Forms of birth control have been around for
decades, and after the fog of shame and congressional gatekeeping lifted in the
1960s, birth control became more available and prevalent. One of the most
popular and effective forms of birth control has been the IUD. The IUD or Intrauterine
Device was initially conceived in 1909 when Dr. Richard Richter used insertions
of a silkwood ring into the uterus.
In the 1920s, Dr. Ernest Grafenberg and Dr.
Karl Prust also created silkwood rings for uterine insertion with varying
degrees of modification to Richter’s original design. These IUD’s were reported
to have an effective rate of 97% against pregnancies. Dr. Grafenberg, in a
later revision, used pure silver around the ring and unfortunately, the women’s
bodies absorbed the silver with their gums turning blue and black (gingival
argyrosis). He used a silver alloy made from a mix of different metals,
including copper, which alleviated the silver absorption problem and also
increased the effective rate to 98.4% against pregnancy.
Image source: Wikipedia
Copper would play a part later on in the
century with doctors discovering the effect that copper has on sperm, which
increased effectiveness against pregnancy to 99%. These copper-wired IUD’s
would later come into the market in 1988 under the Paragard name.
There have been some misfires on the road to
the IUD’s of today. The A.H. Robins Company in 1971 put an IUD on the market
called the Dalkon Shield. The marketing for this IUD was aggressive and was
priced modestly compared to other IUD’s on the market. In 1974, it was pulled
from the market due to a poorly-designed removal string that caused bacteria to
enter the uterus. These bacteria caused thousands of women to develop Pelvic
Inflammatory Disease (PID), infertility, and in some cases, sepsis. There were
over 300,000 lawsuits filed against A.H. Robins in the late 1970s which caused
the company to go bankrupt and fold.
There are five different kinds of IUD brands today, which consist of Skyla, Kyleena, Lilleta, Mirena, and Paragard. The first four are known as hormonal IUD’s because they contain the hormone Progestin (Levonorgestrel) which mimics the naturally-produced hormone Progesterone. These hormones help thicken mucus in the cervix, which can block and trap sperm from reaching the egg. In some cases, the hormones can stop the egg from leaving the ovaries, which eliminates the chance of impregnation due to no egg being available.
The fifth one listed, Paragard, is a
copper-wrapped IUD with no hormones which can protect against pregnancy for 12
years. This is the most extended protection of any IUD available. The hormonal
IUD’s protection range lasts anywhere from three years (Skyla) to seven years
(Mirena and Lilleta). Paragard also carries the most risk associated with using
it. Women have reported more massive period flows and more menstrual pain in
comparison with other IUD’s. You can’t use Paragard if you’re allergic to
copper or if you suffer from Wilson’s Disease.
One of the IUDs pros is that once it’s in,
you’re done. Under normal circumstances, you can leave it in until you reach
the end of its useful life. IUD’s also have the highest effectiveness against
pregnancy short of total abstinence.
The cons of using an IUD are in the insertion
process, which can be a bit painful. The pain could last for a few days after
insertion, and there’s always a risk that the IUD could shift or even fall out,
but that risk is small under normal circumstances.
If you’re interested in an IUD, please consult with your doctor or medical practitioner to learn more, we also created an FAQ the explains the process for getting an IUD.
In the upcoming year, seven cities throughout the UK will adopt recommendations put forth in the Better Births report, tasking the country’s health care system with improving the quality of maternity care across the board. The broad recommendations include a significant amount of funding for maternity care training, innovation, and safe spaces for providers to share ideas about what quality maternity care looks like; each city promising to adopt the recommendations will focus efforts on increasing the personalization of care to expectant mothers, granting easier access to care thing a single location, and collaborating with community services to manage ever-growing caseloads.
Photo credit : Phil Tragen
Through the Safer Maternity Care plan announced earlier this year, the country’s maternity care advocates added a provision to make the process of receiving compensation for poor-quality care easier on patients and their families. A rapid resolution and redress scheme is intended to scale back the costs associated with litigation and the lengthy claims process when tragic outcomes, like stillbirths, maternal and neonatal injuries, and death, take place within the healthcare system. While reducing the overall expense of the legal process for suffering families is important in lifting the financial burden off the shoulders of the health care system, the new rapid compensation program stands to leave some patients wanting.
