Money Matters, Simplified.
Duggar baby No. 19 arrives three months early
by Natalie James - December 12, 2009 - comments
The infant baby, named Josie Brooklyn, arrived three months prematurely and weighed only 1 pound, 6 ounces
Los Angeles, December 12:Michelle Duggar and Jim Bob Duggar, stars of the TLC reality show "18 Kids and Counting," now are the proud parents of another baby, as America’s most famous supermom has given birth to their 19th child.
The Arkansas couple, the proud parents of 18 children, welcomed the new addition to their household on Thursday evening.
Baby No. 19
Michelle gave birth to her 19th child-a daughter- during an emergency Cesarean section at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock, Cable network TLC announced Friday.
The infant baby, named Josie Brooklyn, arrived three months prematurely and weighed only 1 pound, 6 ounces. The newborn is in the neonatal intensive care unit for extended care, said the cable network that airs the Duggars' reality show.
"Michelle is resting comfortably, and baby is stable and in the NICU for extended care," read a statement on TLC's Web site. "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."
Baby arrives very prematurely
The newly born baby girl, who is the Duggars' ninth daughter, arrived three months prematurely. She was not due until March, but TLC is reporting that 42-year-old Michelle went into the hospital early suffering pain from a gallstone.
On Monday, People magazine reported that Michelle had been airlifted to a hospital in Little Rock because her gallbladder problems were causing contractions.
According to Dr. Manny Alvarez, chairman of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Science at Hackensack University Medical Center in New Jersey, a baby of Josie's size could face many challenges, FoxNews.com reported.
"Some of these challenges could include cerebral palsy, deafness, blindness, chronic respiratory problems, chronic gastrointestinal problems and bleeding in the brain," Alvarez told FoxNews.com. "Everything really depends on the first 30 days of life."
The Duggar family’s 19th member arrives just two months after 44-year-old Jim Bob and Michelle became grandparents for the first time. Their eldest son Josh and wife Anna welcomed their first child, Mackynzie Renee, into the world on Oct. 9.
The Duggar clan
Duggers’ new daughter Josie Brooklyn joins their army of 18 kids, all of whose names begin with J: Josh is the eldest, followed by Jana and John-David, 19; Jill, 18; Jessa, 16; Jinger, 15; Joseph, 14; Josiah, 13; Joy-Anna, 11; twins Jedidiah and Jeremiah, 10; Jason, 9; James, 8; Justin, 6; Jackson, 5; Johanna, 3; Jennifer, 2, and Jordyn-Grace, 10 months.
Jim Bob, who has one sibling, and Michelle, who is the youngest of seven, have been married 25 years and live debt-free in a house along with their brood of now 19.