Delivery surprise motivates Minnie Driver

Minnie Driver has previously been open in sharing her rationale for keeping the baby she expects in late August a delivery surprise, and that candor continues in a new interview with the NY Daily News. Not knowing whether she’s about to become mom to a daughter or a son gives "an incentive to get me through labor," the 38-year-old actress says. Her "old-fashioned" approach extends to her preferred method of delivery — Minnie says that a C-section is "antithetical to what I believe in every cell of my body."  She adds,

I’d have this baby in the sea if it wasn’t so polluted.

In two of Minnie’s latest film projects, she plays both a mom (in Take, due in theaters July 18) and a mom-to-be (in Motherhood, which she recently shot with Uma Thurman). The former film features some heavy-hitting subject matter, when Minnie’s onscreen child dies in a botched robbery. While she wasn’t pregnant when she filmed Take, Minnie says "now the thought of anything happening to my child is unthinkable." With regard to Motherhood, Minnie says it was fun to have her bump captured on the big screen. She says,

When you’ve had your entire adult life chronicled onscreen, it’s nice to have this lovely bit as well.

Source: NY Daily News; Photo by BauerGriffinOnline.com. 

Comments

I get so turned off by preachy behavior.

- Shannon on July 14th, 2008

She is so setting herself up for an c-section.

- suzanne on July 14th, 2008

Oh my, she is such a first-timer without any prior experience in her circle! Well, she will learn soon enough that the most important thing is safely delivering, not following her ideal birth plan that she imagined in her head.

- lulululu on July 14th, 2008

If it’s best for the baby and the mother, then you have a c=section. It’s great to have a plan, but she needs to be prepared for the possibilities.

- Ginger on July 14th, 2008

I totally agree Shannon!

- dsmom on July 14th, 2008

When I was pregnant, someone asked me if I was having a boy would I have him circumcised. I said no, that I didn’t believe in it and would never have an unnecessary, disfiguring mutilation done to my child. Is that preachy? I don’t think so, since someone ASKED.

I can’t believe how much flak Minnie Driver takes because SHE doesn’t want to find out what it is because SHE thinks the only reason to find out is to decorate a room. Now SHE doesn’t believe in c-sections and SHE wants to have her baby as naturally as possible. What is wrong with any of this? Someone is asking HER what SHE thinks.

I’m sure if there is a problem with her baby and a c-section is necessary, she’s not going to say “no” because it doesn’t fit with her birth plan.

Give the lady a break.

- Janna on July 14th, 2008

More reasons why I love her!

- Megan on July 14th, 2008

Well said Janna!

- Gina on July 14th, 2008

Actually, I think, especially in this day and age, it is so very important for women to have a birth plan and to be very staunch about sticking to it. Obviously, if there were a medical need, the doc would step in and say “look, we need to do this in order for your baby to be healthy.” That being said, all too often doctors push (or at least heavily suggest) C-sections on first time moms who don’t really know any better. I wish I had been as adament about sticking to my birth plan when my twins were born. I was young and naive. Oh well, live and learn, but I don’t think there is anything wrong with her having her birth well planned.

- TwinMamma on July 14th, 2008

I am pro-natural childbirth, and I am always happy to read about a celeb giving birth with minimal intervention, but she does sound preachy. Especially for someone who has never given birth! She could simply say, “I’m planning to have a natural childbirth.” Or, “I’m planning to labor without medical intervention.” Then it’s simply a statement about what she wants for herself rather than an attack on other people’s choices. This is one area where people take offense easily, so often, the less said the better. If a reporter asks her, “Are you planning to have a c-section?” or “What do you think of c-sections?” she could simply say, “I am going to do what I can to avoid having a c-section.” She doesn’t have to say, “C-sections suck!!!” which is essentially what she’s saying in her above statement.

- tres hijos on July 14th, 2008

I agree with Janna as well.

I think it’s great that Minnie has it in her head what she wants & that she feels strongly about it. I’m sure if she needs a c-section, she isn’t going to refuse. She seems like a head strong woman who knows what she wants & after having a baby, I think you need to be unless you’ve got a great doctor or you’re willing to go with the flow & not question anything. I sadly had doctors who wanted to induce me the moment I turned 37 weeks, they called me in that day just to tell me it would be best to let them do it now, for no medical reason at all. No one I encountered every asked anything when I was pregnant or during the delivery and they were annoyed & rude when I asked questions. My awful expierence already has be prepared mentally for the next child birth expierence. I only wish I was as strong willed as Minnie seems to be the first time around so I wouldn’t have so many regrets about everything that went on.

- Jess on July 14th, 2008

Well if she had said: “I’m going to try to avoid a c-section” she would also be under attack by now by the people on this site that always feel the need to point out there is nothing wrong with having one. I’m sure she knows that, this is what she wants and she’s taking a stand to try and make it happen.

