Everything to Know About... Michelle Duggar, '18 Kids and Counting,' Baby 19

By Sam Brand Posted Dec 11th 2009 03:15PM

Michelle Duggar is a big deal right now. Many of you think it's irresponsible to have 19 kids. Some of you think she's one of the best and most impressive moms on the planet. We won't judge, but we'll give you the info to do so yourself. We've got everything you need to know about the 19-time mama, her emergency C-section, her TLC show and her very special family.

Michelle Duggar – Michelle Duggar is a pretty regular gal. The 43-year-old lives in average American town Tontitown, Arkansas. She's married to average American man James "Jim Bob" Robert Duggar. She is an average stay at home mother. And the Duggar's have 19 kids and their own show on TLC. On second thought, Michelle isn't very average at all.

Emergency C-Section – Caesarean sections aren't a big deal anymore. There's a good chance you were brought into the world via this age-old method of assisted childbirth. The World Health Organization estimates that 10-15% of all births in developed countries are delivered this way. Michelle Duggar has undergone at least 3 C-sections herself, the latest occurring Thursday night. The birth didn't exactly happen as planned, as Duggar's 19^th child wasn't due until March. But when a gallstone began causing contractions earlier this week, Michelle was airlifted to an Arkansas hospital and the childbirth was fast-tracked.

19th Child – Josy Brooklyn is currently in stable condition at the neonatal intensive care unit at the University of Arkansas, according to TLC. The 9^th girl in the Duggar stable, Josy was born at 25 weeks and weighed only 1 lb., 6 oz. According to ABC, only 6% of babies are born so early, and of those infants, 82% are expected to survive.

Duggar Family – Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar have been married for 25 years. Devout baptists, they've chosen "to allow God to determine the number of children they have." God has determined 19, so far, including two sets of twins, all of whose names begin with the letter "J." In October, eldest son Josh welcomed a daughter into the world, making Jim Bob and Michelle grandparents. So how do they support all those kids? Well, Jim Bob used to be a politician, having served in the Arkansas House of Representatives for a few years in the early aughts. But the family now makes money through property investment and management (and through television, but they don't like to mention that). And Jim Bob and Michelle frequently remind the tax paying public that they have never accepted money from the government of any kind. That means no public school for the Duggar kids. All 19 of them were or are currently home schooled.

'18 Kids and Counting' – TLC has been carrying '18 Kids and Counting' since the first episode of season 1 aired in September 2008. Season 2 premiered in January 2009, and already Season 3 is midway though its run, with the finale planned for January 31. But the Duggars were first televised in the Discovery Health special '14 Children and Pregnant Again!' It's unclear when baby Josy will be introduced to the viewing public, but it appears there's a name change in store for the show.

Tags: 18 kids and counting, 18KidsAndCounting, jim bob duggar, JimBobDuggar, josy brooklyn duggar, JosyBrooklynDuggar, michelle duggar, MichelleDuggar, tlc

Comments

(60)

Friday 11 December

By Stephen

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Another sick example of people using religion as an excuse for their selfish behavior and out-of-control reproduction - there are SO many children without parents who need a home, and this couple is contributing to the overpopulation of the world instead of adopting one or more of these loving children. you could not pay me to watch their show - what a waste of airtime. They should both be sterilized.

By chris

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that is not any of our business aslong as we the public do not have to support them what about all these young teen age girls haveing babies and no husband and we the public have to support them year after year

By stinknthinkin

You're an idiot. These people have the means to support their children, and give them a loving home.
I couldn't see ever doing what they've done, but it's not my choice. Get off your self righteous high horse, moron.

Saturday 12 December

By Joy

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Who are YOU to dictate how many children they have?? They support their own family with their own money. They re loving responsible parents. Who are you to say HOW they have children??? I have one homemade and three adopted. Let me tell you adoption in this country is a nightmare. I say that you are the type of person who is save the trees let men sleep with men, kill unborn babies but by NO means be a chirstian living by our bleiefs in God and His ways. The last tyoe of RACIST is YOUR type against the christian race. hmmmmm you may win now but who will win later????

