me some pregnancy questions early on and that was just a joy. Now she's asking me, "How are you feeling?" She was really sick every other day, so she can sympathize with me.
PD: How will this play out in the Duggar family?
MD: My mother and my sister got to experience the same phenomena. My mother was pregnant with me when my sister was pregnant with my nephew. I have a nephew and niece who are older than me, so I was an aunt before I was born! When I was younger I would point my finger and say to them, "Remember, I'm your aunt."
PD: Are you doing anything different for Baby No. 19?
MD: At this point I'm just trying not to feel sick. (Laughs.)
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MD: Not yet. Jessa gave me a list of name possibilities. She's my organizer. She said, "We gotta start thinking about this."
PD: So? What are your thoughts?
MD: Jim Bob (her husband) says we're open to suggestions on J-names. People can go on our Web site, duggarfamily.com and e-mail us at JimBob@afo.net with name suggestions.
PD: Any more kids after this one?
MD: We would love more. We're just so thrilled that God blessed us with another one. So, if he gives us more, we will gladly receive the gift.
PD: As an uber-fertile woman, do you have any advice for women trying to conceive?
MD: God is the one who's the giver of life and opens and closes the womb. I would cry out to him initially and ask him if he would be willing. We only think we have control but in reality he is the giver of life.
Love the Duggars? Got an idea on a J-name for the new baby? Type it into our Comments area and we'll pass along your suggestions to the family.
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ReaderComments (Page 5 of 114)
9-02-2009 @ 11:59PM
yvonne seamon said...Jilly, Jayne, JJ, Jolene, Jonas, Jeb
9-03-2009 @ 1:07AM
Ronna Manasco said...For a girl Julian and for a boy Julen would be great for twins,
9-03-2009 @ 11:14AM
renee said...Javin for a boy, and Janay for a girl, or spelled Janae. How about Jantzen for a boy or jensen.
Jakoby, Job, Jade, Jadie
9-03-2009 @ 3:08AM
JMartin said...I wonder if her doctor has ever advised her against continuing to have children after 40 because of the higher incidence of fetal birth defects in children born of mothers around her age? Plus, since she's had 18 kids already, her uterus must be about worn out I'd think.
I don't buy into the whole, "God is the one who's the giver of life and opens and closes the womb..." reasoning for continuing to have children. I'm not knocking her religious beliefs here but rather her lack of common sense. God also gave us intelligence as well as the medical resources to make wise choices- choices that are in our own best interests and in the best interests of our loved ones.
Simply put- it's not a sin to utilize methods of birth control and it's irresponsible to have so many children that you end up relying on the older ones to take care of the younger ones, home school them and any of the other things that PARENTS should do since they are the ones who brought them into the world.
I've seen the show and although I will agree that this is an exceptional family and these parents obviously adore their children- how can any of these kids ever get the one on one parental attention that they need when they have to compete with 18 brothers and sisters?
I hope number 19 is healthy... and their last.
9-03-2009 @ 1:58PM
Tracy said...Janaessa Janea for a girl
Jonathan Jacob for a boy
9-04-2009 @ 11:15AM
Mary Alice Heinz said...I think that the Duggers are great, they love their family and they provide for their family. There is nothing wrong with having a huge family, but the key here is responsibility, and they are taking that responsiblity seriously. There are soooo many people that have children and no way to take care of them and expect the good ole USA to provide. Their children seem well behaved and happy and healthy, so I say go for it. I like the name Jared for a boy and how about Jemma for a girl. Good luck and God bless. Mary Alice
9-04-2009 @ 11:21AM
Marion said...Jaylee
9-05-2009 @ 11:01AM
cmck6 said...How about
ENOUGH for either a boy or a girl.
There are thousands of homeless children. Adopt if she wants more.
9-04-2009 @ 11:53AM
Jim Utley said...Boys...
Jeshua -- Yahweh is Salvation
Juaquin -- Americanization of Jehoiakim (Yakim) meaning Yahweh will raise up
Jonathan -- Yahweh has given.
9-04-2009 @ 11:17AM
amber said...Jocelyn for a girl.
9-04-2009 @ 11:23AM
Gail said...Nice names, but does anyone stop to consider her comment about God opening women's wombs? Is he the one responsible for babies born to crack addicts? Child abusers? If this woman and her husband want to add so greatly to the worlds population, so be it - it's a free country, but let's leave God out of it unless people are willing to place the blame on him for that as well - and I believe they should.
9-04-2009 @ 11:26AM
jason said...this women is sick. all she wants is to have sex and get pergant. she is a very sick women. enough is enough. have surgery and stop haveing kids
9-04-2009 @ 3:31PM
Ty said...The name is this child should be "Stop having kids." In a world of overpopulation and diminishing resources this is a disgusting abuse of human selfishness. These are not gifts from God, i think people know by now how pregnancy begins.
9-04-2009 @ 11:31AM
Jim said...How about a little birth control !!! This is totally out of control & think about it if others birthed out 19 kids & how over populated this country would be. I bet they are good Catholic family, that believes more the better to support the church & its many child abusers. I hope the government is not paying welfare for this big bunch but bet they are! What a joke with no family planning !!!!!!!
9-04-2009 @ 11:44AM
Tam said...Jenna for a girl and Jarlie or Jharles for a boy.
9-04-2009 @ 12:19PM
bea said...i think you should name him Jesas after all he has played a big role in this.i'm not going to pick a girl,because,i know it's a boy.
9-04-2009 @ 11:53AM
aaron said...Sew her up this is way past ridiculous, they both have some kind of chemical imbalance
9-04-2009 @ 12:15PM
Rachel said...Congrats on the new baby!
To all the people that are upset at the dugers for having another child, it's not like they cant take care of the kids and they belive that god is the one who give children to them so who are we to some anything negitive about that. Those kids have a great home and lots and lots to go around.. All those kids are well behaved and are very smart and know what they want in life and do more in a day then most people do in a week....
CONGRATS TO THE FAMILY GOD BLESS!!!
9-04-2009 @ 12:05PM
Ted Telford said...How about JUST SAY NO! I think its completely disgusting!
9-04-2009 @ 12:05PM
Paul said...I say name either one Jenuff! This is freaking ridiculous, and I for one am embarrassed that Arkansas is represented by someone that is a pregnancy addict! My grandmother had 16 kids, but that was 60 + years ago! There is not enough food or jobs in the U.S., and she is trying to use up all the resources for her family alone. People like this, and Jon and Kate and OctoMom are ridiculous.