To people that say each woman should make her own choice, I don’t agree. A c-section is a last resort, not a choice, or at least it should be.

- Sarita on July 14th, 2008

Shannon is right on the money. Minnie sounds really preachy here and makes it sound as if women who undergo cesareans are going against nature. Now while I don’t agree that a someone should be able to have a cesarean just because they don’t want to push, there are a myriad of valid health reasons which necessitate one. If I were Minnie and knowing how much I wanted a natural delivery the last thing I’d want to do is jinx myself with a holier-than-thou attitude.

- Erica on July 14th, 2008

I don’t think she’s being the least bit preachy. Opinionated, yes! And, I don’t have a problem with that. There is nothing wrong with her speaking her mind and she doesn’t have to temper her remarks for the overly sensitive. She’s not running for political office nor is she trying to be some role model for the crunchy birth crowd. I hope she has the thrilling birth experience that she wants. Not at any point did she direct her remarks at one specific person or group, and people are clearly filling in the blanks with their own opinions, insecurities and assumptions.

I’m actually surprised at some of these posts over the last few days as this is the most vicious board when it comes to celebrities who have medical intervention or c-sections elected or not and here is one celebrity who is gung ho, “ain’t no stopping her now”, about having a natural birth and is very opinionated about it and people find fault with it.

While I have my own opinions about how I give birth, I don’t question nor condemn another mother’s decision because there are so many variables that inform that decision: current lifestyle, spiritual upbringing, societal pressures, medical issues, spousal/partner’s opinion, age, number of babies, access to medical care, financial, expertise of the prenatal caregiver, and too many other’s to name. So I’m of the mind to cut every mother some slack in their birthing decision, because we sure need it.

I had two natural, no drugs, vaginal births and they were two of the worse experiences of my lifetime (5 days of hard active labor with the first and 3 days of hard active labor with the second both with severe tearing and blood loss) and I will never, ever, do it again. So my opinion of natural child birth is definitely skewed toward the negative, which is why I keep it to myself when talking with other expecting first-time moms that I know.

I wish Minnie much luck!!

- sheba on July 14th, 2008

i think the fact that she said a c-sec goes against “every cell in her body” that makes her sound a bit preachy because it *sounds like* she’s saying “it’s wrong” because it’s just SO un-natural as if moms who have c-secs do so by choice or preference! she just sounds too dramatic.

- umma on July 14th, 2008

I agree with Minnie, although I am too shy to be so headstrong about my opinions. I’m glad someone is.

- Allie on July 14th, 2008

But that’s the point, Allie. She said that c-section is “antithetical to what I believe in every cell of MY body.”

Her body, her choice, her opinion.

She’s never mentioned anyone else. Just her choices and her decisions for her body and her baby.

Ladies: Why do you feel attacked by that?

We should all be rejoicing in this woman bringing her baby into the world on her terms.

- Janna on July 14th, 2008

Janna, I said I agreed with her. I think you are talking to someone else?

- Allie on July 14th, 2008

She does sound a bit preachy. I know she has a right to her own opinion but it is the way she words things. My mother had two c-sections and with my sister it was an emergency and me I was too big. My aunt(mom’s sister-in law) who had three natural births would rub it in my mom’s face about how she didn’t know what pain was when giving birth. I guess my aunt felt that she was more superior or more of a woman then my mom was. My mom had surgery for goodness sakes and then had a bad staff infection when the wound opened. But anyway I feel (from her earlier statements) that she also judged women about wanting to find out the sex of the baby. She sounds too judgemental for someone who has not given birth for the first time yet.

- NicoleMarie on July 14th, 2008

I agree Janna. But people on this site somehow constantly feel that every celebrity, when offering an opinion, is attacking THEM. There seems to be reading too much into everything a celebrity says.
As for Minnie, I’ve liked her in movies, but she doesn’t really touch me as far as her off-screen personality. There is something very “faddish” or something about her, can’t quite put my finger on it. And.. her comment about having her child in the sea….gross! I had to LOL at that one. Looking forward to her movies coming out, though.

- carie on July 14th, 2008

or Janna, you could have just answered the question you were asked with a simple “No”.

But with your answer you are totally preachy and judgemental.. lets call a spade a spade.

Minnie- eh. Kind of preachy.

- maggiemomma on July 14th, 2008

“When I was pregnant, someone asked me if I was having a boy would I have him circumcised. I said no, that I didn’t believe in it and would never have an unnecessary, disfiguring mutilation done to my child. Is that preachy?”

Is that a serious question?

Let’s hope motherhood humbles Minnie. Apparently she needs it.

