Reality TV multi-mom Michelle Duggar, 42, prematurely gave birth to her and her husband Jim Bob’s nineteenth child Thursday evening – a 1-pound, 6-ounce baby girl named Josie Brooklyn.
The announcement was made by TLC, the network which airs the Duggars’ show, 18 Kids & Counting.
The baby was due to be born on March 18 (more than three months from now), but was delivered via an emergency Caesarean section by doctors at the neonatal intensive care unit at the University of Arkansas Center for Medical Sciences. Duggar was airlifted there after she began experiencing contractions due to a gall bladder problem.
“Michelle is resting comfortably, and baby is stable and in the NICU for extended care,” read a statement on TLC’s website. “The most important thing right now is for Mom and baby Josie to get as much rest as possible. The family is grateful for all the prayers and well wishes during their recovery.”
Josie will have to stay in the NICU for at least four months, and it is unclear at this point whether or not she will suffer from birth defects as a result of being born so prematurely.
Babies born at 25 weeks have an 82% chance of survival.
The Duggars’ have 19 children and one grandchild.
By countryboy December 11, 2009 at 3:24 pm
Two f**king idiots.
By Forrrest December 11, 2009 at 4:12 pm
Why does he keep trying? Its gotta be as the old saying goes “Throwing a hotdog down a hallway”, I mean 18 children… Well technically 19.
By follydude December 11, 2009 at 4:46 pm
her vagina must resemble a clown car.
By Move December 11, 2009 at 4:47 pm
If you don’t like freedom of choice than move away!!!! They have the right to have as many children as they want.
By Tom December 11, 2009 at 5:49 pm
Why won’t some doctor out there tell here enough is enough!
By just me December 11, 2009 at 6:58 pm
I hope the baby thrives. But, at a certain age, your body just can’t have any more babies.
By Liberty for me December 11, 2009 at 7:56 pm
I really respect these people….I have no idea how you could raise this many kids.They are better and more patient than me
By Mrs. Sic December 11, 2009 at 8:03 pm
There is a difference between having as many children as you want and having so many that you are “taking a risk” with their lives. I know the Duggars are always talking about how they will have as many children as “God would will”, but why don’t they take this as a hint to stop. I vote for good ole boy Jim Bob to get the ole “snip-snip” since that pitiful woman has had to endure 19 rounds of childbirth.
By James the Foot Soldier December 11, 2009 at 8:54 pm
The key word in the article: ARKANSAS….no more explanatin was needed.
By judgin' the judgmental December 11, 2009 at 10:33 pm
Great, more people that want to decide how many children is appropriate for a married couple who support themselves and their children without government assistance. Their children are religious, courteous and well educated. They have values. Not your values. Their values. They had a miscarriage early in their marriage and then gave over the birth control issue to GOD. Some women can’t get preggers, some only have one baby. She is more like the women of the 1700 and 1800′s, one a year until no more are conceived. Shoot, they are still having sex and they love each other. Good for them. Take care of your own and quit judging the ones who are raising their own family just fine.
By Aquinas December 11, 2009 at 11:45 pm
Wow – what a bunch of sorry responses on this site against two adults who obviously cherish the children they have. I don’t understand society’s (and this website’s) knee jerk reaction against bringing one more soul into existence. This couple is not looking at children through a self-absorbed lens, tainted with the attitude that kids are a burden. Children are a blessing if one has the heart to see them that way. Are they also a challenge? Absolutely. But for those who truly love and want to make a sincere gift of themselves for the sake of another, every child also brings tremendous joy.
For all the naysayers out there, stop and think about your own life and be thankful that your parents didn’t have the same attitude you’re exhibiting now, or you wouldn’t be here. I like the way Mother Teresa put it: “How can you say there are too many children in the world? That’s like saying there are too many flowers.”
By Calhoun Fawls December 12, 2009 at 5:42 am
Relax people, a couple of generations ago 10 or so children was the norm. I admit 19 is a bit high, but my great grandparents had 10, the other set of great grandparents had 7. Their parents had like 12 and 11. I search historical records as a hobby, and believe me, this has happened before. Lord knows how many children my ancestors who were slaves had.
