ParentDishhttp://www.parentdish.comParentDishhttp://www.parentdish.com/media/feedlogo.gifParentDishhttp://www.parentdish.comen-usCopyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only.Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Mothers of Twins: Born Tough?http://www.parentdish.com/2011/05/11/mothers-of-twins-born-tough/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/05/11/mothers-of-twins-born-tough/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/05/11/mothers-of-twins-born-tough/#commentsFiled under: ,

mothers of twins

In this study, mothers of twins lived longer. Credit: Corbis

Mothers of twins live longer.

Really? Or does it just feel that way because the chores ... never ... freakin' ... end?

No, they really do live longer, but it's not because having twins makes you tough. These moms are born tough, LiveScience reports.

At least they were in Utah in the 1800s. So you have to take this new search with a grain (or lake) of salt.

Researchers from the University of Utah used the university's massive Utah Population Database to study the genealogical records of state residents going back 200 years. And what do you know? Mothers of twins lived longer.

"We expected the exact opposite," researcher Shannen Robson tells LiveScience. "We expected that since most humans have one baby at a time, having two would be really burdensome."

Not so. Not for Wonder Woman. Not for "these who are remarkable, physically exceptional people," Robson says.

Bear in mind these women were hearty pioneers who got pregnant the old-fashioned way -- from an arranged marriage to a randy old coot named "Zeke" when they were 14 or 15 years old. Researchers didn't take into account the results of modern in-vitro fertilization.

The findings, published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B., show you didn't want to mess with mothers of twins in Utah in the 19th century. They lived longer, needed less time to recover between pregnancies, had more children overall and were something like 80 years old before they hit menopause.

OK, that last one may be a bit of an exaggeration. But they still had hot flashes later than those namby-pambies who had their eight children one at a time.

Why does all this interest scientists? They could be looking at ways to create a race of Super Mothers.

"By identifying them, we can then look at other aspects of what it is about them that makes them more healthy, live longer and have babies at a faster rate than everyone else in the population," Robson tells LiveScience.

Uh-oh.

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]]>mothersmothers of twinstwin researchtwin studytwinsTom HendersonWed, 11 May 2011 13:30:00 ESTTwins Now On the Way for Couple Involved in Embryo Mix-Uphttp://www.parentdish.com/2011/04/07/embryo-mix-up/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/04/07/embryo-mix-up/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/04/07/embryo-mix-up/#commentsFiled under: ,



After a clerical mix-up in a fertility clinic in 2009, Carolyn and Sean Savage were informed they were carrying another couple's child.

The wrong embryo had been implanted, "Today" reports, but the Sylvania Township, Ohio, couple opted to continue the pregnancy, anyway.

"We knew that we had somebody's very, very wanted child," Caroline Savage tells the news show. "I just couldn't see doing -- taking that away from another mother. There's just no way."

Carolyn Savage delivered a baby boy, Logan, who was given to his biological parents.

The Savages gave birth to a boy, Drew, in 1994, with no complications. But then fertility issues began to arise. In 1997, Ryan was born prematurely, and, after 10 years and four miscarriages, the family welcomed Mary Kate in 2008, using IVF.

"That IVF produced extra embryos we had frozen for later pregnancy attempts which led us to a frozen embryo transfer in February 2009 and the call from the doctor alerting us of the medical error," the couple writes on a site for its book, "Inconceivable: A Medical Mistake, the Baby We Couldn't Keep, and Our Choice to Deliver the Ultimate Gift."

The Savages tell "Today" they wanted to use the remaining embryos, via surrogate Jennifer Onash. She miscarried an earlier pregnancy, but is now expecting twins for the couple, due in August.

"Now that Jennifer is expecting twins for our family, we are overwhelmed with gratitude," Carolyn Savage writes on the "Today" website. "Obviously, we are grateful to be expecting two more children with Jennifer's help. But, more importantly, we are grateful for the lessons Jennifer taught us about generosity, kindness and love. That will always be her greatest gift to us."

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]]>embryo mix upivfIVF treatmenttwinsLesley KennedyThu, 07 Apr 2011 12:00:00 ESTStudy: Parents With Twins Slightly More Likely to Get Divorcedhttp://www.parentdish.com/2011/03/31/study-parents-with-twins-slightly-more-likely-to-get-divorced/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/03/31/study-parents-with-twins-slightly-more-likely-to-get-divorced/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/03/31/study-parents-with-twins-slightly-more-likely-to-get-divorced/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Twins

Parents of twins are more likely to get divorced. Credit: Getty Images

Your parents will tell you that their divorce has nothing to do with you. It is not your fault.

