Thursday, 3 December 2015

Oprah gives the baby boy she lost at just 14-years-old a name

by

Sara McGinnis

posted in Celebrities

Nearly 50 years after experiencing the loss of a child, Oprah Winfrey continues to work on healing. The media mogul, who lost a premature baby boy when she was just 14-years-old, is now opening up for the first time about his name.

During an interview in Melbourne, Australia, the now 61-year-old shared in front of an audience of 15,000, "I did an interview with a reporter before I came to Australia and she said you should name the baby son who died."

"So I have named him, I had a little boy named Canaan," she went on to share. "I did have a son. And I named him Canaan because Canaan means new land, new life."

Oprah baby boy

According to news.com.au, Oprah then went on to speak about the sexual abuse she suffered as a young girl.

"I was raped at 9-years-old by a cousin, then again by another family member, and another family member," she told the audience. Initially she tried to hide her pregnancy, because at age 14 she felt so much "pain and shame."

The world might never have known about the boy who passed just weeks after being born, if it weren't for a relative of Oprah's who revealed the story publicly in 1990.

Opening up about the betrayal in an issue of O magazine, she wrote, "I imagined that every person on the street was going to point their finger at me and scream, 'Pregnant at 14, you wicked girl!' ... [But] I soon realized that having the secret out was liberating. What I learned for sure was that holding the shame was the greatest burden of all."

I can't explain how in awe I am of Oprah choosing to share these details of her past publicly. I am struck by both her ability to be open about such pain, and how the loss of her child is still something she's working on dealing with all these years later. My heart goes out to her, and I wish her continued healing.

For those who've suffered a loss, how have your feelings changed over the years? Have they changed at all?

Photos: PR Photos

 

While Oprah chose not to have children after her loss, a number of celebrity families have gone on to welcome children after going through infertility, miscarriage or stillbirth. A look at famous parents who've welcomed rainbow babies:

Wednesday, 2 December 2015

Brad Pitt: Angelina & I were "aiming for a dozen kids"

by

Carolyn Robertson

posted in Celebrities

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have their hands full with a half dozen kids, but the By the Sea star reveals they once planned to have twice as many!

In a new interview with The Telegraph, Brad, 50, admits it's "chaos, total chaos" raising their big brood that includes Maddox, 14, Pax, 11, Zahara, 10, Shiloh, 9, and twins Knox and Vivienne, 7.

"[There's] a lot of love, a lot of fighting, a lot of refereeing; a lot of teeth-brushing and spilling... But so much fun."

It wasn't all that long ago that rumors were constantly swirling that Brad and Angelina were expecting another baby, or perhaps two, or adopting a child from Syria or Hungary, or perhaps Sierra Leone. The pair did have plans for an even bigger family at one time, but from the sounds of it they're now content.

"Listen," Brad begins. "Angie and I were aiming for a dozen, but we crapped out after six."

He acknowledges it sounds a bit cliche, but the devoted dad can't help but gush over the joys of fatherhood, saying, "Everyone talks about the joy of having kids – blah, blah, blah. But I never knew how much I could love something until I looked in the faces of my children."

How the Jolie-Pitt family has changed over the years...

The only thing that is even slightly comparable, he says, is the way he feels about his wife.

"Certainly the attrition rate of Hollywood couples looms large," he admits. "And I’m surprised how much our history – Angie’s and mine – means to me. That we have this story together. That we know each other. That we watch each other getting older, through amazing moments, joys, pains.... But isn’t that what you enter into a relationship expecting – or at the very least hoping for? But again, there are no books to tell you what year 12 is supposed to be like, and year 14 and year 23 – no guidebooks. What I’m saying is, I’m surprised how much it means to me, how much value I place in it."

That we know each other. I really love that. I confess, it took me a while to get on board with Brangelina, but they definitely do seem to be the real deal.

As for family size, I can't help but wonder if they ever doubt their decision to stop at six. It can be hard to know for sure when you're done having kids, when your family is complete. I imagine it would be even harder if you'd harbored dreams of a dozen.

How many kids did you plan on having?

Photo: REX USA

Baby two! Sandra Bullock confirms second adoption

by

Sara McGinnis

posted in Celebrities

Sandra Bullock has officially become the mom of two! Though rumors the actress had adopted a sibling for son Louis swirled in early October, the star herself is announcing the joyous news today.

The 51-year-old Oscar winner has confirmed she's adopted a 3½-year-old daughter named Laila (pronounced Lila), who was born in Louisiana and had been in foster care.

"When I look at Laila, there’s no doubt in my mind that she was supposed to be here," Sandra Bullock, who adopted son Louis in 2010, told People magazine. "I can tell you absolutely, the exact right children came to me at the exact right time."

