Postpartum depression can affect anyone regardless of social status or wealth. The list of celebs who have had to gain control of this very real part of pregnancy and childbirth continues to grow. The latest celebrity to admit to having suffered from postpartum depression is singer Marie Osmond.

Reports published recently online revealed that in 1999 following the birth of her son Matthew she had the worst case of the baby blues ever. While admitting that she had baby blues in previous births, with Matthew it was bad and became more than just that. In an interview published online at the Daily Mail website, Osmond said, “Then one day, she snapped. I remember walking down the stairs and putting Matthew in the arms of the nanny. I can’t stay here, I told her. There is something wrong, really wrong with me. I have to leave until I figure it out.”

Thankfully, her husband and mother helped her seek treatment and she got better. Osmond said she was shocked to know her own mother had also had her own battle with the demon of postpartum depression.

Symptoms of Postpartum Depression

It is important to identify the symptoms of Postpartum depression so that help can be found before disaster strikes. Some of the most commons symptoms include:

• Thoughts of suicide

• Thoughts of harming the baby or even others

• Extreme anxiety

• Elevated levels of stress

• Change in sleep pattern

• Desire to stay in bed

• Loss of appetite

The feelings of Postpartum depression are far more elevated than those of baby blues which affects many new moms. If you or a loved one is pregnant, start learning about this potentially serious condition before the birth so as to be prepared.

Other Celebrities Who Battled Postpartum Depression

Another celebrity who has had to deal with the condition is Brooke Shields. She was lambasted by Tom Cruise for talking about using prescription medication to deal with postpartum depression. Shields went on to write a book which she hoped would help other women, Down Came the Rain: My Journey Through Postpartum Depression. Others include Gwyneth Paltrow, actress Gena Lee Nolin formerly of Baywatch who had the condition with all three of her children; Angelina Jolie, Courteney Cox-Arquette, Amanda Peet and Lisa Marie Presley.

A surprising study which was recently published is offering great news to parents. A new type of contact lens is said to be creating solutions for some eye problems that plague children. The contact lenses made especially for short-sighted persons work to correct or improve the condition while they sleep.

How the Contact Lenses Work

The i-GO Overnight Vision Correction lenses are unique in more ways than one. These contacts are made to be slept in. When used, the custom designed contact lenses apply pressure to the cornea. When this pressure is exerted, light is then streamed to the back of the retina the way it should be in healthy eyes. The jelly-like elasticity of the cornea will then keep the shape for up to 36 hours.

In effect, wearing the lenses according to the report makes it unnecessary to have surgery to correct shortsightedness in most cases. Plus, over time the wearer will not need to use contacts or glasses during the day. This would be great for children, especially those who participate in sporting activities.

Why i-GO Works Best for Children

The belief is that since children are young and their eyes are technically still soft and changing the contacts work like braces. Over time this can actually correct or slow the process that leads to shortsightedness. Since the condition is caused by eyeballs becoming misshapen, the contact lenses technically force them back to the way the eyeballs are shaped in people with good vision.

Unlike adults where the cornea will generally go back to the original shape over a period of hours, the results are different for children. The corrected shape of the cornea seems to last, which is great news. This was revealed from the study, called SMART which was started two years ago. The study will run for five years.

A study of the contact lenses has found that there are definitely benefits especially for children after wearing them for at least one year. The lenses are a little more expensive than regular contacts, but seem to be worth the price based on results.

I’m sure many parents and those in the eye care industry are awaiting the completion of the study in 2013 to see just how lasting the results are.

At only 27-years old, pop princess Britney Spears has lived a lifetime and then some. The young mother of two has been married and divorced twice. She has won many awards for her music, but she has also been belittled and chastised over her parenting skills.

Thankfully, the downward spiral which Spears was on is taking a turn for the better in many ways. She has lost the weight that made her a hot topic of discussion and derision. She is also making a comeback with her music.

Most importantly for Spears is no doubt the ability to once again spend quality time with her children, 4-year old Sean Preston and 3-year old Jayden James. During the time of her divorce, Spears was going through obvious emotional and mental problems. Ultimately, the boys’ father, Spears ex, Kevin Federline was awarded custody in 2008 much to her distress. Thankfully, she took control of her life and was eventually given shared custody of the boys.

Spears must be thrilled to be named the Best Celebrity Mom based on the result of a recently released poll. The poll conducted by UK-based company, Park Christmas Saving saw 74% 0f the votes going to Spears. The poll surveyed approximately 7, 000 people who were asked to name the best mothers in show business.