Fighting Litigation Culture
The Better Births report predicts that nearly 1% of maternity care patients, including mothers and their newborns, suffer from an avoidable injury or death while under the care of a UK medical provider. With just under 700,000 births in the last year, and a projected increase in years to come, the fight against litigation culture throughout the NHS is a glaring need. However, the suggested rapid resolution and redress scheme may not be the best choice for patients and their families. Instead of going through outside legal channels to get their complaints heard and the financial support they need to move ahead with life after a negligent outcome, the program offers patients the chance to request compensation from a board of medical professionals who determine what, if any, amount is due based on their circumstances.
Unfortunately, the rapid resolution and redress scheme comes with several caveats, the most pressing being a lack of communication. A representative from a leading medical solicitor firm that handles numerous maternity care negligence claims each year, explains that financial compensation is toward the bottom of the priority list for families. Instead, they want answers as to what took place, why it took place, and who is ultimately responsible. The compensation scheme fails to afford patients the opportunity to get this critical information which can exacerbate the loss exponentially.
In addition to lacking communication with the hospital, patients who take part in the recommended program may be left without sufficient means to manage ongoing treatment or changes to the quality of their lifestyle. Part of the litigation process is understanding the full breadth of the circumstances and receiving compensation to cover each of those expenses. When the process is expedited and taken out of the capable hands of the court, patients and their families may be left without adequate financial support – and no recourse to receive it in the future.
Looking Ahead
Reducing the number of medical mistakes and oversight that takes place within the UK’s maternity care offices should be the intended purpose of the Safer Maternity Care Plan. Although the rapid resolution and redress scheme may work to mitigate some of the costs associated with poor-quality care within the UK’s health care system, only time will tell if the program works to the benefit of the hospitals more so than patients and their families. Fortunately, the influx of funding through the Safer Maternity Care plan lays the groundwork for the establishment and implementation of better training and innovation in the field, which may help toward achieving positive, sustainable outcomes for the most vulnerable patient population and their loved ones.
Pregnant Snooki was the guest of honor at a bridal shower held at The Grandview in her hometown of Poughkeepsie on Sunday, July 20, Us Weekly reported.
Jersey Shore’s Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi celebrated her second pregnancy with a Great Gatsby-themed party with 100 family and friends, including her former MTV co-stars Sammi Giancola and Deena Cortese.
Jenni “Jwoww” Farley – who just gave birth to daughter Meilani on July 13 – sat out the bash.
Snooki, 26, shared photos from her special day via Twitter.
Snooki and her 22-month-old son Lorenzo at her bridal shower (photo Instagram)
“That’s me!” Snooki wrote on Sunday, alongside a picture of her “The Bride-to-Be” table place card set next to her plate filled with brunch items like scrambled eggs.
She shared another snapshot of herself and her 22-month-old son, big brother in training Lorenzo.
“With my prince,” Snooki gushed.
Nicole Polizzi – who’s been engaged to baby daddy Jionni LaValle since 2012 – received several presents at the shower, but guests didn’t leave empty-handed. Everyone was gifted with overflowing goodie bags.
“Had such an amazing day with friends and family,” Snooki tweeted after the event.
“Blessed to have genuine & beautiful people in my life.”
Jenna Fischer has announced she became a mother for the second time after secretly welcoming a new baby last month.
Jenna Fischer and her husband Lee Kirk welcomed their second baby on May 25
Jenna Fischer and her husband Lee Kirk have confirmed to E! News that their second child was born in May.
“We are pleased to announce the birth of our daughter Harper Marie Kirk. Born May 25, 2014. The family is doing great. We are happy, healthy and sleepy,” a joint statement issued by the new parents reads.
Jenna Fischer and Lee Kirk married in 2010 and are already parents to son Weston, who was born in 2011.
The Office star Jenna Fischer showed off her bare baby bump while celebrating her 40th birthday at the beach on Friday.
Jenna Fischer tweeted: “Thanks for all the sweet birthday messages.”
Jenna Fischer showed off her bare baby bump while celebrating her 40th birthday at the beach (photo Twitter)
“I think I found a good place to celebrate!”
The actress posed near the beach with her hands on her hips. She wore tight-fitting white pants and flaunted her growing belly in a blue bikini top.
Jenna Fischer and her husband Lee Kirk are expecting their second child. They married in 2010 in Malibu, California, and are already parents to son Weston, 2.
Here Comes Honey Boo Boo Season 3 finale revealed that Mama June is two weeks late and she might be expecting.
June Shannon is experiencing all the classic symptoms: mood swings, exhaustion, and out-of-control appetite.
Honey Boo Boo’s mom figures it’s either a baby or menopause, but she is only 33.
