M.I.A. Plans to Celebrate Due Date at Grammys

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Sunday is shaping up to be a very, very big day for M.I.A. (real name Mathangi ‘Maya’ Arulpragasam) indeed! The 31-year-old Paper Planes singer is nominated for two Grammys and plans to perform at the awards ceremony — despite the fact that she’s due with her first child the same day. “They say that you’re often late the first time, so I’m planning to go,” M.I.A. says. “We’ll see.” She adds,

“People are trying to get me to relax and focus on the baby. It’s like being in parallel universes.”

Those universes are poised to collide one way or another, and sooner rather than later! M.I.A. says that baby-on-the-way — a delivery surprise — has already added fuel to her fire as an artist, however.

“Having a baby is the most creative thing you can do. It makes you re-learn the world through a child’s eyes.”

Baby-on-the-way is also the first for M.I.A.’s fiancé Ben Brewer, lead singer and guitarist of The Exit.

Source: USA Today

Comments

She may be cutting it close, but honestly? I think it’s awesome that she’s going to be out to here performing on her due date. If the baby’s healthy and she’s prepared to deal with whatever might pop up (or out!) that day, why miss out on all the fun?

- Lauren on February 5th, 2009

Wow, and I thought CZJ was brave when she went to the Oscars the week of her due date! I don’t really know anything about this lady, but I think it’s completely inspirational that she is determined to keep going right to the end of pregnancy. So many people treat heavily pregnant ladies like fragile medical patients, and they’re not, they’re beautiful and strong. Go M.I.A.!

- Alex on February 5th, 2009

Wow. Props to her – I went 4 days over but the only I did on my due date was pee, sit on the couch and waddle around the block once. I couldn’t imagine getting dressed, going out and performing!!

- Miche on February 5th, 2009

Yikes. My first 2 were born on their due dates.
My third was 5 days late, but I made it to the gym every day until she arrived!

Not sure I’d be willing to perform in front of a worldwide audience! What’ll she do if her water breaks?!?! LOL! (That’s how my labour started with the first 2!!)

Can’t wait to watch the performance!

- Christine on February 5th, 2009

she’s so awesome. that is one lucky kid to have such a cool mom.
can’t wait to see her on the grammys!

- fuzibuni on February 5th, 2009

“It makes you re-learn the world through a child’s eyes.”
I love this quote of hers.

Not going to lie, I’d be fine with this baby being a day or two late because I would love to see her at the Grammys!

- alice jane on February 5th, 2009

I was one week early with my first, a completely normal and healthy pregnancy, so you never know! Everyone loves telling you you’re gonna go over time with your first, and my mom and sisters all went over time and had to be induced… and my water broke while making dinner!! Guess if I was shocked. I wouldn’t have taken the risk of performing on my due date.

- anna on February 6th, 2009

My mum went to a Cab Calloway concert on the day she was due with my sister! Luckily (in a way) my sister 16 days late, so the drama of going into labour at the concert was avoided. I think M.I.A’s got the right idea, and I’m sure there will be staff on hand to help if she needs it.

- Rachel-Jane on February 6th, 2009

Good for her! If she feels she can do it there’s nothing wrong with that. They’ll probably have an ambulance on hand like they did for Catherine Zeta Jones and Annette Bening when they were at the Oscars when they were heavily pregnant.

- Jeanne on February 6th, 2009

Remember, a due date is only an estimate. When doctors don’t jump the gun and rush to an induction, the average first pregnancy isn’t 40 weeks, but 41.3 weeks.

- April on February 6th, 2009

I think that if there had been a high chance of M.I.A. going into labor today, her doctor would have warned her not to attend the Grammy’s. I’m sure that she and her doctor had everything under control. While I think it is amazing that she felt up to performing tonight, most woment work until the “end” and she was doing her job tonight. Shouldn’t we all be “commended” for working and doing our jobs while pregnant, not just celebrities?

- Beth on February 8th, 2009

Beth, most women stop a few weeks/days before having their baby. They don’t work on their due date… I think the reaction to this isn’t because she’s a celebrity, but because her job is performing on stage. Singing, jumping around. It’s quite physical!!!

- Alice on February 9th, 2009