The Top 10 Moms Are:

• Britney Spears

• Christina Aguilera

• Angelina Jolie

• Jade Goody

• Katie Holmes

• Madonna

• Jessica Alba

• Jennifer Garner

• Nicole Richie

• Victoria Beckham

While some readers may not agree with the list, there is no doubt that Spears has cleaned up her act. She is clearly bouncing back in all areas of her life and this poll must be a welcomed boost to the singer.

Alison Gopnik, a psychologist at the University of California has written a book offering new insight into the minds of babies. Gopnik makes claims that are likely to surprise many people, including, “Any child will put the most productive scientist to shame.”

She recently sat down for an interview with Time magazine where she talked about her book, The Philosophical Baby. According to Gopnik babies “…babies take in much more information from different sources than adults do and work very hard to make sense of that information. It’s one reason we think babies sleep so much – they’re doing much harder work than grown-ups are.”

Well that is certainly an interesting explanation for the amount of sleeping babies need. Some people would say that they thought it was all about the growth process. Gopnik’s book also reveals that babies innately have a sense of what is right and what is wrong. She uses as an example the fact that a 14-month old will crawl over to pick up a pen the parent drops. She reveals that babies are sensitive to emotions, which certainly any parent would agree with. When you smile they will smile back, and if you feel sad, most babies seem to be able to pick up on that.

The psychologist said she plans to work with neuroscientists to understand more about why children are able to learn so rapidly. Understanding how learning fits with emotional development is also important she says. “Those two things have tended to be separate – there are people who study emotion and there are people who study knowledge. Increasingly, we’re realizing that those things go hand in hand for babies,” .

Parents need not feel pressured to shell out big bucks for educational toys. In her opinion, there is no evidence they really work. Of course, some parents will be quick to disagree with that. The bottom line in my opinion is to do what you think will work for your child.

Following a recent study which claimed that fetuses have memory, it is clear that a whole new frontier in intelligence is being explored. In the opinion of Gopnik, learning letters and numbers are not as important for babies as just picking up new things the way adults do. She offered some old but timeless advice that has come from her psychological studies of children, “pay attention to your kids and love them.” You certainly can’t argue with the science behind that one.

Annika Sörenstam may be retired from the sport of golf, but she has now moved on to another great role, that of being a mom. She gave birth to a baby girl on Tuesday, September 1, at 3:30 AM. The baby’s name is Ava Madelyn and she weighed 6lbs. 10 oz.

A statement she posted on her official website read, “Mike and I are happy to announce that I gave birth to our little girl at 3:30AM this morning. Ava Madelyn McGee is six pounds 10 ounces and 19 inches long. We are all doing well and we truly appreciate the support we have received. We are VERY excited about our new addition and will keep everyone posted in the coming weeks. Thanks!”

‘Mike’ is her husband and business manager Mike McGee. They made the announcement that they were expecting on March 19 of this year and revealed to the media in June that they were expecting a girl.

Sörenstam is one of the most recognizable names in the sport of golf. She has over 72 LPGA tour wins and has taken the Player of the Year award 8 times. In fact many have referred to her as the Tiger Woods of women’s golf. Sörenstam was inducted into the Golf World Hall of Fame in 2003.

On May 13, 2008, Sörenstam announced her retirement from the sport that made her famous. She said she would quit competition at the end of the 2008 season.

She has parlayed her success on the green into her own little empire. Her ANNIKA brand oversees a number of ventures including a clothing line, a signature fragrance and a wine label. Perhaps the jewel in her crown is The ANNIKA Academy at Ginn Reunion Resort which opened in April 2007. Her wanna-be golfers can learn to perfect their swing and golf game.

She is also involved in designing golf courses. Perhaps fittingly, the first one she worked on was the Annika Course, located at Mission Hills Golf Club in Shenzen, China. She is also working on projects in the USA. Her business ventures are said to take in the things that she cares about most, namely golf, fitness and charitable involvement.

Congratulations to this great representative of the sport of golf on the birth of her first child. I wish her continued success as a mother and as an entrepreneur. I’m sure she and her husband will enjoy being parents to a little princess.

The wait is over for actor David Boreanaz as his wife Jamie Bergman has given birth to their second child. A healthy baby girl was born on Monday. Her name is Bardot Vita Boreanaz. Their first child, seven-year old son Jaden Rayne now has a little sister that he can help take care of and protect. Little Bardot Vita entered the world at a healthy 7 lbs. 14 oz.

Lat month in an interview with People.com, Boreanaz spoke about his concerns about being away from his pregnant wife. He was quoted as saying, “I must maintain a 20-mile radius. I cannot travel beyond that. If I do, I’ll freak out – I have to be there when the baby comes.” His wife Jamie Bergman in speaking to People recently said, “We’ve been trying to have another baby for a couple of years now so we are beyond excited. We’re over the moon.”
Boreanaz decision to maintain close proximity had to do with more than just a devoted dad being there for the birth. It was revealed in the news that Bergman had been placed on bed rest in the weeks leading to the birth.

