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Nikki Reed Responds to the Backlash Over That Ian Somerhalder Birth Control Story


Nikki Reed and Ian Somerhalder revealed on *Dr. Berlin’s Informed Pregnancy*podcas this week that they decided to have children after Somerhalder threw out Reed’s birth control pills—without her permission. “…unbeknownst to poor Nikki, she didn’t realize that I was going to go in her purse and take out her birth control,” Somerhalder said on the podcast. “By the way, it was the beginning of the pack, so I had to pop all those suckers out. It is a lot of work, especially after a little bit of sangria.”

This anecdote polarized the Internet, with several people condemning Somerhalder for doing something so extreme without Reed’s vocal consent. Many thought Reed should’ve been present for this—or just done it herself. A few outlets noted this story could be seen as a form of reproductive coercion, which added more fuel to the fire.

But Reed doesn’t see it like that. The actress and activist took to Twitter on Friday afternoon (September 22) and shut down the way the media is spinning what she sees as a “funny interview between married people.”

“WOMEN’S RIGHTS MATTER, so please don’t use false narratives to highlight issues that are truly important!” Reed wrote on Twitter. “We should be talking about these things, but using a funny interview between married ppl & twisting it to perpetuate gossip is irresponsible.”

Check out Reed’s tweets for yourself, below:

Reed is right. There are plenty of people and institutions in our culture working against women’s rights. A lighthearted chat between Somerhalder and Reed isn’t one of them. That being said, you should never throw out (or even touch) a woman’s birth control without her explicit permission. That’s just a good rule of thumb.

Related Stories:

Nikki Reed and Ian Somerhalder Will Take ‘One Month of Silence’ After Their Baby Is Born

Ian Somerhalder Broke His Post-Baby ‘Month of Silence’ to Gush About Nikki Reed



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Kate Hudson Is Being Called Out for Describing Her C-Section Birth as 'Lazy'


PHOTO: Luca Teuchmann/WireImage/Getty Images

Kate Hudson is facing a lot of backlash for a comment she made on C-sections. For her cover story in Cosmopolitan‘s October issue, the actress filled out a quiz that included prompts like “My post-sweat-session hacks,” and “What I do to de-stress.” Pretty innocuous stuff for the most part, but one answer did not sit well at all with many women: For the “Laziest thing I’ve ever done” prompt, Hudson wrote down, “Have a C-section!”

Moms and mom-supporters across social media immediately set her straight. “How insensitive,” wrote one user on her Instagram. “Shaming a way that so many women don’t chose to have their babies but have to! I labored for over 24 hours before it was no longer safe for me and my baby. I think that’s the furthest thing from lazy! And women who have to have C-sections for other reasons aren’t lazy, this is why our society thinks it’s ok to mom shame. You lost another fan here.”

“I don’t know what sort of c section you had but the one I had was far from lazy!” commented another. “I had all plans to go natural and was 10cm dilated and pushing for hours until I had my baby come out via emergency c section. It was soo painful for weeks and I struggled to even lift my baby for days. I really hope your comment was a joke!”

This is a great time to remind both Hudson and anyone else who looks down on C-sections that there is no “right” way to give birth. Although the World Health Organization discourages medically unnecessary C-sections, since such a major surgery can be risky for both the mother and child, in some situations a C-section birth can be much safer than a vaginal birth. Not to mention there’s nothing “lazy” about C-sections: The recovery time is much longer than with vaginal births and the pain while healing is much more intense.

Still, a lot of women get shamed for what some people (falsely) consider to be “taking the easy way out.” In February, screenshots of a conversation between a mom and a photographer who refused to shoot her birth photos because “a surgery isn’t birth” went viral. Outraged mothers chimed in to explain to the photographer exactly what’s wrong with that sentiment, but the stigma against C-section births is still pervasive and widespread.

As for Hudson’s comments, some defended her by saying she wasn’t calling all C-section births lazy, just her own. She delivered her 13-year-old son Ryder by Caesarean, and her 6-year-old Bingham with a vaginal birth. Others said she was probably just making light of the situation.

“I had 3 c sections in the last 4 years, and I found the comment hilarious,” commented one Instagram user. “Sounds exactly like something I would have said as a joke.”

But joke or not, perpetuating C-section shame is never O.K.



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Serena Williams Gives Birth to a Baby Girl


Serena Williams has a lot to celebrate in her life: She’s the world’s greatest athlete, she gets paid, she found love in a hopeless place (that would be Reddit), she can make a $50 Zara dress look designer, and she’s broken so many world records you’d think there wouldn’t be any left. Now, she officially adds another accomplishment to the list: new mom.

Williams and her fiancé, Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, have welcomed a baby girl, according to Chris Shepherd of WPBF 25 in West Palm Beach, Florida. No word yet on the baby’s name, but she reportedly weighs 6 pounds, 13 ounces and “mom and baby [are] doing well.”

Williams’ friend, THE Beyoncé, even congratulated the tennis pro on Instagram shortly after the announcement:

Ever since she accidentally revealed her baby bump on Snapchat (as you do), Williams has been open about her pregnancy with her fans, even turning to her Twitter followers for advice on how to turn over at night and hilariously documenting her “baby 101” class on Snapchat.

Williams (and her bump) also posed nude for the legendary Annie Leibovitz for the cover of Vanity Fair; in the accompanying interview, she revealed how much the pregnancy took her by surprise. “It just doesn’t seem real. I don’t know why. Am I having a baby?” she said. “If you would have told me last year in October or November that I would have a baby, not be pregnant but have a baby, I would have thought you were the biggest liar in the world. This is kind of how I am right now. This is happening sooner than later, and it’s going by so fast.” She added, “I don’t know what to do with a baby.”

We think she’ll be just fine, given the beautiful open letter she wrote to her unborn child in honor of Ohanian’s birthday. “My Dearest Baby, you gave me the strength I didn’t know I had,” she wrote on Instagram. “You taught me the true meaning of serenity and peace. I can’t wait to meet you. I can’t wait for you to join the players box next year. But most importantly, I am so happy to share being number one in the world with you…once again today. On @alexisohanian bday. From the world’s oldest number one to the world’s youngest number one. -Your Mommy”

Related: Serena Williams on Being the World’s Greatest Athlete



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Ft Mac Health

First Birth at Northern Lights Regional Health Centre Since Evacuation

The very first birth at the Northern Lights Regional Health Centre since the area was evacuated due to the wildfire brings a sense of hope and new beginnings. The boy was born to Melissa Taylor and Steven Mercer on June 17, 2016 at 5:02 am, and he weighed 6 pounds and 6 ounces. Big sister Abigail waited for mom and dad to bring her new baby brother home after he was born. According to Melissa giving birth anywhere else was not an option that she would consider, saying “It was the deciding factor for us to come home, knowing that the hospital was back up and running. I didn’t want to have my baby anywhere else.” It was not until June 1 that residents were even allowed to return, and the re-entry was phased to minimize confusion. Core services were starting to be restored at the hospital by June 13 and expects full services to be offered very shortly.

A Northern Lights Regional Health Centre news release by senior operating director David Matear addressed the first birth at the hospital since the evacuation. According to Matear “We are so thrilled to see the NLRHC returning to normal service and we’re all so excited to mark this special birth. We are here to make sure that the residents of Fort McMurray are taken care of as they return home and start to rebuild following this natural disaster.” Alberta Health Services has also given the all clear so that residents with health issues can return home safely.