Gavin and Charlotte, who planned (and succeeded in having) a home water birth, describe her labor and delivery, breastfeeding, co-sleeping, how they chose their daughter’s name, baby weight, parenting thus far, and more.

Click below for all the photo and interview highlights.

On Charlotte leaving her hard-partying past behind:

I hadn’t really smoked for a year before I got pregnant. I decided togive it up for a New Year’s resolution. I went cold turkey on a stinkinghangover. Then after a while, every time I went out I would have a [smoke],but then I got pregnant, so that stopped straight away.

I never likedthe taste of alcohol anyway, so it was just to go out and get drunk andbe ridiculous and then talk about how funny it was the next day. Or not!

[I missed it a] bit in the summer when I saw people in beer gardens, and I thought Icould have a glass of wine, but apart from a glass of champagne on mybirthday, I didn’t drink at all because I don’t think you should whenyou’re pregnant. You’re growing a person inside you and I think it’sselfish to. You know it’s bad, so just don’t do it.

On the pregnancy:

I actually loved beingpregnant. I moaned my ass off: ‘Ooh my hips, my heartburn’ — but Iloved it.

On the labor:

Gavin begins,

I was meant to be leaving for a game, but Charlotte was 9 daysoverdue, so we had a couple of little trips up and down the bumpy roadleading up to our house and I think that started it off!

She startedhaving contractions when we were outside B&Q [a UK Home Depot-type store].

Charlotte laughs at the memory.

He’daccidentally locked me in the car and the alarm was going off, sopeople were coming out of B&Q hearing the alarm and looking at thecar, and then seeing it’s Charlotte Church in there. I was just tryingto hide but couldn’t — just sitting there having contractions!

I wanted to go for a meal at Toby Carvery, but the contractionswere every 5 minutes, so we came back.

I got in thebirthing pool, and Gavin was trying to submerge these bean bags.

Gavin explains,

I thought beforehand if she was sitting in the pool for a while, itwould be uncomfortable.

We were told we could get a couple of beanbags and chuck them in. So we fell for that one and we tried tosubmerge them, but it’s polystyrene, so we couldn’t push them down!

Charlotte continues,

I was in pain with these bean bags floating past me! I was so anxious before, thinking, ‘Is it really going to hurt that much?’ And it really does hurt that muchand ten million times more! The pain is outrageous!

[During the labor] theWales v Japan World Cup game was on, so we watched that. I was ongas and air [Entonox; a gas made up of 50% oxygen and 50% nitrousoxide] by that point, so I wasn’t really concentrating. Gavin was steaming some salmon [to have something to eat].

On the birth:

Gavin says,

You hear stories about women calling their blokes every name under thesun, but she wasn’t like that at all. We were squeezing each others’hands.

Charlotte asks,

I was telling you I loved you, wasn’t I? Saying ‘I loveyou, but I can’t do this!’ You were brilliant, you kept saying, ‘Justget through this one.’

The midwives said a lot of men panic and getstressed with their partners, but Gavin was as cool as a cucumber andthey were well impressed with him.

Then I had a shot of pethidine [Demorol] in myleg, and Ruby was born an hour later.

Gavin jokes,

If you knew it was only going to be an hour you wouldn’t have had that shot, would you?

Charlotte answers,

Yes, I absolutely would have! If there was an anesthetist there whosaid ‘Would you like an epidural?’ I would have!

You have to be inhospital to have one, so I’m glad it wasn’t an option, because not havingone made my recovery so much better — because you can feel everythingwhen you’re pushing, and I think you don’t do yourself as much damage.

It did bother me that [Gavin saw me at my most vulnerable]. I was saying, ‘Don’t look at what’s going on down there, look at my face!’

Confesses Gavin,

I had a quick look. I recommend it! The midwife called me when the babywas just coming out and to see that was amazing. You don’t know whatpeople are talking about unless you’ve been a part of it.

I had so muchmore respect and so much more love for Charlotte after what she’d justbeen through.

Meeting their daughter:

Gavin remembers,

I cut the cord. Charlotte didn’t speak for about ten minutes. She was in propershock! I was just so relieved that the baby looked really healthy. Ichecked everything and she looked beautiful! Not a mark on her — noteven any mucus on her, nothing. She just looked stunning.

It was 10:35 pm on Thursday and we had her for an hour and a half to ourselves. Then our parents came at about midnight.