Bed rest during pregnancy is not uncommon. It is usually recommended by doctors to ease the effects of pregnancy complications. In some cases the woman’s doctor may recommend it early on because of her medical history. It is important that pregnant women placed on bed rest not be worried as this will place undue stress on her and the baby.

Reasons for Bedrest

•    Premature labor
•    Carrying multiples
•    High blood pressure
•    Gestational diabetes
•    History of premature or stillbirth

Thankfully, the outcome was a happy one for Bergman, and no complications were reported during delivery. Boreanaz can be expected to report to the set of his hit TV series Bones a little worse for wear, but I am certain he wouldn’t have it any other way.

So will his Bones co-star Emily Deschanel start to feel a tugging at her maternal heart strings and want to have her own bundle of joy soon? I guess we will know soon enough, as many celebrities are not shy about revealing their family plans.

Congratulations to David Boreanaz and his wife Jamie Bergman on the latest addition to their family.

Actress Nicole Sullivan is now a happy mom to two boys. Thirty-nine year old Sullivan gave birth to her second son on Monday, August 31 in Los Angeles. The newest member of the Packham family weighed 8 pounds 6 ounces.

Sullivan and her husband, actor Jason Packham named the latest addition to their family Beckett Edward Packham. Their first child is two-year old Dashel Pierce. During her pregnancy she was quoted by People magazine as saying, “Dash is thrilled to have a partner in crime…”  Sullivan and Packham has been married since 2006.

Sullivan is no doubt remembered for her stints on Mad TV and the sitcom The King of Queens. Most recently she has been seen in the Lifetime series Rita Rocks. She plays a working mom who started a garage band with her neighbor. In a case of art imitating life, her pregnancy was written into the show. Interestingly, during her stint on The King of Queens, her co-star Leah Remini became pregnant and the crew had to come up with creative ways to hide that fact.

The new season of Rita Rocks will premiere in October. My guess is that writers will probably draw on some of her life experience to add more essence to her character. The idea of the working mom trying to hold things together never gets old.

Coincidentally, her Rita Rocks co-star Tisha Campbell-Martin is expecting her second child later this year. Aside from saying that she is certain that this baby will be her last, 40 year old Campbell-Martin also said, “Every moment, every nauseous moment, everything that is good and not so good about being pregnant, I’m enjoying.”

Sullivan certainly seemed to have taken advantage of her pregnancy to indulge a bit. She was quoted as saying during her pregnancy, “…and I am enjoying all the eating that comes along with being pregnant.” She had a baby shower on Saturday August 8 that was sponsored by Happy Heinys, the makers of reusable diapers. Sullivan also got gifts from Orbit Baby and Skip Hop among others.

Congratulations to Nicole Sullivan and Jason Packham on the birth of their second child. Hopefully her stressed out mom from her TV show won’t be in any way similar to her real life. Good luck to her with her future projects.

Actress and reality TV star Tori Selling has become the latest celebrity to launch a children’s clothing line. According to reports published online she recently revealed the new line, Little Maven at Bloomingdale’s in Century City. The new brand will offer clothes for children up to the age of four. The prices range from $26 to $88. At the launch, Spelling with her daughter Stella in tow, signed autographs and chatted with fans.

Spelling has said that with Little Maven she wants to incorporate style and comfort, as well as the bright colors that usually appeal to children. As the daughter of the late TV mogul Aaron Spelling, she had to endure suggestions of nepotism when he helped her early in her career. Now she seems to be forging ahead on her own in the wake of his passing. Nicole Richie, the daughter of Lionel Richie has also come out of her father’s shadow to star in a reality series and launch her own line of maternity clothes for A Pea in a Pod.

Spelling was previously married to Charlie Shanian, but the marriage ended in April 2006. She has been married to actor Dean McDermott since May 2006. Aside from the aforementioned Stella who is one, they have two-year old son, Liam. Spelling’s reality show was originally titled, Tori & Dean: Inn Love for its first two seasons. This was changed to Tori & Dean: Home Sweet Hollywood for its third season. The first episode premiered in March 2007 on the Oxygen Network. Recently Spelling’s mother Candy Spelling, with whom she has a strained relationship, accused her and her husband Dean of using the children as “props’ in their show in an open letter to Tori which was posted on TMZ.

I wish Tori Spelling luck with her children’s clothing line, as well as her future career plans. Here’s hoping too that she and her mother will be able to reconcile. After all, the grandparent – grandchild relationship is important too.