Here Comes Honey Boo Boo Season 3 finale revealed that Mama June is two weeks late and she might be expecting (photo TLC)
As far as Mama June is concerned, a new baby is the last thing she wants. The four she has are plenty. So she keeps her fears to herself and goes about planning Honey Boo Boo and Anna’s joint birthday party as they were born on the same day 11 years apart.
They agree to celebrate at a local carnival, but Anna didn’t show up. A mean move that really devastated her mom, but it was clear what the teen was up to. Anna is still intent on moving out and Mama June is giving her a hard time about it. She was probably trying to assert her independence. Mama June can’t help but lament about what it will be like without Anna and Kaitlyn in the house.
Finally, Mama June takes a pregnancy test and gets the answer she was hoping for. It’s negative.
Here Comes Honey Boo Boo’s latest episode ended in suspense: Is Mama June pregnant or not?
This week’s episode of Here Comes Honey Boo Boo started with Alana Thompson walking into the bathroom and quickly emerging, flushed with horror, over someone who didn’t.
Declaring the situation “a poop mystery that we have to figure out,” Honey Boo Boo encountered a round of denials from the family, including Jessica “Chubbs”, who asks: “What are you, Sherlock Poop?”
After Honey Boo Boo failed to get to the bottom of the situation, the action shifted to Mama June and Sugar Bear, who once again asked for alone time, “which is baby-making time,” a notion June Shannon flat-out rejected as she wants no more kids.
Here Comes Honey Boo Boo’s fans are now wondering if June Shannon is pregnant
However, June Shannon agreed to go on a double date with her sister, Doe-Doe, and her new paramour, Jose.
The action is back to Honey Boo Boo slinking around the house with a magnifying glass, tracking her family with a vow to get to the bottom of this “mess-tery”.
The two couples went on a double date to a Japanese restaurant.
Back at home, June Shannon mused about how important it is to create lasting family memories, then emerges from the bathroom and looks at the calendar in a panic, realizing her time of the month is late.
People commenting on the show’s Facebook page are now wondering if June Shannon is pregnant.
„i dont think she is pregnant they just want to keep the suspence up in the show and get viewers most likely!” said one of the show’s fans.
However, the episode was filmed last summer… so, most probably, June Shannon is not pregnat.
Christina Aguilera is pregnant with her second child, Us Weekly reported.
The happy news comes nearly a week after Christina Aguilera, 32, announced her engagement to Matt Rutler, her boyfriend of three years.
Production assistant Matt Rutler had been plotting a proposal before Christina Aguilera discovered the baby news.
The pregnancy “wasn’t expected, but it also wasn’t unwelcome. They are all very excited though! Christina loves being a mom,” a source told Us Weekly.
The baby-to-be will join big brother Max, Christina Aguilera’s 6-year-old with ex-husband Jordan Bratman.
A second insider reveals that Matt Rutler had been “working on the ring for over a year,” and was hatching his proposal plan for several months, finally popping the question two days before Valentine’s Day.
According to new reports, Kim Kardashian is pregnant with her second baby.
Earlier this week, MediaTakeOut first reported that Kim Kardashian is pregnant again, citing two sources close to the reality star and her fiancé Kanye West.
The report cited two bits of information as “proof” that Kim Kardashian is pregnant. The first was Kanye West’s temper.
“Kanye does not respond to the pressure of Kim K’s pregnancy very well,” the report noted.
“You’ll recall that in Nov 2012 (when Kim was just 2 months preggers) Kanye West spazzed out and started fighting a paparazzi guy. Well yesterday Yeezy did the same thing – when he started fighting a teenage boy.”
New reports claim Kim Kardashian is pregnant with her second baby
The incident happened on Monday, when Kim Kardashian and Kanye West were swarmed by paparazzi during a walk. A teenager tried to help Kim Kardashian get into a building and yelled at photographers, but when Kim asked him to stop using the “N-word” the young man followed her and yelled at her.
Kim Kardashian then called Kanye West, who reportedly went to where the young man was working and punched him in the face.
The second bit of evidence of Kim Kardashian’s pregnancy was a picture snapped of Kim leaving her OBGYN’s office. Back in 2012, MediaTakeOut was one of the first to report on Kim Kardashian’s pregnancy after she was spotted leaving the same office.
Reports that Kim Kardashian is pregnant have started to trickle out from other outlets as well, but there is some conflict whether the rumors are true.
A source contacted by HollywoodLife said simply: “No way, she’s not pregnant.”
The reports that Kim Kardashian is pregnant come just days after another rumor that said she and Kanye West were headed for a split. Pictures on Instagram showed Kim Kardashian without her engagement ring, leading to speculation that the couple is splitting up.