Don't listen to them.

You drove them to divorce. Or maybe it was your evil twin.

Either way, the Reuters News Service reports parents of twins are more likely to get divorced than parents who have to deal with only one of you little monsters.

OK, so parents of twins are only slightly more likely to get divorced. And it really has nothing to do with you or your sibling per se. But feel free to use the new study to beat yourself up anyway.

In fact, Reuters reports researchers don't really know why divorce rates are 1 percent higher among parents of twins. It could be the extra emotional or financial stress of having an extra baby. All researchers have right now is an interesting little statistic.

Dr. Anupam Jena of Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston and his colleagues examined data from the 1980 census. They compared the marital status of parents who had twins as their first-born children with other parents.

They wanted to use older data, Reuters reports, to make sure modern fertility treatments weren't to blame for divorces. Besides, later census surveys don't ask if families have twins. Researchers looked at a total of 800,000 families to find the 1 percent difference in divorce rates.

According to Reuters, twins made the biggest difference when mothers had lots of kids and less income. It also didn't help when the twins were older, and one of them was a boy.

Consider the financial stress: Reuters reports the average cost of raising a child from birth to age 18 may be as high as $250,000. You can almost double that for twins.

Twins represent between 3 and 4 percent of all births in the United States. And they may become more common with the increased use of fertility treatments.

Jena tells Reuters parents of twins shouldn't be afraid of divorce -- just aware.

"To warn families ahead of time that something like this may occur later on in life would not be a bad idea," he tells the news service, adding it would be helpful "to have a little more insight and pay a little bit more attention to some of the family dynamics that can occur."

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]]>more likely to get divorcedtwinsTwins Divorce Study Fertility StressTom HendersonThu, 31 Mar 2011 14:00:00 ESTDouble Strollers: What You Need to Know Before You Buyhttp://www.parentdish.com/2011/01/25/double-strollers/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/01/25/double-strollers/http://www.parentdish.com/2011/01/25/double-strollers/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

double strollers

Choosing a stroller can be tricky. Credit: Getty Images

Whether you're expecting twins, or you have two stroller-sized children of different ages, a double stroller is a must for most parents. But, with so many styles on the market, shopping for a set of wheels for your kids can be a bit overwhelming. These strollers aren't cheap, so you better get one you love.

Here's a look at some popular options, and pros and cons of each.

Side-by-side:
  • Pros: They're pretty easy to maneuver, unless you have to go through narrow doorways. Kids sit next to each other, so older kids can play and won't fight over who gets to sit in the front (or back).
  • Cons: Most side-by-sides can't hold infant car seats, and if your children are prone to fighting, you might not want them sitting so close to each other. If your children are of different weights, it may be tougher to steer one of these. They also take up a bit more room when folded.
Front-to-back (tandem):
  • Pros: Getting through doorways is easier than with a side-by-side, and, when folded, they don't take up too much room. Many tandems hold two infants in car seats or an infant and a toddler. They also have stadium seating, so the child in the back can see over the other child's head.
  • Cons: They can be heavy, and turns aren't easy.
Jogger:
  • Pros: They're often lightweight and good for rougher surfaces. Also, as the name suggests, you can use it while running or jogging.
  • Cons: Many joggers aren't recommended for newborns, as they offer no head support, and they're a bit bulky for the mall or other crowded spots. You'll likely need a traditional stroller in addition to the jogging stroller.
Sit and stand:
  • Pros: Also called a Stand-On, these strollers allow a bigger child to sit or stand on the back step and are great if you have a newborn and an older child.
  • Cons: Your toddler might drive you crazy hopping on and off the back.

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]]>double strollersDoubleStrollersevergreenjogging strollerJoggingStrollerstrollerPatty BontekoeTue, 25 Jan 2011 10:00:00 ESTBaby Josie Duggar Celebrates First Birthdayhttp://www.parentdish.com/2010/12/14/baby-josie-duggar-celebrates-first-birthday/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/12/14/baby-josie-duggar-celebrates-first-birthday/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/12/14/baby-josie-duggar-celebrates-first-birthday/#commentsFiled under: ,



The littlest Duggar, Baby Josie, has just passed an important milestone -- one that even her parents thought she might not reach: Her first birthday.