Charlotte adds,

Shewas wide awake — quiet, looking around. They cleaned her up and weighedher — 6 lbs 12 oz, same as me when I was born — and me and Gav were sittingthere on the kitchen floor.

Afterwards [someone] made me six pieces of toast and a cup of tea and wehad my mum and dad and Gav’s mum and dad there. It was perfect.

How Charlotte and Gavin chose the name:

We had names before she was born — Renée, Jasmine, Ella — but shejust didn’t look like any of them. We were saying she had lush redlips, ruby-red lips and then said: ‘Let’s call her Ruby.’

Megan is hermiddle name after Gavin’s grandmother. She’s passed away now, buteveryone spoke about her with such love.

Their midwives:

On parenthood:

I’m feeling really great actually — a little bit tired comesix in the evening, but in general it’s all going really well. You hearall these things, like it turns your life upside down and it doesn’tbring you closer together, it drives you apart.

Gavin interjects, ‘But really, it’s the complete opposite.‘

I’m really shocked by how I feel. It’s just instant massive amountsof love towards her. And it’s like she’s always been here.

I felt a bit weepy the other day because I looked at her, and shelooked so lush and I thought about the birth and it was so perfect, soit was just with happiness, which sounds a bit sickening!

I said to Gav:’I feel a bit weepy’ and he said ‘Why don’t you have a good cry?’ AndI said ‘I can’t — I’d never stop!’ So I didn’t bother.

Who Ruby looks like:

When I first saw her I thought she looked exactly like me, but now that Ilook at her, she’s got Gavin’s bum [cleft] chin and his feet. When she opens hereyes in the morning, I can see Gavin there too.

Gavin adds,

If she does look like me, I can’t see it. I hope she looks more like Charlotte.

On breastfeeding:

Yes, [I'm nursing]. I can’t imagine not breastfeeding. I’m not going to preach aboutit, but it’s better for the baby and the mother, and it’s such a bondingthing as well.

I also love the fact that she’s so dependent on me. Ithink if you can [nurse] and you don’t, it’s ridiculous.

On co-sleeping:

She was in a Moses basket in our room, but the last two nights she’s been in our bed. The baby’s in front of me and Gavin’s cuddled up behind me, becausethat’s the only way I can sleep. Sometimes I’m so wired, but if hecuddles up to me and I’m nice and warm, then I can sleep.

Gavin was worried about me rolling over and smothering her, but Ithink it’s instinctual that I wouldn’t. He actually said, ‘If yousmother her I’ll kill you!’ At the start, Gavin was like, ‘Watch what you’re doingwith her. Stop throwing her around!’ I was like, ‘It’s fine, I know whatI’m doing.’

We’re both quite relaxed though. I thinkit’s really important not to be neurotic. It’s easy to fall into thatand it’s a constant effort to not be like that, but I think it’s betterfor everyone.

Also sometimesafter I feed her and [rock] her, she’s quite awake and looking at me, so Ijust can’t not look at her, because she looks so lush — I have to stayawake and look back at her.

Gavin says,

I wouldn’t want to sleep anywhereelse. We’ve been going to bed about 8 pm because we know we’ll be up foran hour or two in the night!

Charlotte exclaims,

An hour or two?! Try five!

Diaper duty:

Gavin’s good, though — he’s changed a couple of hideous middle-of-the-night [diapers] already!  I’m like all sing-song: ‘Oh, she’s done a little poo!’ It’s so sad and embarrassing, but I can’t stop myself!

Gavin adds,

I’ve got a weak stomach, but because it’s your own baby it’sdifferent. I don’t find it as amusing as Charlotte finds it though!

On the qualities they hope Ruby receives from each other:

Gavin says,

I really hope she gets Charlotte’s smile and intelligence. I hope she’s as easy going as you are. The way you can talk about your feelings and the way you’re open. I hope she’s not a closed book.

Charlotte adds,

I hope she has Gavin’s calmness, his sense of humor — which is abit off the wall but I love it — and everything physically about himbecause he’s lush.

On getting a nanny:

No! Definitely not. I can hardly bear to part with her when I hand herto one of her grandmothers! No way. No matter how hard it gets.

Taking time off from work:

I haven’t got a clue [how long a maternity leave I'll take]. At the moment, I just want to stay in my littleworld. I feel like I would never want to be away from her or missanything. So she will just have to come everywhere with me.