Animal studies suggest that high-fat diet during pregnancy has the potential to alter a baby’s developing brain and increase its chances of obesity later in life.
The team at Yale School of Medicine showed diet could change the structure of mice brains.
They argue this could explain why the children of obese parents are more likely to become grossly overweight.
Animal studies suggest that high-fat diet during pregnancy has the potential to alter a baby’s developing brain and increase its chances of obesity later in life
Experts said the study had merit, but brain changes in humans were unproven.
Obesity can run in families and shared eating habits are a major factor.
However, there is evidence that diet during pregnancy can also influence a child’s future waistline, such as through changes to DNA.
The latest foray into the field, published in the journal Cell, shows the structure of the brain itself may be changed.
The experiments on mice showed that mothers on a high-fat diet had pups with an altered hypothalamus, a part of the brain important for regulating metabolism.
These mouse pups were more likely to become overweight and develop type 2 diabetes than the pups of mothers given a normal diet.
Prof. Tamas Horvath, from Yale, says a healthy diet during pregnancy may help to break the cycle of obese parents having obese children.
Nine Swedish women have received womb transplants from living relatives in a pioneering trial.
Dr. Mats Brannstrom, of the University of Gothenberg, who has been leading the experimental fertility project, hopes the technique could help other women who want to become pregnant.
This includes women either born without a womb or who have womb problems that stop them conceiving.
Dr. Mats Brannstrom’s team recruited 10 women to their trial. One could not proceed with the trial for medical reasons, but nine went on to have a womb transplant.
These women were born without a uterus or had it removed because of cervical cancer.
Most are in their 30s and are part of the first major experiment to test whether it is possible to transplant wombs into women so they can give birth to their own children.
Nine Swedish women have received womb transplants from living relatives in a pioneering trial
There have been two previous attempts to transplant a womb – in Turkey and Saudi Arabia – but both failed to produce babies.
“This is a new kind of surgery,” Dr. Mats Brannstrom told Associated Press in an interview from Gothenburg.
“We have no textbook to look at.”
Dr. Mats Brannstrom and colleagues will run the first workshop on how to perform womb transplants and they plan to publish a scientific report on their efforts soon.
The transplant operations did not connect the women’s uteruses to their fallopian tubes, so they are unable to become pregnant naturally. But all who received a womb have their own ovaries and can produce eggs to be used for IVF treatment.
According to a new research, premature birth – where waters break too soon, triggering labor – may be caused by specific bacteria.
The research could lead to screening and possible treatment for women at risk of early labor, say researchers at Duke University School of Medicine in North Carolina.
The findings, published in the journal PLOS ONE, suggest certain bacteria may lead to thinning of the membranes around the baby, causing them to tear.
Early rupture of membranes causes almost a third of all premature births.
The membranes that make up the sac that holds the baby usually break at the start of labor.
If a mother’s waters break before the baby has reached full term, the medical term is preterm premature rupture of the membranes (PPROM).
If this happens early, before contractions start, it can – but does not always – trigger early labor.
Premature birth may be caused by specific bacteria
The researchers have found high numbers of bacteria at the site where membranes rupture, which are linked with the thinning of membranes.
If the bacteria are the cause rather than the consequence of early membrane rupture, it may be possible to develop new treatments or screen for women at risk, they say.
Study author Amy Murtha, associate professor of obstetrics and gynaecology at Duke University School of Medicine, said: “For instance, if we think that certain bacteria are associated with premature rupturing of the membranes, we can screen for this bacteria early in pregnancy.
“We then might be able to treat affected women with antibiotics and reduce their risk for PPROM.
“Our research is several steps away from this, but it gives us opportunities to explore potential targeted therapeutic interventions, which we lack in obstetrics.”
The researchers examined membrane samples in 48 women who had just given birth, including those with PPROM, those who had an early birth for other reasons, and those with babies born at full term.
The researchers found bacteria were present in all membranes, but the more bacteria present, the thinner the membranes, especially in women with PPROM.
According to a new research, higher levels of maternal vitamin D during pregnancy have been linked to better muscle development in children.
The study on 678 children, published in Endocrine Research, showed vitamin D levels in the womb were linked to grip strength at the age of four.
The research team at the University of Southampton in UK says the muscle boost could persist throughout life.
Trials are taking place to see how effective pregnancy supplements are.
Most vitamin D is made by the skin when exposed to sunlight and supplements are offered during pregnancy.
