Mother of 17 is Pregnant Again!

Hey Everyone!  Just a word from Michelle over at White Trash Mom.

I am so happy to be helping Mrs. Fussypants while she is delivering her angel! But  I have a bit of "baby on the brain" since I am thinking about her delivery.   I give you a bit of news about Michelle Duggar, mom of 17 and star of a TV series about her family on Discovery Health Channel.

Arkansas mom of 17 kids, Michelle Duggar, 41, is pregnant again.  The new baby is due on New Year's Day, and the latest addition will join seven sisters and 10 brothers.

The family lives in northwest Arkansas in a 7,000-square-foot home.  The children—whose names start with the letter J---are a wide range of ages.  Josh, the oldest is 20 and Jennifer, the youngest, is nine months old.

Duggar has been been pregnant for more than 11 years of her life, and the family is in the process of filming another series for Discovery Health.

It's not the fact that Michelle has 17 kids with a baby on the way that makes me shudder.  To each her own and it sounds like the family is happy and healthy, not my choice but more power to her.  But the fact that she's been pregnant for more than 11 years of her life that sends me over the edge!

I can't imagine being pregnant for 11 YEARS of my life.   The kids are one thing, being pregnant that long is a whole different story.  Who is with me on this one?

It's an honor to post over here for Mrs. Fussypants.  I'll be back!  Have a good one.

White Trash Mom

**Addition to this post**on 5-16-08
Just wanted to add a note to this post, as I think the original post came off like I was judging Michelle Duggar.  Another example of how good I am at inserting my foot in my mouth.  Having 17 kids works for Michelle and her family...I say rock on for the Duggar family because what works for one family would be disaster for another family.   What would send me over the edge would be 11 years of pregnancy...White Trash Mom is not a good "breeder" and my pregnancies (2 kids, 2 miscarriages) were bad experiences for me and those around me.  Anyone see Alien?  You get the picture.  Just wanted to make sure that I explained myself a little better.  I don't want to get fired from my Fussypants babysitting job:)  Thanks!

Comments

[Dawn]

I'm fine with the pregnant thing (no period, eating my way across the universe, roomy clothing). What I can't see it the labor. Does she dialate anymore or is she permanently at 10cm?

[Valarie Lea]

I just don't see how her body is still funtioning properly. I guess they used to do that in the olden days though. Thats a lot of time to be pregnant though.

[Jennifer's Luvin Fussy]

I am so with you on this one. I constantly tell people if I could skip the first nine months I'd have 10 (that's a lot to me) kids.

[Colleen]

Yeah, as much as I loved certain aspects of being pregnant there were enough downfalls (getting up four times a night to pee is high on the list) that I can't see being pregnant for ELEVEN YEARS!

More power to her, though!

[lindsey]

I used to think she was crazy...and then I met her. She is one of the sweetest women on the planet. And TINY! I don't know how she's kept a figure after that many babies.

Good luck, Michelle!

[Sarah]

I'm definitely with you on this one!!

I was pregnant for just about two years straight (during 4 months I was not pregnant, but breastfeeding, so still providing nourishment)...and it about KILLED my body. Actually, it did kill my body. I may never come back from it. I couldn't begin to imagine 11 years.

[Heather]

Can't imagine how her body hasn't fallen inside out yet. Pregnancy takes such a toll.

[Sarcastic Mom]

The happiest time of my life was when I was pregnant. I can't imagine ever having a problem with it. It's amazing. We scoff at the choices of others when they are not the same as our own, I guess.

I'm just wondering how many times more before her vagina actually falls off, is all. ;-)

[Philly]

I couldn't imagine going that long without a glass of wine!

[karla ~ looking towards heaven]

I'd go through it a million times - that's how much I loved being pregnant AND giving birth.

I'm crazy like that.

But parenting those million kids?? yeah, that would be a problem.

xo ~K

[Michelle (White Trash Mom)]

Hope everyone saw the "add on" to original post. Michelle is a wonder for having so many kids---not judging her, just the 11 years of being pregnant. White Trash Mom could NOT go that long with alcohol.

[lindsey]

Michelle - I didn't take offense to your original post at all. When I first saw the Duggars in action, I thought they were a pretty great representation of Arkansas. I really wasn't too impressed...and then I met her at a homeschool conference and she was a doll. She is undoubtedly one of the sweetest women alive, and a great mom to all 17 (soon to be 18) of her kids. I love being a mom, but it takes a special type of woman to be THAT much of a mom ;)

If we had 18 kids, I think I would be 75 before they were all born. I like to space them out too much. :)

[themommykelly]

All I can say is GOD. BLESS. HER. There is no way I could do that!

[Stacey @Real World Mom]

Eleven years?! No way I could survive that (NOR the 17 kids!!)!

[dcrmom]

SO true.

[justmylife]

I don't mind being pregnant, once morning sickness passes, but 11 years!!! I don't think I could handle it. Bless her for having all of them, but I have my hands full with 3 and 2 of them are grown!!!

[Krista]

I have a great uncle and a friend who are each one of 15 kids... so I guess it doesn't seem completely out of the ordinary to me... sort of!
They have a website though (I'm sure it's easily googleable) and there are a ton of pictures of them in/with their house. It was really interesting to look at them and it really gives you a more rounded perspective. Crazy times!
And I'm not trying to be mean or anything, but Jim Bob is just way too appropriate of a name for her husband with living in Arkansas and that many kids and all! :)

[Delilah]

The only way I could do this is if I had a nanny, a butler, maid, nurse, accountant, cook, and a shrink!!!