When she was born via emergency cesarean-section on Dec. 10, 2009, weighing only 1 lb. 6 oz., the family, and especially Mama Michelle Duggar, feared for the preemie's life.

"We didn't know if she was going to live. She was so tiny and fragile, the size of Dad's hand," she tells ParentDish, referring to her husband, Jim Bob.

But a year later, Josie weighs 16 lbs., and she's doing well developmentally, though she continues with monitoring and receiving oxygen when she sleeps, the ubermom says.

"She's so strong," Duggar of TLC's "19 Kids and Counting" says. "She's saying da-da. She has an iron grip. She's a funky little fighter; she had to be to stay with us this long. I thank God; we are so grateful."

The family, steeped in the QuiverFull religion, is quick to acknowledge the power of prayer. Eight-year-old Justin gave his mom all the spiritual props: "Mama, you prayed for that," he told her yesterday.

baby josie duggar

Josie Duggar in July, shortly after she was released from the hospital. Credit: Scott Enlow, TLC


Little Josie is bright-eyed and smiling, and though she might not have real pigtails yet, she's sporting a Bebe Doos headband with faux blonde hair.

"Our babies don't have hair for the first year-and-a-half," Duggar laughs. "We love these."

A balder Baby Josie initially went home from the hospital on April 6, but she was readmitted two days later. She finally went home for good in June. "We are so thankful," Duggar told ParentDish in August. "It could've been much more serious."

Now, to celebrate Josie's first birthday, Mom has cut out a giant number 1, which her younger kids are decorating in pink with polka dots. She plans to start a new tradition of taking a photograph every year with the three little Duggars who are the same age. Other daughter Jordyn turns 2 on Dec. 18 and her granddaughter Mackynzie was born on Oct. 8, 2009.

In addition to the fun photo, the Duggars will throw Josie a proper ice cream and confetti-poppers birthday party -- either tomorrow or Thursday -- when the rest of the family arrives back from a mission in Central America, specifically Honduras and El Salvador. Daddy Duggar took 10 of the older kids with him in an effort to teach the Duggar youth to help others.

"In the spirit of the season, Jesus gave the greatest gift and we need to reach into our own lives and be sacrificial for others as well," Mom Duggar says. "It's about giving others their basic needs and not expecting anything in return."

And speaking of not expecting anything, baby Josie has no idea that a riding toy is at the top of the list of birthday gifts from her family, along with new pajamas in the next size up, nine months. Josie is just growing out of her six-month size pjs, Duggar says.

As for her own 44th birthday back in September, Mama Duggar says she's still using the elliptical machine -- sometimes twice a day -- she received from the family, adding that she only has 10 more pounds to drop until she's at her ideal weight.

And then what? Will she get pregnant again?

"I would love more and we're hoping we're not finished," she says. "But at this point, I'm not pregnant."

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]]>Duggar familyDuggarFamilyduggarsjosie duggarJosieDuggarmichelle duggarMichelleDuggarmicro preemiesMicroPreemiespreemiesSusan Avery and Colleen EganTue, 14 Dec 2010 18:29:00 EST10 Halloween Costumes for Twins, Triplets and Morehttp://www.parentdish.com/2010/10/29/10-halloween-costumes-for-twins-triplets-and-more/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/10/29/10-halloween-costumes-for-twins-triplets-and-more/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/10/29/10-halloween-costumes-for-twins-triplets-and-more/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

twin picture

A bumble-bee and lady bug on Halloween! Credit: Getty Images



Choosing a creative, cute, but not too expensive -- or labor-intensive -- Halloween costume can be a bit of a chore. And for moms of multiples, the challenge is doubled, tripled, quadrupled or more.

Not sure how to dress your brood for Halloween? Take inspiration from these creative ideas:

1. Got a sense of humor? Dress them up as mom's constant companions, the washer, dryer and laundry basket.

2. Pick any animal (duck, cat, monkey, bunny, etc.), double it and you've got a Noah's Ark-themed Halloween.

3. Thing 1 and Thing 2 from Dr. Seuss's "The Cat in the Hat" are classic favorites. You could also make your own costumes with red sweatsuits and blue wigs. Then, draw "Thing 1" and "Thing 2" on white felt and glue to the shirts.