Higher levels of maternal vitamin D during pregnancy have been linked to better muscle development in children
Some doctors have raised concerns about vitamin D deficiency as people become more “sun aware” and have linked it with a range of health problems.
The team at the University of Southampton investigated the impact of the vitamin in pregnancy.
Blood samples were taken 34 weeks into the pregnancy and the vitamin D levels were compared with how tightly their children could squeeze a device in their hand at the age of 4.
The results showed that women with high levels of vitamin D in the late stages of pregnancy were more likely to have children with greater muscle strength.
The group in Southampton is now conducting a trial in which 1,200 expectant mothers are given higher doses of vitamin D supplements to assess the impact on both bone and muscle strength.
Kate Middleton is not pregnant with baby No 2, despite tabloid reports suggesting that another royal child is on the way in 2014.
Star magazine wrote on its front page: “It’s official: Kate’s Pregnant Again!”
Kate Middleton is not pregnant with baby No 2, despite tabloid reports suggesting that another royal child is on the way in 2014
The tabloid says that pictures taken in early December of Kate Middleton pushing a stroller on the grounds of Kensington Gardens show a “developing baby bump”.
Star says that at a recent gala, Kate Middleton was “glowing”, rested her hand “gently on her stomach”, and appeared to have a “little bump”.
The tabloid further states that Queen Elizabeth was told the good news at a Christmas lunch, and that Kate’s mother, Carole Middleton, wants it to be named Diana.
Jersey Shore’s Jennifer “JWoww” Farley is pregnant with her first child.
Now in her second trimester, Jwoww, 27, and fiancé Roger Mathews told family and friends via a Christmas card that showed off a sonogram image.
“We couldn’t’ have wished for a better gift this Christmas! Happy Holidays from our growing family to yours! Love, Jenni, Roger and arriving July, 2014 Baby Mathews.”
Jwoww and Roger Mathews got engaged in September 2012
Jennie Farley also broke the news via her website: “We wanted to share this exciting news with you all first because you have been a part of our lives these past few years and seen the love between Roger and me develop and blossom.”
“We are so excited to share this new chapter of our lives with you as we become parents and create more memories with a new addition to our family!”
Jwoww and Roger Mathews got engaged in September 2012.
Evelyn Lozada is pregnant with her second child, the Basketball Wives star confirmed via Twitter.
According to TMZ, which was first to break the news, Evelyn Lozada is around six months along. The pregnancy was reportedly planned, and the father is her boyfriend, whom she has apparently been dating for almost a year now.
Evelyn Lozada, 37, is keeping her boyfriend’s identity under wraps for now.
Evelyn Lozada is pregnant with her second child
She showed off her growing baby bump on vacation with her 20-year-old daughter, Shaniece Hairston, in Hawaii, on Thanksgiving Day.
“You deserve everything that GOD sends your way. I am so excited to meet my new sibling!” Shaniece Hairston wrote via Instagram. She included a photo of the two walking on the beach, her hand on her mom’s growing baby bump.
“#YouJustKeepWinning #BabySwag #JOY”
Evelyn Lozada was previously married to Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson for a brief time in 2012. The couple wed in July but split just a little over a month later, after the NFL player was arrested on a domestic violence charge for allegedly head-butting his then-wife. They finalized their divorce in September of that same year.
Kerry Washington has been subject to speculation that she is expecting a child on Sunday night as she attended the Emmy Award Ceremony in Los Angeles in a flowing dress.
Kerry Washington, 36, the star of political thriller Scandal, was nominated for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series but missed out to Homeland’s Claire Danes.
However, Kerry Washington set tongues wagging once more by wearing a flowing Marchesa gown which may or may not have been hiding the very beginnings of a baby bump.
Kerry Washington sparked more rumors she is pregnant by wearing loose fitting gown at Emmys
The beautiful floor length, cream design with rose detailing and gold thread was regarded by many celebrity watchers as just the kind of loose fitting number you would chose if you were in the early stages of pregnancy.
Gossip that Kerry Washington was expecting a child first began to circulate when she married in private with just her parents and sister in attendance last July.
Kerry Washington, wed San Francisco 49ers cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha, 32, in Ohio after dating for a year.
So far the actress has kept mum on the baby question although in 2010 when she was engaged to actor David Moscow she told Jet magazine that she was not ready for children.
More recently in July, shortly after her wedding, Kerry Washington toldPeople magazine: “I’m blessed in all areas of my life.”
A close friend of Simon Cowell confirmed on Wednesday afternoon that socialite Lauren Silverman – the wife of Cowell’s friend Andrew Silverman – was expecting his child, and claimed she wanted to marry him.