I lovesinging and I love doing ‘The Charlotte Church Show,’ so I don’t know howthat’s all going to work out.

On losing the baby weight: 

I’m just taking everything as it comes. Gavin’s got astate-of-the-art gym here, so maybe I can use that — maybe I won’t,because I’m really just not that bothered.

I think it’s sad when peopleget obsessed with all of that. I’m pretty happy with the way I am — and Ibagged Gavin
, so I can’t be doing that badly, can I?!

On the relationship Charlotte wants to have with her daughter:

[As a young mom] obviously you want aclose relationship, but I think you have to have some boundaries whereyou’re the disciplinarian and you’re teaching them morals. I think it’simpossible to be friends with your mother until you’ve grown up a bit –at least until you’re my age, I’d say.

It’s a nice thought and Isuppose it’s what every mother strives to have, but I think that shouldhopefully come a lot later.

On Ruby’s future:

I wouldn’t like it [if Ruby went into showbusiness]. I made a lot of money and I’m set for life anddon’t regret anything, but it’s hard — it makes life more complicated.I think you have to be such a strong person to get through it.

When youlook at the percentage of people who are messed up who are famous, it’shuge. I’d say at least 80%. Then there’s like only 20%of us who are still fairly normal, leading fairly normal lives.

Gavin interjects,

I really like Charlotte’s voice — I can’t sing a note — so hopefullyRuby will inherit that and be able to play the piano and sing, but notreally the showbusiness side — not after seeing what it’s like first-hand.

More kids?:

Gavin says,

[My grandmother Megan] had nine children, so I had loads of cousins growing up and it wasreally nice, so I want me and Charlotte to try and beat her!

Charlotte jokes,

Definitely! [A rugby team of 15] might be a few too many — let’s say ten. I think I’ll enjoy Ruby first and see how I feel, because it’s amassive strain on your body. I don’t want to leave it too long though.

Gavin adds,

There’s 18 months between me and my sister and that’s quite nice, so maybe we’ll wait another nine months and then go again.

Source: OK!

Thanks to CBB reader Chloe for the transcript and scans!

For her role in the film, Naomi, who plays a midwife, began studying pregnancy and childbirth in-depth to portray her character to the best of her ability — and scaring herself in the process. Little did she know, the information would come in handy in her personal life a bit sooner than she was expecting — two weeks into filming, Naomi discovered that she was pregnant.

It was really interesting timing actually, I didn’t know I was pregnant until…I had been in London about two weeks when I found out. I was doing all this research of midwifery and turning up at hospitals watching live births, and thinking, ‘Oh my God. This is going to be a hard thing for me if I ever get there.’

And there I was, pregnant all that time! It was just funny because I had been reading these books and then suddenly I was hiding them because I didn’t want anyone to know I waspregnant. [laughs]

However, she made it through, giving birth to Alexander Pete naturally on July 25th. Motherhood has been a transforming experience for Naomi.

He’s fantastic. He’s just gorgeous. And I’m a very proud momma!  It’s such a powerful experience, and each day it getsmore and more powerful. Just getting to know that little person…and I still just can’t get over that six weeks ago this little guy was in mybody, and he’s moving [around]…it’s just such a bizarre thing!

When asked what Alexander was doing while she was appearing on the show, Naomi laughed and replied,

He’s sleeping, hopefully! I got here…you time everything. It’s all about timing now if you’re nursing. I fed him, and then here, and then race back!

Eastern Promises opens in limited release on September 14th, and goes wide on the 21st.

Source: Good Morning America; Watch the video here.

excerpted from Mama Knows Breast: A Beginner’s Guide to Breastfeeding, by Andi Silverman

Breasts are everywhere. You just can’t escape them. They’re all over billboards and magazines, movies and television shows. We worship the cleavage. In fact, it seems like everyone is on “boob watch.” Guys are hard-wired to stare, and even women check each other out to see how they “stack up.”

Click Continue Reading for the Top 10 Best Things and Worst Things about breastfeeding and to read/post comments.

Despite all the attention, it’s easy to forget that breasts serve areal purpose. We’re mammals, and mammals breastfeed to keep their kidsalive. Of course, because of science, formula feeding is an option aswell.

As you’re contemplating all this information, remember thatbreastfeeding is a highly personal experience. Some women love it;others hate it. How will you feel? No way to know until you give it atry and consider the pros and cons.

