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)

Saturday 12 December

By gary

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you are a great woman ,with all the killing of baby's in the US, YOU GIVE LIFE! GOD BLESS YOU AND ALL OF YOUR FAMILY.....

Sunday 13 December

By Amanda

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I think they are great! If They were to populate the world, what a better world we would live in. They would take care of everyone! Their children have and will continue to grow up to be loving and responcilbe adults. Go team dugger! Saving the world one baby at a time :)

By JANE

Who can say if she is a good mother or not. She doesn't take care of the babies, the older ones do. Or should I say their "BUDDY" takes care of them. The good ole "BUDDY SYSTEM".

By JJ

Just a thought... If they have 25 children and those children have 25 children and so on..... This whole country will be bible hugging nitwits.

Saturday 19 December

By Hope

I think that Jim-Bob and Michelle are doing a beautiful job raising their now 19 children. I watch their show and they always look so organized, down-to-earth and happy people. God bless and I hope you have a lovely Christmas!

Thursday 24 December

By lee

Lets all have eighteen children, and see how long the earths resources last. We all need to be responsible for the footprint we leave on this planet,and it should be as small as possible. Sorry they are not responsible people.

Monday 28 December

By karen

Actually, overpopulation is a very important problem for our planet. Do you really think that all the descendants of this couple are going to stay in Arkansas? Another point. Two parents can NEVER give all of these children all the attention they need. This is an impossibility. Another point. It is not fair for the older kids to have to raise the younger children. One reason Dolly Parton never had children was because she was made to help raise her younger siblings. Children should be able to pursue and develop their own interests and talents when they are growing up. Another point. God gave us brains so that we could determine what is in our own and our children's best interests. But I don't think the Duggars are using their God-given brains here.

Thursday 31 December

By Kathy

I hope all goes well for this new baby. My only qustion, given that the Duggars have no debt, is how will they be able to pay what will probably be a very large hospital bill?

Thursday 07 January

By Becky

The world is limited in resources. How irresponsible to have so many children and pawn them off on other siblings.

Wednesday 20 January

By Mia

Okay, what DOES the husband do for money, job I mean...I mean this day and time it takes a millionaire to raise 19 kids....unless your on welfare! Just wondering....I think it is wonderful to be patient and understanding enough to have 19 kids...I only have two and they drive me crazy!!!!! God Bless you....lucky 21.

By leslie

really people. who are we to judge? we need as many well rounded tactfull chilren as we can get. they'll have to face those kids being raised to believe that no matter how hurtful something is they should say it if for no other reason than it popped into their head. what this family deserves right now is love and prayer. really she just gave birth to a child three months early and this is all you can say. wow your a whole new bread of tree hugger. a distructive one, explain that.

Tuesday 26 January

By odie

if they cant use taxes while they are kids will they be exempt from paying tax when they are older??? we keep about 5 other families going as well as supporting the 8 kids we have with our taxes. every single person is just as entitled to be on the planet as the next so if your really upset about overpopualation get rid of your self first.

Thursday 28 January

By Rachel

the only reason I think they should stop is this last one almost died and she could have too. She should consider that she is taking HER life as well as that babies life and she could very well take away the kids mother. All 19 of them. Other then that I say if she can raise 19 kids, then fine. I think the last baby was a warning though and 19 is enough.

Sunday 31 January

By charlotte

I wish you all the best with the little new baby, I do not know how you handle them all, but you do, so god must want you to be the mom and dad of these wounderful children. my god bless you all. Here"s wishing the little one is home and safe will you all soon. so she can have the love of you all around her, to make her grow even stronger. You are one special lady.

Monday 01 February

By Donna

Congrats on baby Josie's birth. She is so tiny but a perfectly beautiful baby. I have a sister with the name of Joetta, which I love the name, and I thought you may like to add that to you names in case that you would have another girl. Best of luck to you all.

Tuesday 09 February

By Kathy Smith

Do you think that a family of 21 people should pay the same for health insurance as a family of 3 or 4? Just a question about the overburdening our health care system.

Sunday 18 April

By Peggym

I am a 43 year old mother of three children, ages 23,20 and 18. I had my tubes tied right after my son was born. After watching the Dugger family on TLC, I have realized I made a very big mistake. God is the one to decide how many children we should have. I plan on getting my tubes un tied A.S.A.P and start trying to get pregnant. I plan on having as many babies as God will bless me with. So, very excited, and ready to be a mommy again. Awwww! Cant wait! Thanks Michelle and Jim Bob for your encouragement.

Friday 07 May

By hazel

i watch show week it really a good show to watch

Wednesday 19 May

By mary prescott

I have been watching/enjoying the "Duggar Family Show" off and on for about two years. I admire the parents and the children. I just watched the most recent episode where baby Josie returns to the hospital for additional care/treatment. After seeing how Michelle "panicked" when the baby became ill and handed her over so quickly to Jill...I got a sinking feeling. Is Jill going to be responsible for caring for this sick child...perhaps "forever" or will Michelle finally raise one of her own children?

Monday 28 June

By Luan

Everyone keeps saying that this family is paying for their own children, so they should have as many as they like. But doesn't the government subsidize babies with tax deductions? And in that case, aren't the taxpayers paying for this family to keep producing?

And what about Mrs. Duggar's poor, prolapsed uterus?

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