4. Whether you have two, three, four or more kids, you can dress them as any of the characters from "The Wizard of Oz," including Dorothy, the Tin Man, the Wicked Witch, Scarecrow and the Cowardly Lion.

5. Yeah, your kids may be too young to know who these two are, but what "Flinstones"-loving mom could resist these Pebbles and Bamm Bamm costumes?

6. Can't get your kids away from their video games? Maybe these Nintendo Mario and Luigi get-ups will help.

7. If you're not sick of the peas in a pod analogy yet, dress your baby in these adorable costumes.

8. For the mini-foodie, ketchup and mustard are an easy solution (for triplets or quads, add a burger and hot dog!)

9. In honor of "Toy Story 3," Buzz Lightyear (with wings and goggles that light up) and Woody are sure to please.

10. Dress your sugary-sweet babies as Peeps.

Prefer to make your own costume? Natalie Stemp, creative director of Calliope and a former event planner, suggests these unique ideas: Box of cupcakes, assorted crayons, the three blind mice, the three billy goats gruff or a school of fish.

Got multiples? How will you be dressing them for Halloween?

This story was originally published on October 1, 2009.

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]]>halloweenhalloween costumeshalloween costumes for multipleshalloween costumes for tripletshalloween costumes for twinshalloweencostumesHalloweenCostumesForMultiplesHalloweenCostumesForTripletsHalloweenCostumesForTwinsPatty BontekoeFri, 29 Oct 2010 09:30:00 EST8-Year-Old Painting Prodigy Racks Up $250K in Art Saleshttp://www.parentdish.com/2010/10/14/8-year-old-painting-prodigy-racks-up-250k-in-art-sales/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/10/14/8-year-old-painting-prodigy-racks-up-250k-in-art-sales/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/10/14/8-year-old-painting-prodigy-racks-up-250k-in-art-sales/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

PRODUCTION PLAYER! DO NOT DELETE.


Proving that it's never too early to carve out a career niche, an 8-year-old painting prodigy is making big bucks selling her canvasses to grownups.

Autumn de Forest took a break from third grade this morning to fly across the country and appear on "Today" with her mom and dad and her colorful -- and increasingly pricey -- collection of paintings in tow.

Her work, which draws comparisons to artistic masters including Picasso, Warhol, Dali and Matisse, has been sold by the dozens at auction for a total of about $250,000. The highest price paid for one of her paintings is $25,000. It's called "People Are Strange," inspired by The Doors song of the same name, according to "Today."

The Las Vegas grade school student was 4 years old when she brought home an art project from preschool: a watercolor she called "Elephant," she tells Matt Lauer. Mom and Dad say her depiction of the animal was abstract with pronounced brushstrokes that they found very deliberate and "startlingly artistic."

"At first we did think it was a fluke," says Autumn's mother, Katherine, who appeared on "Today" with her daughter. "We were scratching our head and thought it was an anomaly and interesting."

But, when Autumn was 5, her masterpiece moment came when she traded in her kitchen table canvas for big-sized plywood in the garage.

"I turned away," says her dad, Doug, on "Today." "And what seemed like a few moments later, I turned back, and I swear to you it was as if [abstract expressionist painter] Mark Rothko had done some kind of mid-century masterpiece. Certainly, it was simple and abstract, but profound in its simplicity. It was just kind of a wonderful moment."

So, the proud parents bought her canvasses and supplies "to see what would happen," Doug says.

Autumn, who turns 9 this month, has never taken formal instruction, although her parents believe she would benefit from it and would like her to start, they say on the show. So far, her work is the result of pure intuition, imagination and inspiration. She painted "The Messenger," depicting a fetus attached to its umbilical cord, after going to an exhibition with her mother at age 5, and becoming fascinated with a display of a pregnant woman.

Though her parents are in creative fields, neither is a visual artist. Doug is a musician, Katherine an actress. There are, however, several accomplished and collected painters in Doug's family: Lockwood de Forest (1850-1932), George de Forest (1855-1941) and Roy de Forest (1930-2007), who was part of California's "funk art" movement, the family says on "Today."

Despite her success, Autumn is modest about her talent and isn't squandering her earnings, which the family is saving for college.

"I love my paintings, but I'm not the bragger of my paintings," she tells Lauer. "If someone is going to pay a huge amount of money to buy my painting and if they know I'm going to spend it to buy a bunch of Barbie dolls, they know you're going to waste your money on something not important. But people know the money is going into my education, maybe even art school."