Friday 01 January

By mariah

you are rude! they are not using religion as an exscuse. they do the same things off camera as if they were on camera.you should not judge people buy there covers.

Saturday 02 January

By Will

How many kids have you adopted? Every one of those kids will do a better job of contributing to society than you. Idiot.

Saturday 23 January

By Kay

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YOUR AN IDIOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WHO GIVES YOU THE RIGHT TO SAY HOW MANY KIDS THEY HAVE. THEY DON'T GET ASSISTANCE FROM THE GOVERNMENT AND ARE DOING EVERYTHING THEMSELVES. THE ONLY WORRY THIS WORLD SHOULD HAVE IS IF YOU REPRODUCE!!!!!!!!!!! LEAVE THE DUGGARS ALONE. THEY ARE A WONDERFUL LOVING FAMILY. STAY OUT OF THIER BUSINESS. THEY AREN'T INTO THE OBSTRUCTED, CONFUSED, DERANGED LIFE OF YOURS, NOW ARE THEY.

Wednesday 03 February

By Gary

You are right. I think this because when you have so many kids it is no longer the family environment that kids NEED to grow into strong contributing people of scoiety. There is no one on one between the kids and the parents, and kudos to the parenting job. I really mean that. The older kids raising their younger siblings, great job. People say that they are supporting their family without social services, well that's because of the TV show they are getting. What happens when they are no longer popular? You other people need to stop going with the mainstreem and use your brains once in a while.

Saturday 10 April

By anne

I could not have said it better, almost anyone can have kid after kid, it is not hard to get pregnant. Why such a fuss over these people, I do not think we should make an idol out of a man who thinks his wife is a baby factory

Sunday 31 July

By Li Wong

I had the same thoughts until I watched the show. The world could use more of these kind of young people. They are respectful, gracious, have a great work ethic, are full in their faith, and the list goes on. My only concern is that mothers health and age are going to cause more problems for anymore children. It is already showing in the birth of their last child. As she ages, her health will decline faster with multiple births to her health. Try watching the show. You might learn something.

By Kathi from Florida

Didn't this lady just have a new baby girl named Jordan. My god give the woman a break(her husband)Just because she can still have children doesn't mean you have too. Have they ever thought of contraception.

By Cathy

When Michelle Duggar was on Say Yes to the Dress...she asked for a modest dress. I don't see how she could possibly have any modesty left after giving birthday to 19 children. You are forced to lose your modesty after the first baby...

By Peach

Our prayers go out to Michelle and her family. God bless and Merry Christmas.

By Beneta

My prayers are also with this wonderful family.We could all learn so much from the love they live each and everyday

By canuckgirl

What a wonderful Christmas gift for their family! So impressed they take FULL responsibility for their children, even educating them. They are an inspiration to so many in the world.

By Sonja

Overpopulation is a great problem in this country and around the world. These people are certainly adding to that problem. Of course, they are very religious, so feel that God is going them all of these children. I think it's time for God to STOP giving them children!?

By Layla

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You talk like a fool.

Why SONJA because YOU say they have had enough? who the heck are you to judge how many children a well to do, loving, high functioning family should have hmmmmmmmm???? Shall we call YOU God since you now want to supercede HIS authority????? Now you are telling GOD what to do????? How about putting your focus on REAL problems?

By Gravida1

I believe that these parents are the kind who should bring children into the world. Well parented children are hope for our future. That is truly my belief. My concerns lie with Michelle's health. Repeat pregnancies, with a surgically scarred uterus put her at such great risk. And advanced maternal age pose additional serious risks. Eclampsia would have killed her, had she not been delivered by emergency c section. That is why I think they have been irresponsible. Because Michelle has had a very good chance of dying with these lasts births. Like the last 15.

By Brittany Joy

I have seen 18 Kids and Counting many times, and honestly I do think that Michelle Duggar is a great mom and by the family taking full responsibility for their children is a great thing. We need more people who love their children and raise them to responsible and respectful adults.

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