[lindsey kate]

I know this is going to sound judgmental, so I'll just apologize for that on the front end. I live in Northwest Arkansas in the same county with the Duggars, and I DO have serious issues with their family size. How do TWO parents have enough time, energy, and money to adequately parent more than a dozen kids? Well, I'll tell you ... she has put her older children in charge of helping raise the younger ones which is a burden no child should bear. I've seen this family in public, and it is apparent to any onlooker that the older kids have been forced to grow up much faster than they would probably have liked. It will be interesting in a decade or so to see how many of the Duggar kids marry and have large families. My guess is most of them will feel they have already had enough of the baby raisin'.

Just a hunch ...

[(another) Alison]

Well I wasn't offended at all. I find the Duggars fascinating in the way I find stories about the lives of ancient peoples learned about through archeology....so interesting to know about but I have no desire to recreate life in the Middles Ages without indoor plumbing nor do I have a desire to be pregnant that many times! And I hadn't even done the math on how many years it adds up to be. I did see the Discovery special and was stuck by three things: Michelle's sweetness; secondly, like Krista, how Jim Bob's name was so "apropo"; and finally, like Lindsey Kate, wondering how it will play out for the next generation.

[Velveteen Mind - Megan]

I gauged the insanity of what it takes to create babies by how long I went without alcohol. From the point that I decided to get pregnant with #1 through end-of-breastfeeding with #2, I went liquor-free for over 5 years.

God help anyone that gives me alky-hol at BlogHer. I'm fresh off the wagon, ladies.

Hand me a beer. Now, who wants to hear how much I love them?

[alicia]

Oh, I didn't think you sounded judgmental at all. I kind of liked being pregnant, but 3 times was enough for me (especially since the last time was twins, oof). People have looked at me askance too, when I go out in public with my four plus 2 foster kids. And ask all wonderingly how I do it. All I know is, I do it and I do it well. I'm sure the same is true for the Duggars. But 17 is definitely not for me!

[lindsey kate]

I just read Sarcartic Mom's comment, "I'm just wondering how many times more before her vagina actually falls off, is all" and it reminded me of being in the hospital for the birth of one of my kids. I had my babies at the same hospital where Michelle has had some of hers, so the nurses there are more than a little familiar with the Duggar family. In the midst of a particularly painful contraction, I yelled out something like, "HOWINTHEWORLD DOES MICHELLE DUGGAR DO THIS OVER AND OVER???"

One of my L&D nurses said (very sarcastically), "She's been told repeatedly that she needs to stop, but she won't listen."

Kind of made me wonder if she's ever considered how Jim Bob would fare as a widower with 17+ kiddos. That sure factored into my own decision to stop after three.

[SUE]

I too have mixed feelings about the Duggart family. In these expensive times of gas, groceries, utility bills,ect.,how can a regular family with just the husband working afford it. It seems as though the television shows are making the family money. The more popular the show the more money to be made. How else could her husband afford to feed and house 18 children plus a wife and himself. I just don't see it. I don't want to seem callious or petty; just thinking out loud.

[Elizabeth]

Catherine Benincasa (Saint Catherine of Siena) was the 24th of 25 children born to the same mother and father.
That was Many years ago and was unusual even for her time. Each of us is obviously an individual and we cannot begin to understand the life of another person. Michelle Duggar and her family are a blessing to many...especially each other.
I wish I had started my family sooner...
I'd love to have a whole mess of 'em.
'Course, my pregnancies have been good.
Blessings all, EJT

[Chrissy(aka spoiledmom)]

@sarcastic mom still LMAO at that last comment! LOL

@lindsey kate: i hear you. I dont see the point behind it. To each his own and judge not lest thy be judge, so I'll throw the first stone...what's up with the clothes? I know it would take a fortune even at wal-mart (and Im not knocking walmart)-my kiddos wore many garanimals and kid connection in their day - Is it part of their religion? They always seem so "perfect". Almost robot like. They smile on que, they speak only when spoken to. (oh to have a child like that).. I just don't think someone can be that happy all the time. After 17 kids, she had to have some PPD in there somewhere. I did with only 2. Just seems like there should be a stopping point somewhere. Michelle does seem nice on the shows, - almost childlike. I still have a lot of questions about this, may be the psych edu. (not psycho) coming out in me. There are a lot of layers to this. Maybe I'll do a post over on my site, too, White Trash Mom. You really have me thinking.

Good job baby-sitting for Mrs. Fussypants!

[traci]

I have seen the Duggars in action and think they do a MARVELOUS job!!! I have said before I would take their 16 (at the time) ANY DAY over some peoples 2 or 4!!! These people are hardworking, GODLY people who strive for their kids to be the best they can be. Each child looks and acts VERY happy. If they were on welfare with naughty, rude children that would be one thing but they are not even kinda sorta like that. Someone mentioned how does she spend enough time with them? Since she stays home with them and they are not in public school or daycare she has time that some do not. Some moms are away from their kids up to 10 hours a day! Thats a big chunk of their life. Having that many kids is not for everyone and that is fine...I personally dont want 17 kids. However I think they should be respected for the OUTSTANDING job they are doing without handouts or from the gov...and both michelle and bob are off charts tender hearted, sweet people. Ok, Im off my soap box now..lol

[Reese]

I've thought for years that the Duggar family are NUTS. It's not fair that she keeps popping out babies like a pez dispenser when I'm having a hard time havine ONE.

[Elaine]

I personally think you have to be a little crazy to want 17 kids. But, that's just me...