Although Lauren and her husband Andrew Silverman, who have a son together, have holidayed together on numerous occasions over the past four years, it wasn’t until they ended their union around a year ago that her friendship with Simon Cowell turned to romance.
Meanwhile, Simon Cowell’s mother, Julie, 87, seemed thrilled at the prospect of becoming a grandmother, telling The Sun: “I’ve not heard anything officially. But if it’s true then I’m absolutely delighted. It’s wonderful! He’ll make a fantastic father. He’ll be great.”
And Lauren Silverman’s stepmother confirmed she was expecting a child with the music mogul. Rosy Davis, who is the wife of the socialite’s father Steven, spoke of the family’s joy at the news: “We are all excited for the baby. It’s beautiful. We feel blessed. Any kid is a blessing.”
Lauren Silverman is said to be “around 10 weeks along” in the pregnancy, according to Us Weekly magazine.
Lauren Silverman is expecting Simon Cowell’s child and claims she wants to marry him
Simon Cowell and Lauren Silverman’s situation is made more complicated by the fact that she is still married to Andrew.
However, some reports claim that the property magnate filed for divorce earlier this month.
Lauren and Andrew Silverman, who have a seven-year-old son called Adam, are now officially separated. It is not known whether Andrew Silverman filed the legal papers after learning of his wife’s pregnancy with Simon Cowell, although their break-up does leave his estranged wife free to start a new life with the music mogul.
Andrew Silverman is being represented by Manhattan family lawyers Cohen Goldstein and filed his affidavit on July 24.
Simon Cowell and Lauren Silverman are believed to have met while on vacation in Barbados some years ago through Andrew Silverman.
However, a source revealed that there had been issues in the Silvermans’ marriage right from the start – as Andrew Silverman’s parents Eleonora and Allen never attended their wedding.
Andrew Silverman now believes Lauren started cheating on him with Simon Cowell during one of the many vacations they all shared together.
A source told Usmagazine.com: “Lauren and Andrew have been unhappy in their marriage for some time, and their divorce has been in the works for a while. As their marriage deteriorated, she and Simon became close.”
Simon Cowell, 53, and Lauren Silverman, 36, have been seeing each for at least a year, according to friends, and were even seen viewing houses together in Los Angeles earlier this year.
The music mogul made no reference to impending fatherhood when he opened up to Chelsea Handler during an interview on her talk show on Tuesday night, sticking to topics including One Direction and his recent health kick.
It remains to be seen just how the news that he is to be a father will go down with Simon Cowell, who has never made a secret of the fact that he doesn’t believe he is the right material to become a parent.
Simon Cowell is reportedly expecting a baby with married New York socialite Lauren Silverman.
According to MailOnline, a friend of Simon Cowell said that Lauren Silverman, who is technically still married to real estate mogul Andrew Silverman, a close friend of Cowell’s, had revealed that she wants to marry the star just a few weeks ago.
Lauren Silverman and real estate mogul Andrew have been long friends with Simon Cowell and have enjoyed holidays with him for the past few years.
But it wasn’t until Lauren and Andrew Silverman ended their relationship that her friendship with Simon Cowell turned into romance, around a year ago.
A friend of Lauren Silverman’s said: “Lauren loves Simon, she says that she wants to marry him. And with the baby, she’s going the right way about it! But I think this could be really good for Simon.”
Another friend confirmed the baby news and said “yes, all true”.
Lauren Silverman, 36, is said to be “around 10 weeks along” in the pregnancy, according to Us Weeklymagazine.
However, Simon Cowell and Lauren Silverman’s situation is made more complicated by the fact that she is still technically married to Andrew.
The source told Usmagazine.com: “Lauren and Andrew have been unhappy in their marriage for some time, and their divorce has been in the works for a while. As their marriage deteriorated, she and Simon became close.”
Simon Cowell is expecting a baby with married New York socialite Lauren Silverman
Simon Cowell, 53, and Lauren Silverman have been seeing each for at least a year, according to friends, and were even seen viewing houses together in Los Angeles earlier this year.
In January, Simon Cowell and Lauren Silverman were even seen lounging together on the deck of the yacht alongside Cowell’s ex-fiancée Mezhgan Hussainy and Andrew.
Their close friend, fashion designer Rachel Roy, posted a picture of the couple cuddling up together while on holiday with them at New Year. While on board a luxury yacht, she thanked both her ‘hosts’ for inviting her on the trip.