These days, she says painting is a daily ritual.

"I do it every day," Autumn says. "I try to do as much as I can ... I do my best."

But it looks like Autumn has some male competition on the painting prodigy front from across the pond. Kieron Williamson, 8, has been called a mini-Monet by the British press. The Norfolk, England, youth's deft brush strokes, like those of a seasoned artist, have been hailed for their likeness to the French impressionist.

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]]>child artchild artistChildArtChildArtistyoung artistyoung painterYoungArtistYoungPainterMary Beth SammonsThu, 14 Oct 2010 14:00:00 ESTWho Counts As Family? Some Americans Rank Same-Sex Partners Lower Than the Doghttp://www.parentdish.com/2010/10/01/who-counts-as-family-some-americans-rank-same-sex-partners-lowe/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/10/01/who-counts-as-family-some-americans-rank-same-sex-partners-lowe/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/10/01/who-counts-as-family-some-americans-rank-same-sex-partners-lowe/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

same sex couple picture

Erick Sosa, left, and Mark Kibby enjoy a day of fun with their sons, Cole and Parker Sosa-Kibby. Credit: Dave Ouano Photography

Despite a growing acceptance of gay and lesbian couples, 30 percent of Americans still think pets rank higher than a gay partner as a family member.

Unmarried same-sex couples with children, as well as married gay and lesbian couples with kids, are quickly gaining acceptance as families by Americans, according to a recent study. But, when children are not involved, same-sex married partners rank lower than the family dog in the 'who is family, who is not' category.

"There's been an increasing receptiveness to include same-sex couples in people's definitions of family," study co-author Brian Powell tells ParentDish. A sociology professor at Indiana University in Bloomington, his findings are reported in his new book, "Counted Out: Same-Sex Relations and Americans' Definitions of Family," published this month by the Russell Sage Foundation.

"But, it comes down to the fact that people believe that only if there is a child, there is a family," he says. "A child connotes permanence, and we discovered that even if a family breaks up, we still consider them a family when there is a child."

Between 2003 and 2010, three surveys conducted by Powell's team showed a significant shift toward counting same-sex couples with children as family -- from 54 percent of respondents in 2003 to 68 percent in 2010. In all, more than 2,300 people were surveyed. Powell links the changing attitudes to a 10 percent rise between 2003 and 2010 in the share of survey respondents who reported having a gay friend or relative.

In their most recent 2010 telephone survey of 830 people, Americans were almost equally divided on same-sex marriage.

"I don't think people are ready to embrace it, but people are ready to accept it," Powell says.

In 2006, when asked if gay couples and pets count as family, 30 percent said pets count but not gay couples. In the 2010 survey, 83 percent of the respondents said they perceived unmarried heterosexual couples with children as a family; 40 percent extended that recognition to unmarried straight couples without children.

But Powell is quick to point out the disparity in what is defined as "family," which evolves around the legality of a marriage license, religious views and/or taking care of a child.

"I like to use the pun, 'this should give us paws,' but fact that gay couples are given less status than pets should be something we should think strongly about," he says.

Powell compares the positive shift in the view of same-sex families to the gradual acceptance of interracial marriage in the 1960s.

"People are definitely expanding their definition of what is family," he says.

Erik Sosa, a Kenosha, Wisc. stay-at-home dad who parents two young boys with his partner Mark Kibby, says he's seen a positive change in the way people perceive the couple in the last three years since they adopted the boys, both now 4.

"When we first moved in, it took the neighbors a little while to accept us as family," says Sosa, who is called "Papa" by the boys and is not married to Kibby, who is called "Daddy."

The couple moved to the suburban town when they adopted Cole and Parker Sosa-Kibby from Guatamala when the boys were 5 months old.

"What is really interesting to me is how much people see the commonalities in what I do and the other housewives on the block are doing every day," Sosa says. "Basically, we all have the same struggles as parents and all of us believe that the children come first and we come second. Families aren't about sex, they're about parenting and the definition is revolving to mean people who love each other and want to create a life together. "

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]]>gay parentingGayParentingsame sex marriageSameSexMarriageMary Beth SammonsFri, 01 Oct 2010 17:30:00 ESTCould a Jon Gosselin Book Make You a Better Father?http://www.parentdish.com/2010/08/25/could-a-jon-gosselin-book-make-you-a-better-father/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/08/25/could-a-jon-gosselin-book-make-you-a-better-father/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/08/25/could-a-jon-gosselin-book-make-you-a-better-father/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Jon Gosselin writing book

Would you take parenting advice from this guy? Credit: X17online


Jon Gosselin may write a book sharing his -- wait for it, wait for it -- parenting skills.