By southernmapart December 12, 2009 at 12:18 pm
Who’s paying for it?
By 2 cents December 12, 2009 at 12:31 pm
I understand folks wanting to have their own kids but it would be nice if more people would adopt. It’s sickening to see ads in the papers for kids needing homes like shelter animals trying to be adopted out.
By No Way! December 12, 2009 at 12:56 pm
The way I look at it . . . the more they have, the more votes we will have in the future to prevent horrible presidents like Obama from taking office! Vote him out in 2012
By rick December 12, 2009 at 2:06 pm
As long as they foot the bill and raise them to respect each other, let them make as many babies as they want. Shit fire folks, we’ve got people having 1 child and failing miserably at that. More power to them as long as society isn’t busy picking up the tab and being responsible to correct disruptive behavior.
By Steve V December 13, 2009 at 11:07 am
my wife watches this show.(refer to my list of shit I refuse to watch.. http://www.fitsnews.com/2009/11/03/fighting-the-de-dudification-of-tv/ ) The few unfortunate times I have had to be in the same room as this crap, I caught myself looking in disbelief. I ask my wife why is it they are always going somewhere…and how they can afford to live they way they do? The dude is the only guy that works…must have a damn good job. But I would venture to say they receive some kind of assistance…not from the government…but in the form of the paycheck they recieve from whatever idiot network will stick a camera in their house for the mindless public to watch. Maybe this will be their sign from God that 19 is enough.
By Dismayed December 13, 2009 at 2:44 pm
It isn’t possible for these people to “pay the bill” for the full cost to society of their irresponsible reproduction. The planet is overpopulated, not most of all by poor people, but by people who consume a great deal and pollute a great deal. Having many children now condemns those children, and their children, and everyone else’s children and grandchildren, to pay the real price of their self-indulgence in the future.
By Halftime December 14, 2009 at 10:22 am
Maybe we should just do what China does and let the gubbernment decide how many chillins are appropriate. I mean Dismayed would make a perfect choice for Oblammy’s cabinet with that outlook. Better yet, we could let the U.N. decide how many children families world-wide are allowed to have. This should have been discussed at their recent Climate Change freakshow. Think of the carbon footprint these selfish people are leaving. Don’t worry that we have single mothers right here in S.C. raising multiple chillins with multiple fathers and the taxpayers support them for thier daily needs. Let’s deal with the more important issue of a stable family have multiple kids and actually raising them w/o any gov’t assistance. Sheesh people.
By What? December 15, 2009 at 10:33 am
Ya’ll–it’s not about the government deciding how many kids they can or should have. It’s about making responsible personal decisions. Questions: would this family be able to support all these kids WITHOUT turning them into a TLC circus sideshow? How’s that working out for the kids of Jon and Kate? Does capitalizing on the decision to have so many kids only encourage others, who may not be able to support them through their own reality show, to do the same (Octomom)? Also, anyone who says they’re not get any government assistance has no idea what 4 months in the NICU costs–you’d have to a millionaire to pay that bill without government assistance (unless of course TLC is picking up the tab). Oh, and I’ve seen this show–the “big family” thing is simply a result of the husband’s narcissim, not God.
By Halftime December 15, 2009 at 11:46 am
By What? – Who the heck is gonna decide what a “responsible personal decision” is? The question of would this family be able to support all these kids w/o TLC is irrelavent. TLC is there, the father makes very good money and I am sure TLC pays them well. Is it responsible for TLC to be there? I don’t know but it’s not my (nor your) decision to make. That’s my point. We speak of people making good personal decisions but don’t recognize that personal decisions are just that – PERSONAL decisions. Perhaps I would think you to be an irresponsible parent if you allow your kids to have sugary snacks after 8:06 in the evening. Does that make your decision to allow them irresponsible? Whose gonna be the decision-maker in that respect? I’ve seen the show too and it looks to me that their children are intelligent, well-adjusted, respectful kids. What indications do you have that they are otherwise?