Sandra Bullock adoption

“Louis spearheaded this whole journey,” Sandra Bullock went on to share, explaining it was a long process going through the foster system to make Laila a permanent part of their family. "I knew she was scared, and all I wanted was for her to know Louis and I weren’t going anywhere."

While Louis' adoption occurred during Sandra's tumultuous divorce from Jesse James, she's now happily dating L.A. photographer Bryan Randall. Young Laila has brought "pink and glitter in the house mixed with Legos and Batmans," and this famous mom couldn't be more proud of her "blended and diverse, nutty, and loving and understanding" family.

Two years ago Sandra spoke about adding more kids to the family, but implied she was leaving doing so up to how Louis felt.

"If all of a sudden my house had eight kids in it—if it was OK with Louis and it felt like a good, safe family—I would be fine with it," she told E! News in 2013. "That's what my home is for. It's up to him, he's kinda the boss."

Can we perhaps assume then that Louis, now 5, started to ask for a brother or sister? I've read many stories from other parents about how intense their kids can get about wanting a sibling!

If it were up to my kids, however, our family would remain small. Perhaps this is a bit my fault, because our firstborn had just turned 1-year-old when I found out baby two was on the way and so he couldn't have thought to ask for a baby, but our two boys have never brought it up as they've aged either. It would be quite sweet to have a child longing for a brother or sister, but I suppose it's also nice that we're all happy just to be the four of us.

If family size were left up to your children, how many kids would you have?

Photos: PR Photos

 

More famous women who've opted to start or expand their families on their own:

Tuesday, 1 December 2015

Wow! Read Mark Zuckerberg's $45-billion birth announcement

by

Carolyn Robertson

posted in Celebrities

Mark Zuckerberg hasn't been a dad for long, but it seems fatherhood has already had a very profound impact on him.

The Facebook CEO shared the happy news today that he and his wife Priscilla Chan have welcomed their baby girl. He made the big announcement by posting a sweet family photo along with a very powerful letter penned to their newborn daughter Max.

"Dear Max," the letter begins.

"Your mother and I don't yet have the words to describe the hope you give us for the future. Your new life is full of promise, and we hope you will be happy and healthy so you can explore it fully. You've already given us a reason to reflect on the world we hope you live in."

"Like all parents, we want you to grow up in a world better than ours today."

Mark, 36, goes on to explain how he and Priscilla plan to do their part to ensure a bright future for little Max and all children, writing, "Our hopes for your generation focus on two ideas: advancing human potential and promoting equality. Advancing human potential is about pushing the boundaries on how great a human life can be.... Promoting equality is about making sure everyone has access to these opportunities - regardless of the nation, families or circumstances they are born into."

The lengthy and heartfelt message goes on to talk about opportunities for curing disease, for personalized learning, for worldwide connectivity and for strengthened communities. The billionaire CEO, already a member of the esteemed $1 per year salary club, then makes an astounding pledge.

"[Your mother and I] will give 99% of our Facebook shares - currently about $45 billion - during our lives to advance this mission. We know this is a small contribution compared to all the resources and talents of those already working on these issues. But we want to do what we can, working alongside many others."

The letter, signed simply, "Love, Mom and Dad," ends with this sweet statement: "Max, we love you and feel a great responsibility to leave the world a better place for you and all children. We wish you a life filled with the same love, hope and joy you give us. We can't wait to see what you bring to this world."

Forty-five billion dollars. Wow.

Mark and Priscilla's incredible pledge - quite appropriately made on December 1, which is Giving Tuesday - got me thinking about a lot of things. Opportunities to do good, to give back, to identify the things that matter most.

It also, oddly enough, got me thinking about push presents.

A lot of us receive push presents after giving birth, whether a sparkly trinket or a new gadget. Celebrity parents are all over this particular trend, showing off their coveted post-baby designer handbags and dazzling multi-karat rocks.

Wouldn't it be nice, though, if Mark Zuckerberg's announcement sparked a brand new giving trend?

After all, what better way to celebrate the birth of a child than by injecting some good into the world they've just been born into? Not many of us have $45-billion under the mattress, but most of us have something. And the sentiment behind the pledge - to do what we can to make this place better for our children - is one I'm sure we can all support.

Congratulations to Mark and Priscilla on the arrival of their daughter Max. Visit the new dad's Facebook page to read his letter in full.

A girl named Max and other gender-neutral celebrity baby names...

Photo: REX USA

Kate Winslet's top post-baby rule: No more trampolines!

by

Sara McGinnis

posted in Celebrities

Kate Winslet has no shame about telling the world she has a sneeze limit of two after having given birth to three children.