Take a few minutes. Done laughing? OK, here's the deal: MSNBC reports Gosselin wants to join his ex-wife in the book business.

Kate Gosselin came out with "I Just Want You to Know: Letters to My Kids on Love, Faith, and Family" in April, and it's sold about 10,000 copies.To put that in perspective, that's not enough books to supply the population of Keokuk, Iowa.

"Multiple Blessings," a book by Jon and Kate Gosselin that was published in 2008, fared better. Selling 500,000 copies, it could have provided reading material for most of Portland, Ore.

MSNBC reports Jon Gosselin is now considering a book offering his own parenting wisdom. Who, some may ask -- other than maybe Darth Vader, could learn to be a better father by following his example?

Continue reading Could a Jon Gosselin Book Make You a Better Father?

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]]>expire-images:2011-7-7jon and kate plus 8jon gosselinJonAndKatePlus8JonGosselinkate gosselinKateGosselinparenting bookParentingBookTom HendersonWed, 25 Aug 2010 14:00:00 EST'You're Not the Boss of Me!' is My Daughter's Favorite Line!http://www.parentdish.com/2010/08/09/youre-not-the-boss-of-me-is-my-daughters-favorite-line/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/08/09/youre-not-the-boss-of-me-is-my-daughters-favorite-line/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/08/09/youre-not-the-boss-of-me-is-my-daughters-favorite-line/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Dear AdviceMama,

My almost-8-year-old and I butt heads a lot. She acts like she is the boss and I feel like I am always yelling at her. How do I get her off her pedestal? How do I let her know I'm the boss -- not her?

Signed,
I'm the Boss

Dear Boss,

"You're not the boss of me!" was the theme song on a popular TV show a few years ago, and it struck a chord with every parent who's had a child proclaim their position as ruler of the roost. Kids easily become little emperors or empresses, and once they've tasted power, they aren't easily talked out of wanting more.

Continue reading 'You're Not the Boss of Me!' is My Daughter's Favorite Line!

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]]>Susan Stiffelman, MFTMon, 09 Aug 2010 11:00:00 ESTMichelle Duggar Chats About Her Breast Milk Ban and Losing the Baby Weight (Again)http://www.parentdish.com/2010/08/03/michelle-duggar-chats-about-her-breast-milk-ban-and-losing-the-b/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/08/03/michelle-duggar-chats-about-her-breast-milk-ban-and-losing-the-b/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/08/03/michelle-duggar-chats-about-her-breast-milk-ban-and-losing-the-b/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Michelle Duggar with Josie

Michelle Duggar teaches baby Josie to love the camera. Credit: Jim Bob Duggar

Michelle Duggar recently returned to her Tontitown, Arkansas home with her newborn Josie, who arrived three months early. Like any mom of a preemie, there's a lot of "don't touch the baby" going on in the Duggar household, what with 18 others germing up the joint.

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.

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]]>Duggar familyDuggarFamilyjosie duggarJosieDuggarMichelle DuggarMichelleDuggarSusan AveryTue, 03 Aug 2010 06:59:00 ESTWoman Having Babies from 2 Separate Wombshttp://www.parentdish.com/2010/07/21/woman-having-babies-from-two-separate-wombs/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/07/21/woman-having-babies-from-two-separate-wombs/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/07/21/woman-having-babies-from-two-separate-wombs/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Video Courtesy of KSL.com



Angie Cromer got pregnant -- while she was pregnant.

The Murray, Utah, woman was born with two uteruses. That means her babies will not be twins. They likely will be born a few days apart from two separate pregnancies.

KLS, the NBC affiliate the Salt Lake City, reports the odds of that happening are about one in five million.

Such births are extraordinarily rare, Cromar's obstetrician, Dr. Steve Terry, tells the station.

"Probably less than a hundred so far worldwide have been reported," he says. "So she's a member of a very small elite club."