- Lauren on July 14th, 2008

wow… I hate reading the comments on this site, it’s really sad that no matter what any celebrity says, you feel like you have the right to pick apart and attack what people say. She’s a woman, and she’s got the right to choose anything she wants for her body and her baby. I think it’s a sad sad day that people can’t just take something at face value. I’m sure she wasn’t trying to preach that c-sections are wrong. they are just wrong for her.

- mary on July 14th, 2008

Minnie is a very earthy person. She is into yoga and surfing and just everything natural so i think when she says it goes againist everything in her body it does because she goes for all natural. I just think she is offering her opinion and not being preachy. And there are alot of rumors that hollywood woman elect to have c-sections not because of medical reasons so maybe that is what she is against too.

- laura on July 14th, 2008

Good for her for knowing what she wants and for thinking positively! Not finding out the sex is awesome (did it 3 times) and there is nothing as wonderful and empowering as natural childbirth! I wish her the best!!

People asked and she answered, if anyone has a problem with it, it’s really their problem, maybe they should re-examine their own choices.

- Ilaria on July 15th, 2008

Reading the comments on this and other posts about different approaches to childbirth makes me realize how lucky I was to have had a great “preparing for childbirth and parenting” class. My husband and I signed up for a class at the big teaching hospital where we were going to have our baby. The instructor was a midwife and also a certified childbirth instructor. She really stressed the importance of making a birth plan and letting everyone involved in the delivery know about it in advance and bringing printed copies to distribute. She also stressed that things happen during labor and you need to be prepared to be flexible. Her attitude was incredibly supportive and respectful of all the differences among the prospective parents who took the class. I now wonder if our experience was unusual in this respect?

- paula on July 15th, 2008

Not everyone who has a c-section wants one. My son was born 4 weeks ago by emergency c-section. His head was too large to pass naturally and he was above average weight at 9lbs 5oz. I made it to 10cm dilated without pain relief, went through contractions, vomiting for 25 hours etc then as my son was getting distressed and heartbeat slowing down they needed to get him out before it was too late. A c-section was not in my birthplan I wanted to give birth naturally but I am still made to feel as if I had it easy by family, friends and comments like Minnie makes. I am still a mother no matter how my baby comes into the world.

- maria on July 15th, 2008

C-Sections Rule!!!!!!!! I had one with my son 6 years ago and I needed and wanted it. I was out the hospital in 2 days and didn’t have to worry about getting strecthed out down below,it’s weird but I am actually afraid of “natural birth”, but having a c-section it is all about what is best for mom and baby. Thanks

P.S ladies please don’t fret about certain comments everyone has her own opinion.

- C-Section Lover on July 15th, 2008

after i had my first c-section, someone said to me, in conversation about how stressed out i may be: “you have a newborn, you’re not sleeping. you just gave birth—well, you didn’t give birth….” … yup. how awful is that?

i ENJOY reading all the comments on this site. commenting on celebrities is a safe way for people to gauge their own (and other)opinions and thoughts on life “matters,” and actually represent a part of sociological thinking. so if a celeb says something, why wouldn’t we have a “right,” to pick it apart? we have the right because this site allows comments, thank u very much. plus, it’s not like the celeb is ever going to come on this site and get hurt feelings. CBB should remove it’s long ‘warning’ about comments because it obviously prints comments that people would NOT say to the person’s face. a simple: “comments will be reviewed before publishing” would suffice.

- umma on July 15th, 2008

Love her but please stop with the blow over where her words ar concerned. She is very much implying that her opinion about c’s are that in general she finds them not ethical.

She is very much being judgemental about “others” and any way you slice it, that’s a funky attitude to have when it’s not your body or baby. Every doctor isn’t pushing them, and every women getting them is not doing so out of a sense of vanity or fear of pain.

Stop it with the “She is Minnie hear her roar!” mantra. She doesn’t need defending, she needs a reality check. I wish her the safest possible first meeting between she and her child, but she has no right to deem that the method another might have to consider to meet theirs as being wrong.

- MaríaM2 on July 15th, 2008

I had a C-Section and I think there is nothing wrong with her comments at all! I did what’s right for me, she’s doing what’s right for her. Good luck Minnie… and I’m secretly hoping you have a girl

- Stacey on July 15th, 2008

Who cares? She is not personally attacking anyone, she is saying SHE BELIEVES. She, her, her opinion. She did not say “Women who have csections are…” “Women who have csections believe…”

I don’t know where some of you are pulling stuff from. I think you’re making an issue where there is none, or reading between the lines. That’s her opinion, you have your opinion, and that’s fine. No need to attack her.

- Allie on July 15th, 2008

Why is it ok for some to see no problem with her words, and for others who don’t agree we must be off our meds? I disagree with her words, and I find them a problem “for me” and I’d appreciate it if I am allowed my take without being taken to task for them. No one is going to stop watching her movies or start sending her evil letters simply because of her statement. This is not group think.

- MaríaM2 on July 15th, 2008