Simon Cowell made no reference to impending fatherhood when he opened up to Chelsea Handler during an interview on her talk show on Tuesday night, sticking to topics including One Direction and his recent health kick.
It remains to be seen just how the news that he is to be a father will go down with Simon Cowell, who has never made a secret of the fact that he doesn’t believe he is the right material to become a parent.
In an interview in 2009, Simon Cowell said: “God, no. I couldn’t have children. If I had them here drawing on the walls I’d go nuts.
“With kids, you’ve got a routine you can’t escape from. You’ve got to be up at a certain time. Got to listen. When all you want to do is sit in a corner thinking.”
However, in a more recent interview in April this year, Simon Cowell appeared to have somewhat changed his mind, saying: “I haven’t ruled it out. If I knew I could be – how do I put this delicately – faithful, I would.
“I do like kids, I’m just not sure I’d be any good for the first six months. I don’t think I’d adopt because I’d rather have my own. I’d have to say I’d like a little girl.”
Simon Cowell’s relationship history includes romances with Sinitta, Terri Seymour and Alicia Douvall.
He is believed to have been engaged twice, once to Page Three model Louise Payne back in 1995, and more recently to make-up artist Mezhgan Hussainy.
Simon Cowell and Mezhgan Hussainy, who met when she was employed as a make-up artist on American Idol back in 2003, broke off their engagement last year.
Their split was later confirmed by mutual friend Zetta Graff, who said that Mezhgan Hussainy had become “too needy” for the mogul.
Simon Cowell later described the engagement as his “big mistake”, adding: “I’m attracted to crazy women. I encourage crazy behavior and I make them crazy.
“I’m attracted to certain personalities who are difficult to control. So there are tantrums, tears and fights, which is all part of the drama. My life is really odd.
“Every girl wants to be number one and they’re very territorial. I like the fight, because otherwise I’d have a dull group of girlfriends.”
Simon Cowell’s most recent relationship was with fellow X Factor USA judge Carmen Electra, with whom he was seen on several dates in 2012.
However, in February this year, Simon Cowell confirmed he was single, saying: “We spent time together and she is so much fun. But I’d like to find a girlfriend.”
But while Simon Cowell has spoken in recent months about his desire to settle down, he then called relationships “boring” in an interview last month.
Kim Kardashian gave birth to a healthy baby girl on Saturday, but the latest episode of her reality TV show proved her pregnancy was far from easy.
Kim Kardashian, 32, was rushed to the hospital after experiencing severe stomach pain in Sunday’s episode of Keeping Up With The Kardashians.
Viewers saw distraught Kim Kardashian reduced to tears and in agony as she jetted into Los Angeles amid fears she had appendicitis.
And the pain was so extreme Kim Kardashian even said she did not want to go through another pregnancy.
“It was a really painful flight, it hurt so badly. I can hardly walk,” a tearful Kim told mother Kris Jenner on the show.
“I just don’t understand it just hurts so bad, it kills,” said Kim Kardashian as she was examined by her doctor.
“It feels like I am in labor. Why is this happening to me? I hate it, I can never do this again.”
Kim Kardashian was rushed to the hospital after experiencing severe stomach pain in Sunday’s episode of Keeping Up With The Kardashians
But all was well as the doctor found the baby with a healthy heartbeat.
“I am just so relieved the baby is okay,” said Kim Kardashian.
After blood tests doctors told Kim Kardashian that she could have appendicitis and that she might face a risky operation.
But a second battery of tests revealed that she just had a stomach infection.
“For her to be in this much pain scares me so much. I want her to relish this pregnancy it is the most amazing experience and I feel she is just not having that yet,” said Kris Jenner.
“If labor is worse than this I will hang myself, I will literally take a knife and s**t my throat” said Kim Kardashian.
In the episode Kim Kardashian finally managed to get her deposition done for her divorce to Kris Humphries.
“My divorce has definitely been dragging on for a while now and Kanye and I want it to be done by the time the baby gets here,” admitted a frustrated Kim Kardashian.
“I really do not want to be married while I give birth to our baby. I have been trying to get it done for a year-and-a-half now.
“I am just so bothered and sad over this situation.”
Before her deposition Kim Kardashian revealed she still cares about Kris Humphries, despite not talking him for so long.
“At our lunch break I am going to want to talk to him and say: <<It literally never had to get like this>>,” said Kim Kardashian.
“I like, loved you, I still do, you were a big part of my life. But you know we are not meant to be together, you weren’t happy, I wasn’t happy, we should have never rushed into it. It doesn’t mean we can’t like be friends.”