Continue reading Woman Having Babies from 2 Separate Wombs

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]]>didelphysmultiplespregnancystrange pregnancyStrangePregnancyTom HendersonWed, 21 Jul 2010 16:30:00 EST'Octomom' Doc Accused of Implanting Seven Embryoshttp://www.parentdish.com/2010/07/13/octomom-doc-accused-of-implanting-seven-embryos/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/07/13/octomom-doc-accused-of-implanting-seven-embryos/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/07/13/octomom-doc-accused-of-implanting-seven-embryos/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

LOS ANGELES (AP) - The fertility doctor for "Octomom" Nadya Suleman implanted too many embryos in another patient, resulting in the death of a fetus, according to the state licensing board.

The Medical Board of California said in a revised filing that Dr. Michael Kamrava acted with negligence when he implanted seven embryos in a 48-year-old woman, identified only as "L.C."

Four of the embryos became viable, but the woman lost one during pregnancy and gave birth to triplets, one of whom has profound developmental delays, the board said.

The medical board found Kamrava implanted more than the medically recommended two embryos in a patient over 35 and "placed L.C. at great risk for high order gestation, which was confirmed by a quadruplet pregnancy that ended with catastrophic results."

Kamrava's public relations representative David Langness did not immediately provide comment.

The medical board has the authority to revoke the license of the Beverly Hills doctor who has been under investigation since Suleman gave birth to octuplets 18 months ago.

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]]>Associated PressTue, 13 Jul 2010 16:24:00 ESTTLC's 'Table for 12' Hayes Family Prepares for a Puppyhttp://www.parentdish.com/2010/07/06/tlcs-table-for-12-hayes-family-prepares-for-a-puppy/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/07/06/tlcs-table-for-12-hayes-family-prepares-for-a-puppy/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/07/06/tlcs-table-for-12-hayes-family-prepares-for-a-puppy/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,



When you have two sets of twins and a set of sextuplets like Betty and Eric Hayes of TLC's "Table for 12," you have a pretty full house. Not full enough, apparently. Check out this clip of the Hayes brood stocking up on supplies to prepare for their new puppy! The new special, "Table for 12: Hayes Get a Puppy," airs tonight at 10 pm on TLC.

Related: Jon Gosselin Gets Huge Dragon Tattoo to Symbolize His 'Rebirth'

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]]>table for 12TableFor12the editors at ParentDishTue, 06 Jul 2010 10:49:00 EST'Supersize' Families: The Joy of Having 8-Plus Kidshttp://www.parentdish.com/2010/05/17/supersize-families-the-joy-of-having-8-plus-kids/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/05/17/supersize-families-the-joy-of-having-8-plus-kids/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/05/17/supersize-families-the-joy-of-having-8-plus-kids/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

As a mother of eight, Michele Rusden says her calendar is key. Credit: Michele Rusden


When Melina Cummings, 37, of Montgomery County, Md., had her first child, she was overwhelmed. Three children later, she decided she was done having babies and gave all the baby stuff away. Today, she's the proud mother of eight -- three boys and five girls -- ages 5 months, 2, 4, 6, 7, 9, 11 and 13.

And when she and her husband take the family out (in their 12-passenger van) they get a lot of attention.

"Sometimes people can't even comment. They just stare," she says. "Others just count, with their finger, out loud, as we pass by."

How does she -- and other moms of eight or more children -- get it all done? It all comes down to organization. And Costco, iCal, date nights at home and laundry-folding parties.

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]]>big familiesBigFamiliescostcomultiplesstay at home momsStayAtHomeMomsworking momsWorkingMomsPatty BontekoeMon, 17 May 2010 16:00:00 ESTU.S. Sees Fewer Premature Births for Second Straight Yearhttp://www.parentdish.com/2010/05/13/u-s-sees-fewer-premature-births-for-second-straight-year/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/05/13/u-s-sees-fewer-premature-births-for-second-straight-year/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/05/13/u-s-sees-fewer-premature-births-for-second-straight-year/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Premature birth rates are on their way down. Credit: Damon Dahlen, AOL

The risk of having a premature baby -- with the health problems that portends -- might be decreasing.

Researchers at the National Center for Health Statistics report this week that the number of premature births in the United States dropped for the second straight year.

Premature babies risk ill health and are more likely to die in infancy.

"Following a long period of fairly steady increase, the U.S. pre-term birth rate declined for the second straight year in 2008 to 12.3 percent -- from 12.8 percent in 2006," the researchers write in their report.