She was asked during the interview if she had plans for any more children and she responded, “Everybody keeps asking me that. But three boys? That’s a lot.”

It seems that Victoria Beckham has her hands full. At least that is the impression she gave in a recent interview with Ryan Seacrest on his radio show. This is a bit of a turnaround for the former Spice Girl. In the past she has openly spoken about her desire for a girl. According to the latest reports however, she has decided that three is enough.

She was quoted online as saying,  “I get up early in the morning, get the kids ready for school, take them to school. Then while they’re at school I manage to get my work in. I have to be done by 3pm so I can pick up the kids.” Victoria Beckham and her husband, soccer star David Beckham’s three boys are Brooklyn, 10, Romeo, 6, and Cruz,4.

While any parents are likely to scoff at the suggestion that Victoria Beckham has her hands full, remember dealing with one child can be sufficiently taxing. It all depends on the situation. For Beckham’s part, it’s possible her current career track could be influencing her family plans. She recently landed a guest judge stint on the popular talent search show American Idol. She also has her hands full with her Autumn/Winter dress collection.

At any rate, the decision to expand a family is not one that should be taken lightly. It’s possible also that she just wants to keep her future baby plans a secret. I certainly couldn’t fault her for that one, given the intense scrutiny celebrities generally endure.

Whatever her future plans are, I certainly wish her luck. Her hubby David Beckham seems to be having a rough time on the football field lately, so his future with the Los Angeles Galaxy does not seem as certain as it once did.

Let’s face it, some children are tough to feed. Most parents know that their children are notoriously picky eaters. Some of us parents, not wanting to fight a losing battle will just give them what they want, just so they will eat something. Well, according to some cancer experts, if processed meats falls into that category, you may need to think twice.

Scientists in the UK have determined that ham and bacon as well as other processed meats should not be given to children. They have asked parents to stop putting sandwiches made from these meats in their children’s lunches. Research has indicated that these meats increase the risk of bowel cancer later in life.

It seems their main concern is that feeding children these meats will lead to unhealthy eating habits. The scientists suggest healthier options like fish, chicken or low fat cheese. The World Cancer Research Fund charity has admitted that the study did not specifically examine the effects of these meats on children. The Charity claims, however, that the evidence could be seen based on studying adults. For this reason they think it is best to encourage children to try other food options instead of processed meats.

The children’s education manager for the charity was quoted online as saying, “If children have processed meat in their lunch every day then over the course of a school year they will be eating quite a lot of it. It is better if children learn to view processed meat as an occasional treat if it is eaten at all.”

The warning by the UK scientists applies to meats that are smoked or have anything added to them. They also recommend keeping the intake of red meat to 500 grams (approximately 1 pound) per week. The study’s findings were arrived at after looking at the results of thousands of previous studies.

What’s a parent to do?

I guess like most things, moderation is key. Feeding some children can indeed be challenging. It is understandable when some parents cave in and feed them whatever they want. Most parents may be on the lookout for childhood obesity, but clearly there are other dangers waiting for children down the road depending on their diets.

It is best to talk to your child’s pediatrician, see if they are aware of the study and get their feedback. Food safety will always be at the forefront of any parent’s mind. Despite the types of food any child shows a preference for, it goes without saying that as parents we must do our best to find ways to get some fruits and vegetables into their diets.

So far I have found a cool trick that have been working for a few months with my now 5-year old son. To get him to eat cucumber, we pretend that each circular slice is a full moon. Each bite changes the shape through the various stages of the moon, three-quarter, half, crescent until it is all gone. Now, if only I could find a way to make a game out of eating carrots.

The most news hitting the web is that singer Celine Dion is pregnant. The 41-year is expecting her second child with husband, 67-year old Rene Angelil. Their first child Rene-Charles is eight years old. A spokesperson for the couple confirmed the news is true. The couple is understandably “very happy” the rep said.

Dion has never been shy about revealing her desire for another child. Her plan was to hopefully to try to conceive after wrapping up her tour in Las Vegas. This was thrown into jeopardy after Angelil was diagnosed with throat cancer. Dion took a break from her work to support him, and thankfully he recovered.

In talking about her baby plans, Dion was quoted as saying, “We’ll give it a try after my tour. Hopefully we will be parents again. If not, that’s fine. We have our miracle baby.” The ‘miracle baby’ in question Rene-Charles was conceived through in vitro fertilization. The couple had tried for six years to conceive before being blessed with their son. Last December, according to reports, she revealed when asked about her baby plans that they had a frozen embryo waiting to be implanted.

This process, called frozen embryo transfer (FET) involves the freezing of embryos not implanted during an in vitro fertilization cycle. A viable pregnancy can result after the embryo is thawed and placed into the uterus. The uterus of course would have to be properly prepared beforehand. This is usually done through the use of hormones. If any abnormalities are discovered in the uterus, these are corrected surgically before the embryo is implanted.