"I can’t jump on trampolines anymore, I wet myself,” the 40-year-old star revealed in trademark candid fashion while appearing on The Graham Norton Show. “It’s bloody awful, especially if you’re wearing a skirt.”

The actress went on to share,“When you’ve had a few children you know, it’s just what happens. It’s amazing, two sneezes, I’m fine. Three, it’s game over…”

Kate Winslet kids

If Kate's experience rings true for you as well, you're in good company. Statistics from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reveal “millions” of women suffer from urinary incontinence. If you're lucky enough not to be in the know, that means when urine leaks out of your bladder before you can get to the bathroom.

Melissa Goist, MD, an ob/gyn at The Ohio State Wexner Medical Center, told Yahoo Health that about one-third of all adult women have some type of pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD), including incontinence, and 50 percent of these are contributed to pregnancy and childbirth.

The topic came up not all that long ago between us BabyCenter bloggers, and more than a handful of our contributors admitted to struggling with incontinence. Although I believe I have my fair share of womanly problems, I'm lucky this isn't one of them. I can run, sneeze and jump as needed -- but found out just recently I can't trampoline without experiencing vertigo something terrible. So although my pants are dry, my kids are also on their own with that bit of fun.

What about your body has changed since having kids?

Photos: PR Photos

 

You might just also love Kate Winslet's stance on plastic surgery. Check out what she a dozen other women have had to say on the topic:

 

Supermodel Anne V has the sweetest reason for naming her baby Alaska

by

BabyCenter Staff

posted in Celebrities

AnneAlaska

BabyCenter7 is a blog series that features celebrity parents you know and love answering the same seven questions with their own personal spin.

BabyCenter7_v1D (2)

 

It is true that becoming a mother changes your perspective on life and for Russian supermodel Anne Vyalitsyna, better known as Anne V, giving birth to her daughter last June made her focus even more on how she could support maternal health issues around the world.

The first time mom and her partner, Adam Cahan, an American tech executive, named their daughter Alaska because "that's where Russia and the U.S. meet," says Anne.

A sense of global awareness and activism has always been a part of her life. When she was pregnant with baby Alaska, she started looking for an organization to work closely with and happily joined forces with mothers2mothers whose mission is to end pediatric AIDS and promote the heath of mothers, children and families around the world. Their unique method of drafting Mother Mentors on the ground to work alongside doctors and counsel pregnant women with HIV has proven a tremendous success.

Today, which happens to be #GivingTuesday and World AIDS Day, Anne is helping to get the word out that there are many ways to support the organization.

Here are a few: Shop online or in person at Los Angeles boutique RonRobinson and 20% of proceeds will be donated to mothers2mothers or you can donate directly to m2m hereBabyCenter will also be matching all donations to m2m through December 15th up to $50,000 including proceeds from this shopping event.

“I feel incredibly blessed and grateful for my amazing life. I came to this country when I was 15 years old to pursue my dream," says Anne, "It taught me how not only to be grateful, but to give back. I'm so happy that a day like #GivingTuesday exists.”

See what Anne has to say about the quest to be a do-it-all supermom, what makes her daughter laugh, and what comfort food she absolutely, positively MUST have on hand.

 

qa_q1 Motherhood is ...

qa_a... hard. I feel like a lot of people don't talk about how hard it is! I mean, I think it's possible to be a superwoman but I would give it a lot more support if this woman would acknowledge how hard it is to be one. 

qa_q2 My secret talent is...

qa_a... I'm a great ballroom dancer.   

qa_q3 My parents were right about ...

qa_a... the fact that you turn out exactly like your parents. My mom said, "You wait -- when you have a baby, you know what? You'll be just like me." I admit, I'm doing the same things! 

qa_q4 My favorite comfort food is ...

qa_a... sweet potato fries or any Russian food that has a lot of butter and flour. My mom came to visit recently and she made Borsch -- Russian traditional soup. I was in heaven. 

qa_q5 My favorite recent family moment was ...

qa_a... when my daughter started to giggle. I give her very small bites under her armpit. It's the cutest thing ever. 

 

qa_q6 If I can't have world peace, I'll take ...

qa_a... for all the mothers in the world to have the opportunity to deliver healthy babies.

 

qa_q7 When my kids fall asleep, I ...

qa_a... read, catch up on my life. I'm obsessed with SoulCycle. I spend a lot of time with the rest of my family but I need a lot of alone time too so whatever I can do to have that makes me revitalized.

Give us your answers to the BabyCenter7 in the comments below! And see how Scott FoleyJane KrakowskiTaye Diggs, and Amanda Peet answered our questions.

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Photos courtesy of Anne V/Instagram