Michelle and Josie Duggar update

Michelle and Josie Duggar update


Photo above is the Duggar 2009 family portrait via
the Duggar family website.

It was reported a week ago today that super mom Michelle Duggar had given birth prematurely, at 25 gestational weeks, to her 19th baby, Josie Brooklyn.

Digital Spy reports today...

Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar have provided fans with an update on the health of their premature baby daughter.

The 18 Kids And Counting stars welcomed Josie, their 19th child, on December 10. She was 3 months premature and weighed 1lb 6oz.


Michelle is [recovering] from
 the emergency c-section

In an email to ABC News, Jim Bob said: "We are so grateful for all of the prayers and emails of support for our family since Josie Brooklyn Duggar was born.

"Michelle is [recovering] from the emergency c-section and is doing [a lot] better. Josie is beautiful and in stable condition."

Freda Ruark, the sister of Michelle, continued to say that the new arrival is now taking breast milk and "holding her own", adding: "As long as she can get some of that breast milk, that will help build up her immune system."

Ruark also said that she expects Michelle to remain in hospital "for a while".

Some of the other Duggar children are reportedly being cared for by their grandmother, who lives with them at the family home, while some are on a mission in El Salvador but keeping in contact with their parents every day.

Additional info on Josie's nutritional/immune system progress for breast feeding advocates in the crowd, from ABC: "[A]fter 3 breast milk feedings, Josie Brooklyn was able to keep down 2."

Turns out Michelle had pre-eclampsia. According to People:

Michelle Duggar's 19th baby was born prematurely... because Michelle suffered a rare condition during pregnancy that causes high blood pressure, her doctor says.

The condition, preeclampsia, which affects 5 to 8% of pregnancies, was discovered when Michelle was admitted to the University of AR for Medical Sciences to evaluate pain related to a gall bladder problem, says Dr. Paul Wendel, director of the hospital's Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine.

"The obstetrical and neonatal teams reached the collaborative decision... that Mrs. Duggar needed an emergency C-section to ensure the blood pressure problem would not be detrimental to her or the baby," says Wendel.

Here's an Associated Press video report: 

Click here for the video.

Family bonding info from ABC News:

Each bassinet in the neonatal intensive care unit... is equipped with "angel-eye cameras," according to the hospital spokeswoman, which allows family, via a password, to view the baby from their home computers.

Contact: Jill Stanek
Source: jillstanek.com
Publish Date: December 18, 2009
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