Researchers determined in 2006 that even embryos frozen for over ten years could still lead to a viable pregnancy. Wonderful news to couples experiencing infertility issues. There is no evidence that FET has a negative impact on the fetus or child. Dion is likely to draw more attention to this method as often happens with celebrities.

Celine Dion’s Las Vegas Show

Her Las Vegas tour ran from 2003 to 2007. During its run, she performed five nights a week in a 4000 seat arena. The show was constantly sold out, despite audiences complaining about ticket prices, which reportedly ran as high as $320. The success of the show resulted in it being extended for an undisclosed amount of time and Celine has not discussed her career plans after the birth.

Now that she is getting ready for the birth of her second child career considerations are likely not at the forefront of her thoughts. Her fans however are probably eagerly awaiting her eventual return to the stage. I wish her the best of luck with her pregnancy, and hope she continues to enjoy good health throughout.

Bounty hunter and reality show star Duane ‘Dog’ Chapman is a grandfather once again. With his dangerous job and tough-as-nails persona, it may be difficult to think of him as Grandpa, but this is actually his fourteenth. Instead of a rocking chair or some other stereotypical image, just think black suits, big SUVs and mace.

Actually Dog is just one example of the changing image of grandparenting. Many older people are quite active, and continue to work in their respective fields. Chapman first found fame after the capture of fugitive Andrew Luster. He had actually been in the bounty hunter business for years before that. His arrest by authorities in Mexico for not turning Luster over to them turned out to be a boon for his career. It led to the TV show Dog the Bounty Hunter on the A&E Network, and the expansion of his bail bonds business.

Chapman’s daughter Lyssa gave birth to a baby girl she named Madalynn Grace Galanti. The baby was born on Friday August 7, in Honolulu, Hawaii. The baby weighed six pounds, 15 ounces at birth. Lyssa Chapman-Galanti has a seven-year old daughter, Abbie Mae. She is also stepmother to her husband’s four-year old daughter. In fact, she is a licensed bounty hunter as well and works with her father.

The hit series was temporarily derailed after Champan was caught on tape using racial slurs. A&E stopped production in November 2007. He apologized and received support from the show’s fans as well minority leaders.

Here’s to “Dog” and all the other rocking Grandpas out there. I imagine that this baby will have a lot of love right from the get go. Congratulations to mom Lyssa Chapman-Galanti on the birth of her daughter. Dog frequently talks about his love for his family on his show. This new granddaughter will be yet another chance for him to show that love.

Could we have the next great Spanish thespian on the way, or a future reality TV star? According to online reports Spanish actress Penelope Cruz and Kourtney Kardashian are both expecting. This is so far shaping up to be another bumper year for celebrity births.

Penelope Cruz to be a Mom

Cruz, who won a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her role in Vicky Cristina Barcelona is in a relationship with Javier Bardem. Bardem himself is also an Oscar winner, taking the prize home in 2008 for his supporting role in No Country for Old Men.

A source was quoted online as saying of the pregnancy, “Penelope is about four months pregnant. She’s really healthy now and will be a great mother.” Based on comments Cruz made in an interview in Marie Claire magazine in 2007, this is just the beginning of parenthood. She said she also intends to adopt as her “life wouldn’t be complete” otherwise.

We could be looking at the next Spanish acting dynasty. Bardem is the youngest of a family of actors that has been involved in Spanish film since its early days. He won his first role at age six. Aside from her Oscar winning role Cruz has also appeared in the films Blow with Johnny Depp, and Sahara with Matthew McConaughey.

First Pregnancy for Kourtney Kardashian

For Kourtney Kardashian this baby news comes just before the premiere of her new show Kourtney and Khloe Take Miami. This is a spin off of the popular E! reality series Keeping Up with the Kardashians. When the news broke, it was revealed that the father was her ex-boyfriend Scott Disick. She confirmed this during an appearance on the Today Show. According to some reports found online, they have since reconciled after learning the happy news.

Kourtney apparently forgot to take her birth control pills, which is what led to the pregnancy. She was quoted online as saying, “…this sounds probably so dumb but there’s so many times I’ll forget to take my pill and just don’t think it’s that big of a deal. I’ve done that several times and never really thought about it. It sounds so stupid.” She has a due date of December.

She also hinted at a bit of sibling rivalry with her younger and probably more famous sister Kim. In an interview she was quoted as saying, “I don’t think she’s envious. Who knows though – Kim gets mad if I get the car that she wants… she like freaks out! But she definitely thought it was going to be her first, trust me!”. For her part Kim Kardashian seems to like the idea of making her mother a grandmother many times over.

