Michael Jackson's Kids and His Vision of Postpartum Care
With his first son, Prince Michael, the baby had some breathing difficulties right after birth. As with any new parent, Michael Jackson was frightened. But when the NICU nurse pronounced, several hours after birth, that the baby was healthy and doing well, Michael immediately took the baby home to the Neverland Ranch. Hours, folks. Seriously, in the hospitals where I live, you'd be lucky to see your baby out of the nursery sometimes in that amount of time and in your postpartum hospital room.
Even stranger is where Debbie Rowe went when she was released from the hospital after giving birth. Michael Jackson had fixed it so that she could rest and recuperate at the Biltmore in Arizona. Now, that is my style of postpartum care! (I did have a niggling question about where she trashed the monster pads you have to wear after giving birth.) While I would have to have my baby with me, the Biltmore sounds like a smashing place. I did wind up doing a few days postpartum in a hotel after our seventh baby was born and our AC went out, but let's just say seven small kids in one room was not what Debbie Rowe had.
When Paris was born, Michael Jackson again, whisked the baby off This time he reportedly didn't even let the baby be dried off before returning to the Neverland Ranch. ( Mom went to a fancy new house of her own this time.) Wow. Part of me is amazed that anyone let this happen in the hospital. Part of me totally gets that this was all about what money could buy. My wish? That parents who wanted to give birth in the hospital, had the choice to return to their homes shortly after birth if they wanted to do so, even without having to moonwalk the baby out of the nursery under the suspicious eye of the nursery nurses.
What's your take on the story of Michael Jackson's babies' home records and the fancy postpartum digs? Just hit the comments section below and let me know what you think...
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How was the baby fed if Mom and baby were separated? It seems like a lot of work to pump and mail the milk to the baby when she could have just nursed the baby if they were together.
I was able to leave the hospital within 7 hours of birth last time. Does that count?
Angie,
That’s great! So many moms are made to stay the full 48 after a vaginal birth and around 96 for a cesarean birth. We even have moms who want to leave at the 24 hour mark that can’t. I did have one couple push really hard for 12 hours, which is longer than most birth centers would keep you. The pediatricians pushed really hard for 24 saying they wouldn’t release the baby but that mom could go. Who wants to do that?
Did you have to do anything special?
Ashley,
Are you really serious? Baby formula. There are a lot of mothers who can not breastfeed or do not want to breastfeed that feed their newborns baby formula.
people used to give birth at home all the time, or in fields, etc. not sure infant mortality rates are much affected by staying in a hospital for a day or two. personally i could have gotten more rest and bonded better with my baby at home… certainly he had a doctor who made housecalls if there were problems. funny how many people cannot receive critical care if they wanted thanks to our healthcare system, but the same hospitals do not allow choice for routine newborn care…
We agreed to return to the hospital the next day for a follow-up on the PKU test I believe, and also to take the baby to our family Dr. the next day. We took her to the Dr.,and returned to the hospital a week or so later.
We wanted to get home earlier because we had 5 other children at home, and this was our first hospital birth in a few years. We were used to the home birth experience and how much easier that is on families!
btw, my husband has always been in a hurry to get us home. We were home the same day for baby #2, and within 24 hours with our first baby. It can be done if you insist!
Reading about this does make me ooo and ahhh about what money can buy! If I had all the money in the world, I’d build an awesome birth/pregnancy/play center. It’d be equipped with quiet peaceful areas with massage, pools, kid areas, a smoothie bar, you name it… the medical part would be fully staffed with everything from natural to c-section. Let’s say, perhaps 10 midwifes for every doc, and even more doulas. It’d be a safe haven for all pregnant women and their families.
As for Rowe being so separate from her child, that’s not what I’d want at all. Though some women cannot breastfeed for numerous reasons, anyone who can, should, but often we women are poorly informed and advised. Babies are born to be breastfed, breastmilk is their perfect and best food.
I was home in 12 hours (instead of the standard 6 for my birth center), and I couldn’t get home fast enough!
I doubt homebirth will be right for me, but if I could be certain all would go well, I’d give birth in my living room in a warm tub by the fire…
I don’t think it is weird at all. The ONLY reason I gave birth in a hospital was in case there were any complications otherwise I would not have gone. Hate the places. I was out of there in six hours and home after the birth of my first son and that was too long!