Celebrities aren’t immune to risky births and pregnancies. Some of them have been outspoken about their difficulties in an effort to raise awareness for their children’s conditions and reassure other parents going through the same ordeals. Here are just four stars who navigated bumpy roads to parenthood.
1. Salma Hayek
Salma Hayek faced a tremendously complicated pregnancy. Not only was she diagnosed with gestational diabetes, a condition that can cause everything from premature delivery to respiratory distress syndrome, but she was also told by her doctors that her baby would be born with Down Syndrome. However, little Valentina defied the odds and came into the world without problems or complications. It was happily ever after for one of the world’s biggest movie stars.
2. Mark Feuerstein
Although he played a doctor on TV, Mark Feuerstein was completely unprepared when his baby girl was diagnosed with a congenital heart defect. Anomalous left coronary from the pulmonary artery (ALCPA) is so rare that it strikes just one child in 10,000, and it took weeks of testing to recognize its symptoms in baby Addie. Feuerstein has since become a public advocate for prenatal screening that can detect these kinds of conditions and help babies get diagnosed and treated quickly.
3. Carl Froch
This middleweight boxer found himself facing a new kind of fight when his daughter was born with complications from shoulder dystocia. Instead of naturally emerging from the birth canal, little Penelope got her shoulder stuck behind her mother’s pelvic bone. It took several minutes for doctors to free her, and she was limp from a lack of oxygen by the time that she finally emerged in the world. Thankfully, she made a full recovery.
4. Courteney Cox
It took years for Courteney Cox to become pregnant. Struggling with infertility, she eventually found success with in vitro fertilization (IVF), but the roller coaster of trying to conceive took a real emotional toll on her and her then-husband David Arquette. She even miscarried multiple times. Cox remained strong, however, and her daughter Coco was born just shy of her 40th birthday. She’s living proof that even older women struggling with fertility issues can achieve their dream of motherhood.
In a world where we look towards celebrities as role models, know that you’re not alone in your struggle to become a parent. Fame does not separate a person from the harsh realities that life can present. Everyone’s body has its limitations and, for many, that is especially true when it comes to trying to become pregnant. Couples everywhere dream of becoming parents and starting their families. It’s a natural desire that has been embedded in the minds of mankind since the beginning of time. It’s a beautiful thing and a magnificent opportunity.
Yet, some fear that that dream of theirs won’t ever come true. Many women who deal with infertility issues often feel completely alone in their world. However, that is not completely true. If that seems to be your reality, though, know that there are probably other women around you who are going through a very similar ordeal—famous or not.
Hopefully, however, the above celebrities have given you some hope. Despite what you are going through, you very might well still become a mom. Your struggle is not the end; it is only the beginning of a marvelous journey ahead of you.