Congratulations to both Kourtney Kardashian and Penelope Cruz and their respective partners. I look forward to the news of the births of their babies.

Co-host of The View Elizabeth Hasselbeck, and Patrick Wilson, one of the stars of Watchmen, are both on top of the world right now. According to reports published online, they have become the latest celebrities to welcome new additions to their families.

Elizabeth Hasselbeck Gives Birth to a Boy

Married to former professional football player Tim Hasselbeck, they already have two children together; a four-year old daughter named Grace, and a 21-month old son, Taylor Thomas. Reports indicate that she gave birth to another boy on Sunday in New York City. The baby’s weight was put at seven pounds, seven ounces. Her elated husband was quoted as saying, “Elisabeth and Isaiah are doing great and we’re excited about the addition of another baby boy into our family.”

The two were college sweethearts and were married on July 6, 2002. They welcomed their daughter in April 2005 and their first son in November 2007. Hasselbeck first came to public attention as a contestant on the reality show Survivor: The Australian Outback where she placed fourth. Initially she wanted a job behind the scenes but her agent encouraged her to audition for The View.

She has had some memorable moments on the show, most notably her arguments with former co-host Rosie O’Donnell. She took over the spot vacated by Lisa Ling in 2002. Hasselbeck suffers from celiac disease which is a disorder of the small intestine. She has written a book about living with the condition called The G-Free Diet: A Gluten-Free Survival Guide.

Patrick Wilson’s Welcomes His Second Son

For actor Patrick Wilson this is baby number two and his second son. His wife Dagmara Dominczyk gave birth on Sunday as well. A source was quoted as saying, “Mother and baby are both happy and healthy. Everybody’s great!” The baby’s name is Kassian McCarrell Wilson. Their first child, Kalin Patrick is three years old. Wilson and Dominczyk were married on June 18, 2005 and they both graduated from Carnegie Mellon University.

Patrick Wilson’s early career got a boost when he was praised for his work in the HBO mini-series Angels in America. After that he went on to appear in such films as The Alamo and The Phantom of the Opera. Most recently he played the role of Dan Dreiberg / Nite Owl II in the long awaited Watchmen.

Congratulations to both couples on the birth of their babies. There will be some adjustment to their growing families, but most likely they will adapt more quickly than first time parents tend to do. It’s always good when you have done it all before, of course that never makes the situation predictable.

Many people say that Jennifer Hudson became a winner after losing on the popular reality show American Idol. This would seem to be true considering that she already has a hit album and an Oscar win under her belt. In fact, Hudson has achieved more than even those who have won the American Idol title. Now she has become a winner again by giving birth to a baby boy.

Introducing David Daniel Otunga, Jr.

Hudson reportedly gave birth on Monday night. The baby, named David Daniel Otunga, Jr. after his father weighed seven pounds, 14 ounces. Hudson is engaged to marry David Otunga, a former lawyer turned professional wrestler. A rep for Hudson was quoted as saying, “The baby is beautiful and perfect. His parents are ecstatic.”

It would seem that the new parents did not know the baby’s gender. An unnamed source was quoted on the Daily Mail website as saying, “Jennifer and David Sr. did not know the sex of the baby in advance. They bought blue and pink clothes, just in case.” Like so many celebrities seem to be doing these days, Hudson did make her pregnancy public. In fact she was said to have neither confirmed nor denied reports of the pregnancy.

There was no hiding the baby bump however when she appeared at the memorial for the late pop star Michael Jackson. Hudson performed the song Will You Be There. She also had a baby shower at the home of a relative in Chicago.

Death in the Family

This will of course be seen by many as a welcome event in Hudson’s life after suffering an almost unimaginable tragedy. She lost her mother, sister and nephew in Chicago last October when they were murdered. Hudson seems to be on her way to healing.

Reality show fans may remember her fiancee from the second installment of I love New York. The show revolved around New York’s attempts to find true love. He went by the name Punk, and as it turns out, luckily he was not the guy New York eventually chose to be with.

Hudson’s relatives were reportedly a bit wary when she began dating Otunga after dating for only six months. He has accompanied to her to numerous events, and they are frequently photographed together. Congratulations to this talented lady and her fiancee on the birth of their baby. I am sure this baby will bring into her life a lot of well deserved joy.

Budding fashion mogul Nicole Richie is looking to take her business to another level by designing maternity wear. According to recent reports, she has partnered with fashion line A Pea in the Pod for the new range. Richie already has her own label called House of Harlow 1960. She is currently hard at work designing clothes, shoes and jewelry for her Harlow label.

