Here in the US homebirths are only 1% of the babies born. 1 out of every 3 born is via cesarean section. This is supposed to be for saving mothers and babies, yet our maternal and infant morbidity/mortality rates ranking is at the bottom of the barrel with other industrialized nations. Behind Estonia for heaven’s sake.

The fact that she is having a peaceful and loving homebirth is something to applaud. Her marital status should not even come up. I wonder how many would be criticizing her if they were married and 3 months after giving birth was getting divorced.

Homebirths are a wonderful and personal experience that is hard to be matched in a hospital setting. Good job Charlotte

It’s their choice, whether they get married or not. Being legally married doesn’t guarantee that relationship will last forever. A lot of the Hollywood couples that have been together the longest, are not married. Some people might not do things that way, but some might. My uncle has been with his girlfriend for 10 years, and they have no plans to get married. But, they are committed to each other and have a very happy, very strong relationship. They’ve chosen not to have kids either, and they are more than content with that decision. To each their own.

Nicole- Actually, umarried men DO have ties to their familes. They are called emotinal ties.

There are recent pictures of Charlotte and Ruby here:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1064775/Baby-board-Charlotte-Church-shows-bump-supermarket-trip-daughter-Ruby.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1059937/Charlotte-Church-shows-growing-bump-celebrates-daughter-Rubys-birthday.html

Right on! Jane! More power to you. It is sad that certain celebs are not good examples for other people. A lot of the celebs do not have any morals or values anymore. It is easy for a celeb to have a baby out of wedlock especially if their partner is a C.E.O of a company or makes six figures,they won’t need to worry about child support. But not everyone is a celebrity and some people who do have a baby out of wedlock don’t have a guy that makes six figures to support that child or children.
It is a shame that a lot of the celebs treat marriage as being insignificate and the father can come and go as he pleases, since he has no ties to the family. Oh well. Best wishes to Charlotte, Gavin, Ruby and the baby on the way.

Just because someone isn’t doing it the way that you would do it, or want to do it, doesn’t make it wrong.

For the LONGEST time I was anti-marriage since I had seen how badly my parents ended things. However, as soon as I met my husband I couldn’t wait to get married. Now that I am, I am so happy I did it, but I would never in a million years tell someone that they have to or that it’s wrong not too.

Kurt & Goldie, Tim Robbins & Susan Sarandon, Johnny & Vanessa…they’ve chosen not to get married and they’ve been together a lot longer than most Hollywood marriages. My aunt and uncle have been together for, I think, 17 years with no signs of getting married. It just works for some, and not for others. When did we become the relationship police?

That certain piece of paper is a binding contract. And un-doing it can get very very ugly. I understand where Jane is coming from; yes, it certainly could be seen as an easy out. But really, when two adults make a life-long commitment to each other, the relationship will last. If the commitment isn’t there, for whatever myriad reason, having signed that piece of paper won’t change that. I just don’t see it…the commitment is to each other, not to the piece of paper.

I both understand and disagree with Jane’s point. As the daughter of a minister, I believe very strongly in marriage.

However, I know that marriage isn’t the right choice for all couples. It is my belief that some couples are actually better of NOT being married, especially in Hollywood.

Look at Goldie and Kurt, for example. They have been together without being married for, I believe, over 20 years. In Hollywood, a couple being together that long is almost unheard of.

Another example is Johnny Depp and Vanessa Paradis. While they haven’t been together for as long as Goldie and Kurt, they have been together for at least 10 years. That, too, is unheard of in Hollywood.

When you really think about it, it’s the unmarried couples in Hollywood who seem to stay together the longest, rather than the married ones.

If I met “the one” would I marry him? You bet! However, just because that’s the right choice for me does not make it the right choice for everyone.

Similarly, for some people the right decision is to marry and then have children, while for others the reverse is the right decision. Different strokes for different folks!

We don’t know Charlotte or Gavin, and we don’t know their relationship. To criticize them for not signing a piece of paper declaring their undying love and devotion is, and forgive me if I tread on some toes, down right rude and cruel.

A piece of paper didn’t stop my parent’s from divorcing. A piece of paper didn’t stop my husband’s father from cheating on his mother and leaving his 2 and 4 year old children. A piece of paper of paper is just that, a piece of paper. I am married, I signed that piece of paper but I know it’s not guaranteeing me a life long partner. I know from his words and his actions that we are in it for the long haul.

Can’t we just be happy that a couple is in love, they are committed to each other and that they have a beautiful daughter and another one on the way?

Jane, I find your comment quite offensive, and judgmental.
Gavin and Charlotte are obviously committed to one another. Who is to say that having a piece of paper means that leaving a relationship is easier?
It is 2008 – people no longer feel pressured to meet what are outdated social norms. Wedlock is such an old fashioned notion