The 10 Best Things About Breastfeeding

1) Breastfeeding is best for your baby’s health. Breast milkis full of antibodies and nutrients. Research shows that breastfeedingprotects a baby from a range of infectious illnesses and diseases.

2) Breastfeeding is good for your health. It helps you lose weight and can reduce the risk of Type II diabetes, ovarian and breast cancers, and possibly osteoporosis.

3) Breastfeeding gives you time to bond with your baby. Isn’t it pretty cool that you can nourish another human being with your own body?

4) You can feed your baby anywhere, anytime. You can go to a restaurant or on a plane without having to remember to pack bottles and formula.

5) You don’t have to prepare a bottle. When the little guy is hungry, all you have to say is, “One boob, coming right up!” and the crying stops.

6) You don’t have to clean or sterilize bottles. Who wants to add to the mess piling up in the kitchen sink?

7) You might not get your period for a while. But be careful—breastfeeding is not perfect birth control.

8) Breastfeeding costs a lot less than formula. By some rough estimates, formula can cost as much as $3,000 per year.

9) Breastfeeding is good for the environment. If you useformula, you’ll be sending bottles, nipples and empty formula cans to alandfill. Plus, manufacturing and transporting formula require fuel.

10) You’ll still have that big-boobed maternal glow.

The 10 Worst Things About Breastfeeding

1) No one else can do your job. If you are exclusivelybreastfeeding—in other words, if you’re not supplementing with bottlesof formula or pumped breast milk—you’re always on call.

2) Sleep deprivation. Newborns eat around the clock, so there is norest for the weary, especially if your baby doesn’t take a bottle.

3) The breast pump. You’ll have to make time to pump if you plan to be away from the baby for more than a few hours.

4) You’ll have to get used to feeding in public. You’ll invariablyfind yourself in the middle of a department store or the supermarketwhen it’s snack time.

5) Alcohol and caffeine in moderation. The occasional drink is fine, but excessive alcohol is not good for your baby.

6) Leakage. Some women leak breast milk. Not everyone faces thisproblem, of course. But if you do, you’ll need to wear pads inside yourbra.

7) Your husband or partner has to share your boobs with someoneelse. Let’s face it—if the baby is hungry and crying, she comes first.

8) Your husband or partner can feel left out of the baby-bondingprocess. If so, he can still take care of the burping, diapering,bathing, clothing, swaddling, cuddling, reading, strolling, andplaying. Guaranteed, he’ll feel better.

9) Discomfort. If your baby is latched on well, breastfeedingshouldn’t hurt. But for some women, there’s no getting around a bit ofdiscomfort. If so, get help from a lactation consultant as soon aspossible.

10) You will need help! Although your friends and family may havegood tips, it’s often better to get advice from a professional—alactation consultant.

Copyright © 2007 Quirk Productions, Inc., Reprinted with the permission of Andi Silverman and Quirk Books

You can pre-order Mama Knows Breast: A Beginner’s Guide to Breastfeeding  at Amazon.  In the meantime, check out Andi’s blog, MamaKnowsBreast.com.

If you’re a breastfeeding mama, which is your favorite pro and least favorite con?

A stunning new "Clay Gray" 4-in-1 Nursing Shawl brings the total to 6solid colors that blend in with whatever mom is wearing, from jeansand a t-shirt to a business suit if she’s using the shawl to cover upwhile pumping at work.

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In a personal phone call to L’ovedbaby, Brooke Shieldsraved about the Cotton Basics Collection, and said little Grier waswearing one of her many L’ovedbaby outfits while mom made the phonecall. 

Make your baby a L’ovedbaby. www.lovedbaby.com or (818) 992-9911.

Exclusively for CBB Readers: Use coupon code CELEB-BABY for free shipping with your $75+ order through July 20. (They ship internationally, but cannot offer the free shipping promo on these orders.)

In the interview, Keisha discusses media attention due to her age, her three day labor, difficult delivery, and talks about returning to work.

Thanks to ACP Magazines.

Thanks to CBB reader Sarah for the scans.

Click below for all the photos and interview highlights!

On the pregnancy: Keisha: [I was used to having irregular periods], so I was more than four months pregnant [when I found out for sure]. It was really weird because I’d been playing this pregnant woman [Mary in The Nativity Story] for three months and then all of a sudden I was pregnant. I remember thinking, ‘Maybe I’m imagining it.’ I just got so caught up with Mary.