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]]>healthinfant mortalityInfantMortalitypreemiespremature birthsPrematureBirthsTom HendersonThu, 13 May 2010 15:00:00 ESTMore to Love: Famous Moms of Multipleshttp://www.parentdish.com/2010/05/06/more-to-love-famous-moms-of-multiples/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/05/06/more-to-love-famous-moms-of-multiples/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/05/06/more-to-love-famous-moms-of-multiples/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Celebrities are known for doing everything a little bit bigger, a little bit more dramatically than regular folks, and when it comes to childbearing, these famous moms are no exception. Whether they were stars before they had kids or if their burgeoning broods put them on the map, these moms of multiples have got our attention.

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]]>Colleen EganThu, 06 May 2010 16:00:00 ESTHeavier Twin May Have More Behavior Problems, Study Findshttp://www.parentdish.com/2010/05/03/heavier-twin-may-have-more-behavior-problems-study-finds/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/05/03/heavier-twin-may-have-more-behavior-problems-study-finds/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/05/03/heavier-twin-may-have-more-behavior-problems-study-finds/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Same appearance, different experiences. Credit: Getty Images

That chubby little baby may be cute and cuddly, but if she's a twin she's more likely to have behavioral problems later on, according to a new study.

Twins who were at least 20 percent heavier than their sibling at birth were more likely to have conduct problems by the time they were 3 or 4 years old, an article published in the May issue of the Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, says. That finding was more true of fraternal twins than of identical twins.

Researchers at Hadassah Hebrew University Hospital in Jerusalem identified 112 families with twins born at unequal weights in 2004 and 2005. They gave the mothers a widely used screening questionnaire in which the mother rated the applicability of statements to her child, including things such as "often fights with other children or bullies them," "often lies and cheats," and items referring to stealing, temper tantrums and defiance.

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]]>BehaviortwinsTwinStudiesMonique El-FaizyMon, 03 May 2010 17:00:00 ESTAre Matching Twin Names Too Cheesy?http://www.parentdish.com/2010/04/22/are-matching-twin-names-too-cheesy/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/04/22/are-matching-twin-names-too-cheesy/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/04/22/are-matching-twin-names-too-cheesy/#commentsFiled under: ,


How do you feel about anagram names? I am debating whether or not the names Celia and Alice would be okay for my twin girls. My husband says that this might be too cheesy, but I think that ryhming names are cheesy for twins, but anagram names are fine. Alice is a beloved family name, and I love the more modern name Celia. Is my husband right; are anagram names too much for twins?


Here's my rule for "theme" baby names: never, ever choose a name to fit a sibling theme if you wouldn't have chosen that name on its own.

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]]>anagramsbaby namesBabyNamesnaming twinsNamingTwinstwin namesTwinNamestwinsThe Name LadyThu, 22 Apr 2010 11:00:00 EST'Quadruplets' Born Three Years Aparthttp://www.parentdish.com/2010/04/16/quadruplets-born-three-years-apart/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/04/16/quadruplets-born-three-years-apart/http://www.parentdish.com/2010/04/16/quadruplets-born-three-years-apart/#commentsFiled under: , ,

The amazing "quadruplets" born three years apart, Grantham, Lincolnshire, Britain - Feb 2010 Credit: Gary Roberts, Rex / Rex USA

In January, 3-year-old Alice Baxter, of England, became a big sister -- times three.

Alice was conceived in 2006, via in vitro fertilization (IVF), and her parents, Helen and Shane Baxter, had the remaining embryos frozen. Last year, three of the embryos were implanted, and triplets Maisy, Niamh and Noah were born, six weeks early, in January.

The four children are being called quadruplets by the British press.

But that's not entirely accurate, says Dr. James Goldfarb, president of the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology and director of the Infertility and IVF Program at the Cleveland Clinic. "For children to be quadruplets, they have to have developed simultaneously in the mother's womb."

It isn't unusual for a woman to get pregnant from the same batch of embryos, he says, though the number of triplet IVF pregnancies in this country has declined, as doctors now tend to implant fewer embryos.

Whether you call these children quadruplets or triplets plus one, with three infants and a toddler, the Baxters have their hands full!

Related: One Way to Deal With The Remarks When Pregnant With Multiples

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]]>expire-images:2011-4-8quadrupletstripletsPatty BontekoeFri, 16 Apr 2010 12:00:00 EST