Michelle Duggar Chats About Her Breast Milk Ban and Losing the Baby Weight (Again)
Filed under: Celeb Kids, Celeb Parents, In The News, Twins, Triplets, Multiples, Celeb News & Interviews
Michelle Duggar teaches baby Josie to love the camera. Credit: Jim Bob Duggar
But the reality TV star of 19 Kids and Counting has got it covered. The 43-year-old uber mom spoke to ParentDish by phone yesterday about life with a preemie, the surprising cause of her baby's upset tummy and her own plans for losing the (19th) baby weight. An edited version of the interview follows.
ParentDish: Welcome home. How are you feeling?
Michelle Duggar: I'm doing good. I feel much better than I did 7½ months ago, that's for sure. I'm so glad to have Josie home.
PD: Tell me about Josie? Is she your first preemie?
MD: Our second set of twins, Jedidiah and Jeremiah, came at about five weeks before their due date, but they were 5 lbs. each. They were in the hospital for about nine days. Jeremiah's lung collapsed and he had antibiotics. They're 11 years old now and just fine.
PD: Now about Josie.
MD: We are so thankful. It could've been much more serious. We're grateful that it was a diet change that made the difference for her. We changed from breast milk to a predigested formula that has no lactose, and within 12 hours she was better. And, within a week, she was pooing on her own, without us having to give her an enema. She was a totally different baby a week later.
PD: Wow, breast milk was the culprit?
MD: Typically, they never want to take a preemie off breast milk, but in her case the lactose in my milk was causing a problem. Her body was not producing lactase, which breaks down the lactose.











ReaderComments (Page 3 of 13)
8-03-2010 @ 8:05AM
rocio said...With this baby,,,I think Mother Nature is trying to tell them it's time to stop.
Reply
8-03-2010 @ 9:03AM
vivian said...ROCIO, AND DYAN, SOOOOOOOOOOO TRUE, ITS DISGUSTING, I LOVE CHILDREN, BUT THIS IS JUST SICK, I TRULY DONT BELEIVE FOR A SECOND THAT THESE PEOPLE ARENT ACCEPTING FROM THE GOVERMENT, OR CHURCH, ECT. I COME FROM A WEALTHY FAMILY, AND WE CANT EVEN AFFORD TO HAVE THESE MANY KIDS, EDUCATION ITSELF IS TOO EXPENSIVE, THIS FAMILY IS LIKE A CULT, AND THIS CHILD IS SOMETHING REALLY WRONG WITH HER, I KNOW, IM A NURSE. THIS WOMAN IS WORN OUT, OLD, AND BY THE TIME U KNOW IT , IN THAT CULT, HE WILL SLEEPING WITH HIS OWN DAUGHTERS IF HIS NOT DOING IT ALREADY, , ITS A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE U HEAR SOMETHING AWFUL OR CRAZY WITH THIS SO CALLED FAMILY. THEY R JUST SICK.
8-03-2010 @ 8:34AM
pbombz said...That's quite a litter. We get it, you can make lots of babies, now how about you put some of that child-rearing energy into adoption?
Reply
8-04-2010 @ 6:51PM
Linda said...If Michelle was the one taking care of the newborns, wonder how many children they would have had. From all I've read, the kids come along and are 'assigned' (for lack of a better word) to one of the older children. Her primary role seems to be bearing down in the delivery room. Her talent seems to be affecting a stupid grin whenever cameras are near.
Bet when the kids are older and out on their own, we will see books popping up on the shelves .. telling what life was REALLY like growing up.
Reply
8-03-2010 @ 8:44AM
Barbara said...so well said bet there is resentment galore in that family with so many unwanted children in this world why didnt they just adopt seems to me they just crave attention it is cruel to the children
8-03-2010 @ 8:20AM
loonerchic said...Good Blessed you little Josie. Keep up the will to live!!!
Reply
8-03-2010 @ 8:12AM
lindy said...People have preemies everyday and don't attack the parents the way Michelle has been. My grandtwins were 16 weeks early.
There seems to be a lot of jealousy towards this family that just happens to have a lot of children. They do a half hour tv show once a week for a few months out of the year. They don't do tacky reality shows, they aren't on every talk show for days at a time (like Kate Gosselin). Think those kids would ever do mission work? Kate has nannies and housecleaners and bodyguards. And her twins are rude, selfish lazy brats. All they do are take expensive vacations and shop.
GO DUGGARS.
Reply
8-03-2010 @ 8:32AM
Gena said...Well said! I admire this family as well.
8-03-2010 @ 8:29AM
Jenn said...I think she is a great mom. Josie's premature birth has nothing to do with the fact that she was the 19th child. Many 1st time mom's deliver prematurely. It is a blessing that a mom can have so many children who are going to be productive members of society. I've seen too many families with multiple children who's parents don't work, rely on welfare and don't even try to teach their children how to be responsible and to make something of themselves. These kids end up being a judicial problem as they grow. Why harp on a woman who is doing everything right with her children who are out helping others. I think we all could learn some lessons from her. As a mom of 4 great kids, I know I have.