Brad: ‘I had always imagined starting a family at the age of 24 or 25. So when Keisha first told me that she might be pregnant, I didn’t know what to think. I was a bit blown away. I just wanted to go to the doctor and find out for certain. Then, when we did find out, having it confirmed, I was over the moon.’

On media attention due to her age: I just didn’t expect it. Isuppose I was living in a bit of a fantasy world in my head. I thought,’I'm going to tell everyone, and everyone is going to celebrate.’Absolutely everyone in the country had something to say about it. Ithought, ‘At the end of the day, I am going to be the one looking afterthis baby in the middle of the night and it doesn’t affect you.’

Yes,I was scared when I found out I was pregnant. But if I got pregnantwhen I was 27, I would have been scared too because it is a huge step.

Being ‘over it’ by week 39: Most of the time I felt really good, although by week 39 it was driving me nuts. I was over it. I used to go shopping all the time for the baby, but by then I didn’t want to go near another baby shop.

Her labor: Keisha was a week overdue when her three day laborbegan. After two days of mild contractions, the third day was tougher, but Keisha labored at home until her contractions were sixminutes apart. Keisha says, ‘I was planning to have a water birth at home. I wanted so much for it to be natural and I didn’t want any pain relief.‘

However, after a morning visit to her OB, the decision was made for Keisha to be admitted to the hospital. She says, ‘Theyhad booked me into Middlemore Hospital under another name. The plan wasto smuggle me in. I was going to pretend I was having a contraction andhold a pillow over my face as I went into the hospital so that no onewould recognize me…by the time I got to the hospital I was screamingfor the epidural.’

On the birth: After two hours of pushing, the baby’s head wasdeemed to be at an awkward angle and preparations began for ac-section. Keisha wasn’t happy, but says she understood. ‘At thatpoint I was really upset because everything was going so wrong. But Iknew that I would do anything to make sure my baby was healthy. Ifsomeone had said to me at that point, ‘The only way she is going tocome out healthy is for you to chop off your head…I would havechopped off my head.’

Happily for her, Keisha did not end up needing the c-section, butthe birth was still difficult. She had a high forceps delivery [thismeans the forceps were applied when the baby's head was not fullyengaged -- many doctors prefer to do c-sections instead of using mid orhigh forceps].

Immediately after the birth, Felicity-Amore’s breathing wascompromised by a wrapped cord, so she was taken away to be checked.Keisha says, ‘I was really upset by then because I thought, ‘I havedone all of this work and I can’t even hold her.’ Then they brought herover and it was just the most amazing moment. For the last three days Ihad been in the worst agony of my life and right then I forgot everysingle minute of it. I just thought, ‘I’d do this all over again.’

On names: ‘When I first found out I was pregnant, I liked less conservative girls’ names like Fifi or Lulu.’ ‘Dog names,’ Bradley interjects. ‘But then we came up with Felicity, which we both liked. We didn’t really talk about names for a long time after that. Then, when she was born and they asked me what her name was, I said, ‘Felicity-Amore.’ She just looked like a Felicity and it seemed right. I didn’t even know it meant ‘happiness’ until a few days later when Mum looked it up in a book. And Amore? Love, of course!’

Brad as a dad: Keisha raves about Bradley — he even gets out of bed in the middle of the night to bring Felicity-Amore to Keisha to breastfeed, so she doesn’t have to get up!

For Brad though, it took awhile to believe that he had a daughter. He says, ‘When we finally brought her out to see [our mothers] I broke down and cried. I was just so emotional.’

Baby blues: The midwife came to me on day three and said,’You might have a baby blues day soon,’ and I thought, ‘I feel fine.’Of course, the minute she left I was a mess for the next 12 hours. Ifelt like I couldn’t do anything right. I’d change her nappy and itwouldn’t fit properly. Then I’d feed her and she wasn’t latching onproperly. Brad was saying, ‘What’s wrong? Why are you crying?’ and I’djust keep crying and saying, ‘I don’t know what’s wrong.’ Then the suncame up and I was fine again.

No sleep: I’d be up checking, checking, checking, being paranoid. I remember when one of my friends had a baby she said it was like that in the first few weeks. And I said, ‘If I had a baby I would just sleep the whole time and I probably wouldn’t even wake up for it.’ But it’s so true because this little person relies on you and I know if anything happened, it would be my fault.