New Maternity Clothing Line

The new range for A Pea in a Pod was launched on Thursday. Richie was quoted as saying of her collaboration with the company, “Pea in the Pod is such a known company for pregnant women. They carry great lines, and so when they asked me to create a line for them, I was really excited and eager to do it.”

She also offered her view on being fashionable while pregnant saying, “…you really feel like you have to change your whole wardrobe. And that’s the last thing a woman wants to go through. So I really tried to make this line to get women excited about wearing clothes. I think the pregnant body is beautiful, and I think you should show it off.”

Nicole Richie’s Pregnancy

Richie herself is currently in the third trimester of her second pregnancy. She has a 19-month old daughter, Harlow for whom her fashion house is named. She says she was inspired by life with Harlow and her boyfriend Joel Madden when designing the maternity range.

Even her hectic work schedule has not forced her to slow down despite her advanced pregnancy. According to Richie, she is doing all she can to ensure the success of the label. In an interview with People.com she was quoted as saying, “I have my second collection of House of Harlow 1960 coming out in November, and my regular clothing line coming out in Spring 2010 along with my shoe line.”

I hope that Richie will not feel the need to push herself too much despite the demands of her work. Here’s hoping for a healthy birth and that the reminder of her pregnancy is as worry free as possible. Richie has had some legal trouble in the past, but all that is behind her now. She seems to be on the way to being a successful businesswoman and a great mom.

You’ve got to hand it to celebrities who are keeping their birth announcements under wraps. Take Tommy Hilfiger for example. On the same day it was reported that he and his wife were expecting a baby, there came another news report that his wife had given birth to a baby boy. The initial news reports claimed that Dee Ocleppo was only three months pregnant.

A publicist for the designer had actually confirmed the news of the impending birth but declined to provide further details. No doubt many people were surprised by the second set of news reports which said the baby had arrived. The baby’s name is Sebastian Thomas and he weighed 9 lbs., 8 oz at birth on August 4, 2009. He already has a big family to love and nurture him. Tommy Hilfiger has four children from his first marriage.

Hilfiger’s marriage to his first wife Susie produced Alexandria (Ally), Richard, Elizabeth and Kathleen, whose ages range from 13 to 24. Ocleppo, who was previously married to Italian tennis star Gianni Ocleppo has two children. Hilfiger’s daughter Ally appeared on the aptly titled MTV reality show Rich Girls.

Of course the idea of blended families is certainly nothing new in Hollywood. Many well known figures have moved on to happy marriages with their children in tow.

It is not always easy to get used to stepparents let alone stepbrothers and stepsisters. The relationship between parents and their biological children is complicated enough. I think the entire family is probably already united over the birth of the new baby. Of course there is no reason to believe they were not already united.

I must commend Mr. Hilfiger and his publicist on that little bit of media sleight of hand. Pregnant celebrities should be allowed the space and worry free environment they are not usually given. In short, when the woman is pregnant, the paparazzi and the rest of the media should think about backing off for the sake of the baby.

At 58-years old Hilfiger is edging into the older celebrity daddies category. His wife reported to be around 41-years old is one of the growing list of advanced maternal age mothers. There is no challenge posed by this particular situation that can’t be overcome with love and patience. Congratulations to Hilfiger and his wife Dee Ocleppo on the birth of little Sebastian Thomas.

Two Hollywood family men are looking forward to adding to their families according to published reports.

Neal McDonough

McDonough reportedly let the cat out of the bag during a walk on the red carpet at the premiere of The Ugly Truth. His wife Ruve Robertson was with him, and there was no hiding the baby bump.

McDonough and Robertson have been married since December 2003 and since had two children: Morgan, 3, and Catherine Maggie, 2. The due date of the new baby has not yet been revealed.

McDonough is widely acknowledged to be a devoted family man. He is from a relatively large family, having 4 brothers and one sister. His family immigrated to the US from Ireland. After leaving Syracuse University he studied for a short period at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.

McDonough has a number of film and television appearances to his credit. His big screen roles include Walking Tall and Flags of Our Fathers. Currently he can be seen in the ABC hit Desperate Housewives where he plays Dave Williams.

David Boreanaz

For actor David Boreanaz this will be his second child. He reportedly was forced to miss his scheduled appearance at the recently held Comic-Con in San Diego, California. In his taped video for his fans he said, “I’m a little bit stuck in Los Angeles due to the fact that my wife is on her 34th week (of pregnancy with) our second child.”

Boreanaz and his wife Jaime Bergman have been married since November 2001 and have a son together. This is the second marriage for Boreanaz. He was previously married to Ingrid Quinn but that union ended in 1999. His first child, Jaden Rayne is seven years old.