Reply
8-03-2010 @ 8:30AM
cathyellis said...who the hell cares!!!! these people are sick in the head and the bed!
Reply
8-03-2010 @ 8:31AM
Darryl McGrath said...Please stop promoting these people, who have produced far more children than any one couple could even remotely be expected to care for, and who are using their children as publicity tools in an effort to raise income. The most charitable thing you could say about their decision to have 19 children is that it shows a lack of good judgment.
Reply
8-03-2010 @ 8:32AM
Robyn said...I will admit, I have NO idea how the Dugger's do it with all those kids, heck, I only have three and with two of them having ADHD I am about to loose my mind sometimes, but the Dugger's have it going on! I tell my husband all the time that I want to take the kids and live with them for a while so we can learn how their kids are so well behaved. Those kids are the most well behaved kids I have ever seen! The fact that the older ones help with the younger ones just amazes me! If I ask my 14 y/o to help with my 6 or 2 year old you would of thought I asked her the to do the most horrible job in the world yet with the Duggers they don't even have to ask, they just do and I have so much respect for them.
Reply
8-03-2010 @ 8:53AM
tessy said...This lady needs to stop breeding ! Her and her husband are not raising them kids . the older kids are raising the younger ones. and if you think they are not . you are so dead wrong . They are getting money from the shows and Im sure they are getting donations threw the churches. No one can afford 19 kids and not get help somewheres.
Reply
8-03-2010 @ 8:34AM
ntfish said...The Duggar's don't use birth control because of religious beliefs. I'm guessing there will be more children until the time Michelle reaches menopause. Yes, many people find it odd or even disgusting that they have so many kids...and keep having them. I am not one of them. People that actually watch the show would see how well balanced the kids are and how loving the parents are. No, they are not on welfare. They make their own money and did so before the show ever started. They own several rental properties. I applaud them for the people they are and I'm happy to see them raising all those kids the way they do.
Reply
8-03-2010 @ 8:36AM
nancy said...Forget Josie. She will be fine. But remember, Josie had to be delivered early since Michelle became ill because of the pregnancy. Michelle's life was in danger. Now, what if JB can't keep it in his pants and Michelle gets pregnant with problems again and the doctors aren't so lucky this time and Michelle dies. That would mean that 19 kids are motherless. JIM BOB, GET SNIPPED. BE A RESPONSIBLE MAN, A LOVING HUSBAND AND A GOOD EXAMPLE FOR YOUR SONS. SAVE YOUR WIFE'S AND YOUR CHILDREN'S MOTHER'S LIFE!!!!!!!!! P L E A S E !!! Do the right thing.
Reply
8-03-2010 @ 8:44AM
bsmburdette said...If some of you would quit putting your mouth in motion before you put your brain in gear, you would know how the Duggars make their income. All you can do is bad mouth and you don't know what you are talking about--find out for yourself. Anyone can a preemie it has nothing to do with the amount of children you have. My parents had 15, never on welfare, and we got along great and still do We are 58 and older now and just two weeks ago a friend, who only had one brother, made a comment to me how well behaved or family was.It's all in the loving your family and yes not sparing the rod and taking punishment out of school. Don't put them in the bedroom with all their games and toys, they can sit on the couch and do some thinking as to why they are being punished,
Reply
8-04-2010 @ 7:06PM
nonny2t said...You people are vile, reprehensible, human beings that obviously don't know the words, NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS!!!! I would bet that 99% of you judgmental jerks have huge piles of bills, are in debt up to your eyeballs, swear like sailors, and don't step one foot into a church ever. I do not agree with this woman putting her life on the line everytime she gets pregnant again but her life is her own and none of my business. This family is well cared for, educated better than most of your brats, are debt free, and travel with their kids to teach them about the world. They are kind and loving to ALL of their children and not one goes without attention from their parents. Maybe you should follow my mother's advice, "you need to clean your own doorstep before you clean someone elses!"
Reply
8-03-2010 @ 8:44AM
Diana Cooper said...While I admire her mothering skills, when are people like her going to wake up to the fact that our planet has finite resources. What are her grandchildren & great-grandchildren. going to use for food and fuel in the future. In the past, large families were needed to run the farm. They had more children becauses of the infant mortality rate. I think she at this point she is being selfish and doing it for the money.
Reply
8-03-2010 @ 8:58AM
bsmburdette said...DIANA, Ask the good aol USA how their grandchildren are going to eat, from CHINA. Where everything else comes from. We have destroy ourselves by depending on our government to take care of all of our situations. What happened to food from our gardens, and buying locally? My life is not based on "ifs" and "buts" , take care of the USA first and whats left over feed the other countries. What GOD has created, man has made a mess of. HIS children will never be begging for bread.
8-03-2010 @ 12:38PM
Betty said...In no way can I understand a couple having nineteen (19) children BUT I watch their show sometimes and Michelle seems to have the ability to cope with it all. However, she has reached an age where she is a grandmother and I don't care what their religious belief may be, she deserves a break from pregnancy, childbirth and caring for infants. I hope she stops with this baby and learns to relax a little and enjoy this phase of her life. Her husband should get himself fixed!!
Reply