On family: At the moment, I think, ‘What would I do if I wasn’t at home and I didn’t have the support of my mum and my family?’ I think it helps that I’m not at home by myself during the day. I’m lucky.

On staying in: When I was pregnant, people would come up and touch my stomach. I don’t really want to have to deal w
ith people wanting to touch Felicity-Amore all the time. It’s just an invasion of your personal space.

More kids?: I don’t need to create any more siblings forher because she has plenty of kids to play with! I’m a real mum to mybrothers and sisters [Rhys, 15, Liam, 11, Maddisyn, 6, and Qyade, 11months]. I’m really protective of them and I think that’s because Mumand I are so close. She’s more like a sister to me, and both of us lookafter the kids together. Of course, I am still their evil big sisterand they don’t always get their way. Sometimes, when they’d wake me upat six in the morning, I’d think, ‘I never want to have kids becausethese ones are driving me nuts!’ [laughs]

Going back to work: I have already established a career that I can go on with and, contrary to what a lot of people think, I don’t think a child is going to stop that. There are millions of women in the world who work and who have children, so why have I been singled out? Having a child does not affect my acting at all. If anything, it’s going to make it better because I have this experience to relate it to. When I played Mary I played a mother and I’ve thought since that if I played that role again, I’d do so much of it differently.

Just because I have a baby, it doesn’t mean that my career is going to go kaput. I have a really ambitious streak in me. I want to do it now more than I ever did. I want to do it because I love it, not just to spite other people.

It’s interesting to see her top-of-the-shirt method- I’ve only done this when I wear a nursing tank. Do you nurse from the neckline or the shirt hem?

Click Continue Reading to see the photo and post/read comments.

Please note: We already had the whole "should she or shouldn’t she" discussion about nursing in public and whether or not Maggie should use a nursing cover.  Unless you have something positive to add, please do not post a negative comment or say that Maggie should cover up — it won’t be published because it’s not constructive or productive AND it was all said before.

Photo by Splash News, splashnews.com, splashnewsonline.com

People has an additional pic of Maggie feeding Ramona baby food. For more photos, visit Just Jared.

Ramona is wearing Kinderware’s Infant Gripper Socks in pink ($24 for 7 pairs).

In other photos, Maggie has a Bugaboo Cameleon in grey with blue fabric ($899) topped with a breezy sun canopy in blue ($40) parked in front of her.

She has a Not Rational Fab diaper bag ($517).

Thanks to CBB readers Jessie, Melanie and RB.

Note from Danielle: There has been a little controversy over the photo of Maggie breastfeeding Ramona.  Some people have felt that it was intrusive of paparazzi to photograph her nursing Ramona, while others interpreted Maggie’s nursing in public (aka NIP) as a sign that she didn’t mind being photographed doing something completely normal and natural. Just a few people were bothered that Maggie didn’t cover up more.  The majority of feedback we’ve received on this photo is wonderfully positive. However, on other sites (aside from Mothering and TheBabyWearer), it’s the opposite.

Please remember when you post a comment that we only publish comments that are respectful of each other, celebrities, celebrity babies, and us.  Comments are getting nasty- if you want to argue with someone, email them.

Photos by Pacific Coast News and WENN.

Thanks to CBB reader Amy.

Media coverage of this post on other sites:

Babble

Best Week Ever

Boston Globe

Celebitchy

DaddyTypes

Gawker

In Case You Didn’t Know

Metadish

Oh No They Didn’t

Pink is the New Blog

The Cleaver

On looking good out in public: If you had paparazzi outside your house, you’d make sure you looked good, too. I was dying to get out of the house [during my pregnancy], but I had to sneak into the back ofmy brother Todd’s car – eight months pregnant – and lie down on thefloor. Just so we could go to Target.

Losing that post-pregnancy weight: It’s so much work afterward to get the weight off.  I thought I was going to throw up [the first time I went jogging after Kingston was born]. If youjust do it, it comes off. And when you’re nursing, like I am, yourmetabolism is like whoosh!

You’re sleep-deprived, but you have this crazy amount of energy because of all those hormones. I’m scared what’ll happen when it all stops. what it’ll feel like, going back to the regular me.

