motherhood

Jim Bob & Michelle Duggar of TLC's "19 & Counting" fame announced on TODAY they are expecting baby #20 - due in April 2012. The flip side of the Quiverfull ideal of "trusting the Lord with our family planning" which Jim Bob Michelle embrace and promote through their TV Reality show, website, and is that Michelle also accepts the possibility of her own or her baby's deaths, should such tragedy occur, as God's will.

Trigger Warning: This article contains graphic descriptions of infant and child abuse.

The death toll from parents following Michael and Debi Pearl’s teachings continues to mount. Another child is has been “biblically chastened” to death via corporal punishment, and Michael Pearl is defending his teachings in the mainstream media while promoting his new book.

There are myriad important reasons to have the pro-choice abortion conversation – and to keep having it as your pre-schoolers become big kids, tweens, and then teenagers who will soon be facing reproductive decisions of their own.

If you’ve read much science-fiction, you’re probably familiar with the idea that, at some scary point in the future, various aspects of mothering will be separated, enabling wealthy women to farm out component tasks to less-privileged women. That day is here. 

I believe in choices. Choices in childbirth, pregnancy, reproduction in general, parenting choices, lifestyle choices. Choice… all around choice.

Sharon Lerner talks about the war on moms. Also, that's probably it for the Elena Kagan hearings, and we learned nothing. Health care reform starts actually happening, in tiny, tiny steps.

Follow Amanda Marcotte on Twitter, @amandamarcotte

Talking motherhood and feminism with Amber Kinser. Kentucky puts a stop to criminalizing women who choose to give birth despite drug addictions, and why mandatory ultrasound laws are immoral, insulting, and ineffective.

Follow Amanda Marcotte on Twitter, @amandamarcotte

A truly pro-choice society would offer more support to mothers - all mothers, regardless of class or privilege or the color of one's skin.

Birth is not only about bringing a child into this world, it's also about bringing a mother into the world. While the safe and healthy birth of the baby should be a concern, becoming a mother is also transformative and monumental.

As we prepare to honor our mothers, I am struck by the difference between my mother’s childbearing experiences and my own.  I had many choices; she had few.