Most fans probably know Boreanaz from his work on Buffy the Vampire Slayer and the spin off Angel. He currently stars in the series Bones playing FBI Agent Seeley Booth.

Congratulations to both of these celebrity dads on their upcoming arrivals. I look forward to the news of the births and maybe hearing their thoughts on fatherhood and family.

Following weeks of speculation it has been confirmed that the late singer Michael Jackson may indeed have another child. There was much buzz online about dancer Omer Bhatti after he attended the memorial service for the pop superstar. Bhatti reportedly sat in the front row with the family. A quote attributed to him on the Dailymail website stated, “He looks like a Jackson, he acts like a Jackson and he can dance like a Jackson. This boy’s a fantastic dancer – as a matter of fact, he teaches dance.”

Michael Jackson had reportedly revealed to friends in 2004 that he had a one night stand that had produced Bhatti. The young dancer is now staying with the Jacksons at their home in Encino, California. Previously Bhatti denied being Jackson’s son saying that he was just his “best friend”. He and his family had moved to Jackson’s Neverland ranch in 1996, where his mom and dad ended up on Jackson’s staff as a nanny and driver respectively.

Debbie Rowe

Michael Jackson’s 79-year old mother Katherine currently has custody of his three other children. Initially it was felt that there would be a battle with the biological mother of two of the children, Debbie Rowe (pictured left). In an interview on The Early Show, Jackson’s lawyer revealed that Rowe will have visitation rights. The new agreement will not provide for any additional money to Rowe.

Jermaine Jackson had been quoted as saying before the latest revelation, “If Omer’s his son, he’s his son. We won’t deny it. We are going to give him the same love and care that we give Prince and Paris and Blanket. I can’t clearly say if he is Michael’s but I saw this kid around him.” He also revealed that it was the oldest sister Rebbie who moved Omer closer to Katherine Jackson during the memorial service.

Many onlookers commented on how much Omer looked like the Jacksons as he sat with them. In fact some feel that he bears a resemblance to Michael’s youngest son Blanket. Interestingly, Blanket is believed to be the result of donor egg and sperm so any resemblance would be purely coincidental. It is not clear for how long Joe Jackson knew that Omer was Michael’s son. He said “I knew Michael had another son – yes, I did.” Omer is reportedly seeking to have DNA tests done to be certain.

What this will mean for the estate of Michael Jackson as well as his legacy is yet to be seen. No doubt because of the scandals that hounded him throughout his life, many people will await the DNA test results before believing this latest twist to the King of Pop’s life.

It would seem that the Jackson family is pretty close knit, so it is good that he would be welcomed in to such a loving setting. Hopefully Jackson’s children will be afforded a level of privacy that he never knew after he became a star.

UK heartthrob Jude Law is going to be a dad again according to published reports. The woman in question is a former lover of the Alfie star. Mr. Law is no longer in a relationship with the individual concerned but he intends to be a fully supportive part of the child’s life.

Law has three children with his ex-wife Sadie Frost – Rafferty, 12, Iris, 8, and Rudy Indiana Otis who is 6. He and his ex-wife reportedly fought a custody battle for over two years.  The baby girl is due on october 6, the same birthday as law’s eldest child.

Jude’s Paternity Test

He reportedly kept the baby news under wraps because he wanted to be certain he was the father before the story broke. A source was quoted in Life & Style magazine saying, “Jude and the mother of the child had a DNA test done to prove that Jude was without a doubt the father.” Some people may be surprised to learn that this can be done before birth, and in fact it is not considered a routine procedure.

It does carry some risk, and it is usually limited to women experiencing pregnancy after 35, or who have a family history of genetic disease. DNA samples can be taken from the umbilical cord of a newborn to determine paternity. It usually takes up to 2 months to receive results in the case of an unborn child. For this reason, and because of the risks to the baby, most doctors advise against doing it.

Who’s the Mother?

Law reportedly met the mother while filming the upcoming Sherlock Holmes in New York. He plays Dr. Watson in the movie directed by Guy Ritchie. The mother, with whom Law had a brief fling, was eventually identified as model Samantha Burke. According to a quote from an insider, “After he left, she found out she was pregnant. She tried to reach him, but the cell phone number she had for him was a temporary number that he only used in New York while filming.”

The source also said that Law had no problem being a father to the baby, and that Burke was about 7 months pregnant. Part of a statement released by her attorney said, “… Since informing Mr. Law of the pregnancy, he has been nothing but responsive and supportive of Ms. Burke”

It is certainly good that Law is willing to take responsibility for his child. Some may criticize his decision to require a DNA test on an unborn child, but I can only hope that all necessary precautions were taken. I join others who no doubt hope for a safe delivery, and wish him the best of luck.