“I have not spoken to Kris for a year and a half, I am anxious see Kris, I hope this will maybe give him and I an understanding of his feelings and my feelings as we have not spoken in so long.”
But Kris Humphries did not show up and Kim Kardashian was “relieved” she was moving forward with the divorce.
Jessica Simpson has kept mum on her due date, but it looks like she can’t have long to go before the birth of her second child.
The second time round mother showed off her awe inspiring pregnancy figure while out on Saturday during a girly weekend away with her sister, Ashlee and mother, Tina.
Jessica Simpson, 32, looked happy but huge as she headed off for a bite to eat in Ojai, California.
With her family be her side and daughter Maxwell in tow, Jessica Simpson stopped in at Italian restaurant Boccali’s.
Now that the singer is of course eating for two, her mother Tina made sure to grab all the left overs and bring them home with them.
For the dinner Jessica Simpson made her growing bump the centre of attention in a tight black maxi dress.
As she proudly showed off her bump in a simple bikini Kim Kardashian proved she is finally at ease with her new shape.
Looking happy and healthy, her hair in braids and skin barely made up, the seven months’ pregnant reality star was a true beauty.
Kim Kardashian, 32, was soaking up the sun surrounded by her family on a recent holiday to the Greek islands.
Obviously at ease with her body in their company she sunned herself on a bed, sat beside the hottub to chat her to her sisters and took in the scenic surroundings.
Kim Kardashian certainly made the most of her break, wearing three different bikinis – in white, maroon and black.
And while her approach to dressing her bump has occasionally raised eyebrows, there was no questioning that she looked her best in the simple beachwear.
Kim Kardashian opened up about her struggles to adjust to her new shape in a recent tweet, writing: “I struggle finding things that don’t make me look heavy.”
And she has admitted that her quest to remain fashion-forward has somewhat fallen by the wayside as she now goes for comfort over style.
As she proudly showed off her bump in a simple bikini Kim Kardashian proved she is finally at ease with her new shape
Asked about her pregnancy outfit choices, Kim Kardashian told Grazia magazine: “This is how I have always dressed, and right now I’m wearing anything that fits.
“Kourtney warned me that when I got pregnant, people’s opinions would be on an all-time high and people would chime in. Now I see what she means!”
And asked if she had been able to maintain confidence about her body during her pregnancy, Kim Kardashian replied: “No.”
The reality star even admitted that she has been forced to give up her beloved high heels because her feet are too “wide and swollen” to wear them.
Kim Kardashian added: “My doctor has told me to elevate my feet – I just ordered a pair of pointy-toed flats.”
And referring to her favorite Christian Louboutin five-inch heels, Kim Kardashian admitted: “These hardly fit me anymore.
“When I flew in them the other day, I landed with one strap unbuckled, as I couldn’t get it around my ankle.”
But while Kim Kardashian has been criticized for her pregnancy style, her sister Khloe thinks she is an inspiration.
Once criticized herself for her weight, Khloe Kardashian blasted those who insult someone “growing another life inside of her” for their weight.
In a letter published on Kim Kardashian’s website, Khloe wrote: “I find it disturbing that society loves to critique a woman’s shape no matter how beautiful or happy she may be within herself.
“I cannot tolerate one more vicious attack on my sister… For anyone to ever criticize a woman who is growing another life inside of her is true scum in my eyes.”
Khloe Kardashian, 28, praised Kim – who is expecting her first child with boyfriend Kanye West – for the “magnificent” way she has handled her critics and begged her not to let them get her down.
She continued: “I commend you for not putting your head down and going into hiding like so many would.
“You live your life and you try to make the best out of a tough situation.
“I need you to know how truly magnificent you are! You may be one of the most beautiful women I have ever laid my eyes on.
“Your beauty runs deeper than just what some may see.
“I know the beauty of your soul. Please never let anyone take that from you!”
Beyoncé was obviously frustrated with the pregnancy rumors as she posted a sharply worded note to Instagram appearing to address the gossip head-on.
The defensive marginalia was peppered with criticism and was obviously uploaded with a tinge of bitterness for having her personal life under such close scrutiny.
Beyoncé is clearly not happy about the pregnancy buzz in the press
Beyoncé, 31, seemed on the verge of resigning herself to the pregnancy talk but couldn’t help but get a few words in edgewise before vacating the conversation.
The note stated: “I can’t stop the rumors from starting, and I can’t really change people’s minds who believe them, all I can do is sit back and laugh at these low life people who have nothing better to do than talk about me.”
The message has since been removed from Beyoncé’s Instagram account.
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