Tina Fey Says She Agonized Over Having a Second Child

By Christo Varghese Posted Apr 8th 2011 03:30AM

Tina Fey announced on Wednesday that she was pregnant with her second child, during the taping of 'The Oprah Winfrey Show' and PEOPLE is now revealing that the decision did not come easy for the '30 Rock' actress.

In Fey's new memoir 'Bossypants,' she recollects the sleepless nights she spent contemplating on whether to have another child or not and the question tormented her such that she broke down during a routine visit to her gynecologist.

Fey wrote, "I went for my annual checkup and, tired of carrying this anxiety around, burst into tears the moment she said hello. I laid it all out for her, and the main thing I took away from our conversation was the kind of simple observation that only an impartial third party can provide: 'Either way, everything will be fine.'"

The 40-year-old mother also said she felt "stricken with guilt and panic" when her only child, 5-year-old daughter Alice, would say, "I wish I had a baby sister."

Fey also battled the work-vs-family issue, which was particularly difficult for a woman in the entertainment business who was entering her 40s.

In the memoir she says, "Science shows that fertility and movie offers drop off steeply for women after 40."

But in the end Fey writes her realization, "Hollywood be damned. I'll just be unemployable and labeled crazy in five years anyway."

The Emmy winning actress is now five months along and it looks like she couldn't be happier along with her husband, composer Jeff Richmond and daughter Alice.

Tags: tina fey

Comments

(22)

Friday 08 April

By Larry

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Hey Tina, Shut up. I could care less if you were unemployed NOW, and you are crazy.

By bigD

Tina Fey is so popular I wondered why the negative posts. Then I saw Sarah Palin's name mentioned and realized it's just those cray tea partiers again. So much tea, so little intelligence.

Saturday 09 April

By Daniel

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Geez, Larry, You must be one of those ultra-conservative, Tea Party morons whose still angry at Mrs. Fey for her incredibly accurate and believable impersonation of your goddess, Sarah Palin.

By Lissy

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You are crazy now. No wait. @@

By stonez88

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Tina, if theres a god in heaven, may your child look exactly like Sarah Palin

By Dawn Kessler

That's a good one, lol!!!

By Diane

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If I did what my 5-year old wanted I would have 10 kids, an ice-cream truck and own Toys R Us. Just ridiculous to feel grief-stricken

By beth

I, along with countless other moms, know exactly what she is talking about. I always wanted a large family, but fertility have prevented that. I have been blessed with one child-and for that I am grateful. But when that child longs for a brother or sister, it is heart wrenching and the guilt is incredible. I totally understand what she is saying. I congratulate her for considering ALL aspects of adding another child.

By S.P.

What exactly is there for Tina Fey to worry about?
She has enough money to pay someone to take care of her children 24/7. If she is unemployed in the future she has plenty of money to fall back on. Her husband also has a successful career. What is she worried about? Who knows what the size of her paychecks are.
I was a part time teacher at the YMCA until December when I was let go. I then had to move in with my parents. Celebrities lose touch with reality. I have very little if any sympathy for this celebrity. You have to be kidding me.

By simpsonsimpmike

lets all have big long cry for fey. A pathetic rich b**** crying the blues. If she only knew how the rest of the world lives

By Emmaline

Tina Fey: Hey, having another baby (and another and another) is more important than any other thing you do on the planet. Your babies are your jewels - when everything else is lost in life, fame, money, looks, you will still have your priceless baby jewels. Who, if you have loved them, will love you back a million times more than you can imagine. On your deathbed, you are not going to be saying, Gee, I wish I'd won that Academy Award. You will be looking into their faces (if you're lucky) and thanking God for sending them and your grandchildren to you. And the crown of jewels you wear at the end of your life will be your children and your grandchildren. Not 30 Rock or a good movie. If I were you, and I had your money, right after this baby is born, I would plan on having IVF with TWO babies at once. You're no spring chicken, Sweetie. When your house is crazy with meeting your kiddies' needs, THEN you will be rich. And it's the kind of "rich" that can't be bought. We had three children and money troubles. I'm 61 now. My only regret? That we didn't have another child. Our grown-up kids' and grandkids' love is the greatest blessing of my and my husband's life.

By Polly

Spelling is not your strong point.

By jojo

To decide to have a child because a 5 year old wants you to, just shows poor judgement! You have children because YOU and your Husband want another child, to love and care for! Women have children and work all the time! What is wrong with this woman?

By John

There is absolutely nothing wrong with Tina putting a lot of thought into having another child. Having children shouldn't be taken lightly. She never said she absolutely didn't want another child nor did she say the only reason she's doing it is to give her daughter a sibling. Those of you who are criticizing her are just jealous. She's worked for everything she has and deserves it. Get over yourselves and get a life.

By Katie

Actually, I have a life and I think her dramatics over the decision are tantamount to ridiculous. Crying in the grynecologist's office? Please! Either another child fits into your life and is possible or it is not. Worrying about the whims and fancies of a 5 year old isn't demonstrating good judgement. One day it's a sibling, the next it's a puppy. My husband and I had two children because WE wanted them and were physically able, without consideration of anyone else's input. That's the way it should be because you as the parents are ultimately responsible, not some obviously spoiled 5 year old.

By kuchenzip

Congratulations to Tina and her family!! If more people put as much thought and consideration into having children as she has, the world would be a much better place.

By no gray area

The gynecologist responded to Tina Fey "either way it will be fine." There is nothing "fine" about killing an unborn child. America is getting dumber and dumber. You kill a child OUTSIDE the womb and it's called MURDER. You kill a child INSIDE the womb and it's called LEGAL.

By blah

By "either way it'll be fine" she meant it'll be fine whether or not she has another baby. Not whether or not she has an abortion.

By proudmom

So saddened by this article as I had much respect for Tina Fey. Just lost a lot of it. Many women have children AND a career and balance both well. With a lot LESS money to work with. I am a social worker- proud of my job and more importantly MY CHILDREN. If you have to agonize over whether or not to have children-- don't have them!!

By Chuck

Congrats to Tina and her husband! And how great is it that you are willing to sacrifice for this child. So what if you stressed over whether or not to get pregnant??? The point is you decided to have this child -- he or she is wanted and needed and will be loved like crazy.

But word of warning -- the new baby excitement will wear off for your daughter as soon as the little one starts geting in her stuff!

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