A lifelong struggle: Seriously, though, it’s very boring and embarrassing and I hate talking about it, but it’s true. I’ve always been ona diet, ever since I was in the sixth grade. It’s an ongoing battle andit’s a nightmare. But I like clothes too much, and I always wanted towear the outfits I would make. And I’m veryvain. [laughs] I let myself cheat once or twice a day with acookie or pizza.

On Gavin as a father: I even wrote in a song, ‘You seem like you’d be a good dad.‘ [From 'Simple Kind of Life']. So, yeah he’s lived up to my expectations, more than. He hasalways been very loving and romantic.

Rinse and repeat: Now I’m in a repeater zone. I just want to make babies and make records.

Gavin on Gwen and Kingston: He arrives at the interview, carrying Kingston. Gavin beams while talking about their son. ‘He’s already got four teeth. And he’s keeping Gwen up a lot, because she’s nursing. But other than that, he’s a happy little boy.’

Source: Harper’s Bazaar via People and Us Weekly.

This beautiful 100% lush cotton t-shirt is cut in a flattering extra long length and is adorned with cap sleeves and a cute triple pin tuck at the top of the sleeve. It’s no wonder that this matching mommy/baby t-shirt is adored by A+ list breastfeeding celebs such as Gwen Stefani, Mariska Hargitay, Heidi Klum, and Maggie Gyllenhaal.  At almost 18 months, Anya is still nursing (just during the day), with no sign of stopping so I am proud to wear the shirt set.

Here’s what Mariska Hargitay had to say about these new shirts: "Thank you for the Supply and Demand tee shirts. They’re adorable! It was so sweet of you to think of me and August." And new mom Tori Spelling thinks that the line is full of "Absolutely adorable stuff!"

Together with Milkdudz – not your mommaz nursing wear, we are offering 4 lucky winners a chance to major in Economics 101 – breastfeeding style and win a Supply and Demand t-shirt set.

Update: Here are our winners and what they said is their favorite thing about nursing their children.

Lynn J.: My favorite thing about nursing:  Nursing MAKES me slow down and appreciate what I have.  No matter what is going on in my life I can’t speed through a nursing session.  Nursing is just me and my beautiful baby boy….no one else.  He gets distracted very easily (just like his momma) so I have to make nursing a very quite time for us.  This is my last baby so I want to remember every little moment and nursing helps me to do that.  Such a wonderful experience!!

Heather B.: It is difficult to say one favorite thing about nursing, but if I must, I would say the bonding that comes from being the only one who can do this for my baby and seeing her incredible independence as a result of it. Thank you for helping to make breastfeeding mainstream, and helping mommies to feel hip while doing it.

Stacy K.: My favorite thing about nursing is the closeness I have with my baby. When she looks up in my eyes while playing with my shirt or fingers everything in the world melts away. It is like we are the only two people that exist. Even though I am so tired in the middle of the night, it is wonderful to snuggle this way.

Becky C.: When my daughter, "comes up for air"!  Her lips are all full and red, milk is running down her chin, and she gives me the biggest "thank you" smile every time… melts my heart!

Since every breastfeeding mother and child is a winner, Milkdudz is offering everyone else a 15% discount on the purchase of the Supply and Demand t-shirts when you use coupon code MDZ15.

Please post your favorite thing about nursing your children!

Here’s mine:  Like Heather said above, it’s hard to choose just one thing so I’m going to cheat and list a few.  Anya has recently discovered a little raised birthmark on my chin, just below my lip, and recently, whenever she nurses, she likes to play with it.  She presses it like a button, pinches it, caresses it.  I never paid much attention to it before, nor has she, but all of a sudden, it’s her favorite thing to do when she’s nursing.  The second favorite thing is, like Lynn said, nursing makes you take a break and enjoy time with your baby.  Especially with an active toddler, it’s a rare chance to hold Anya for more than a few seconds without her squirming.  The third favorite thing is that when I ask Anya if she wants to nurse, she giggles this goofy laugh, kind of like "heh heh."  (She also does it when we ask her if she wants to watch Sesame Street or eat an apple.)

Check out this great article in the Boston Globe called "Supply & Demand," about more and more American women choosing to breastfeed their children not only past the first year, but also beyond the second, third, and sometimes fourth and fifth. As the title says, it’s not just earth-mother stereotypes doing it.

Photo by Vince Bucci for Getty Images.