For most women, becoming pregnant is one of the happiest times of their lives. The excitement after feeling a baby’s kick inside a mom’s belly; the emotional thrill of hearing the heartbeat for the first time; trying to pick out that perfect name, all bring joyous thoughts and memorable anticipation to a woman’s ever evolving world. But, sometimes, late in a mother’s pregnancy, that beautiful life growing inside of her suddenly stops. It’s been reported that 1 in every 115 births in the US is a stillbirth, and, sadly, most of these deaths are unexplained. These 18 celebrity stillbirths are heartbreaking.
18 Celebrity Stillbirths
Photo by: Bravo
1. Wendy Williams – The popular talk show host and author, had a heartbreaking two stillbirths, both when she was 5 months along. Previous to that, she had a miscarriage at 7 weeks. Together, she and her husband, Kevin Hunter, have one son, Kevin Jr.
2. Linda Evangelista – The supermodel delivered a stillborn baby 6 months into her pregnancy. The father was French football player Fabien Barthez. Six years later, she gave birth to a son, fathered by French billionaire, Francois-Henri Pinault.
3. Josephine Baker – The multi-talented performer had a stillbirth in 1941. She later went on to adopt 12 children.
4. Kelly Brook – In 2011, when the actress and model was 5 months along, she and ex-boyfriend, Thom Evans, suffered a devastating loss when she delivered her only child, a stillborn little girl.
5. Tameka”Tiny” Cottle-Harris – In 2009, the singer/reality star and rapper TI, lost their daughter when Tameka was 6 months pregnant.
6. Jennifer Syme – In 1999, the late actress, and former boyfriend, Keanu Reeves lost their only child, a daughter, 8 months into her pregnancy.
7. Andrea Schroeder – The reality star, and wife of actor Ricky Schroeder, was in her 6th month, carrying the couple’s 4th child, when she delivered their stillborn son.
8. Amanda Holden – In 2011, the Britain’s Got Talent judge, and husband, Chris Hughes, delivered a stillborn baby boy at 7 months. Sadly, a year earlier the couple had just experienced a miscarriage. Now, the couple have two children together
9. Barbara Eden – The I Dream of Jeannie actress carried a baby for 8 months before delivering a stillborn son. Tragically, her only surviving child, with ex-husband, Michael Ansara, died in 2001 of a heroin overdose.
10. Michelle Duggar – The reality star stirred up quite the controversy when she was pictured holding the hand of her stillborn daughter in 2011. She was five months pregnant. The baby girl was the 20th child for Michelle and husband, Jim Bob Duggar.
11. Annie Lennox – The soul singer has spoken candidly about the pain of her son’s stillbirth in 1988, with former spouse, Israeli filmmaker, Uri Fruchtmann. The couple later had two daughters together.
12. Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis – The former First Lady gave birth to a stillborn daughter during her eighth month in 1956. She and husband, President John F. Kennedy went on to have three more children. Sadly, her youngest son, Patrick, was born 5 ½ weeks premature and died two hours after his birth.
13. Lily Allen – At 6 months pregnant, the British pop singer delivered a stillborn son in 2010. She previously had a miscarriage in 2008, but has since been blessed with two children.
14. Jane Pratt – In 2005, the Jane magazine editor, and ex-husband, Andrew Shaifer, suffered a double loss delivering stillborn twins at five months. The couple have one daughter together.
15. Jade Goody – In 2007, the late, Big Brother star, who died of cervical cancer, was pregnant with twins, with partner Jack Tweed, but, sadly, lost both, one to a miscarriage, and the other to a stillbirth.
16. Kim Woodburn – The English presenter gave birth to a stillborn son in 1966 when she was 6 months pregnant. She never had any more children.
17. Katey Sagal – In 1991, the Married with Children actress was rushed to the hospital and delivered her stillborn daughter, Ruby, via cesarean. She later went on to have two children with ex-husband Jack White, and one with current husband, Kurt Sutter.
18. Lela Rochon – Actress Lela Rochon once shared that she delivered her son when she was just 5 months into her pregnancy. “I know everybody’s situation is different, but I also think you never truly get over that kind of loss and you never trust your body again until you see a healthy child come,” she shared.
After reading this article, it goes to show that we are all human who suffer the same losses!
No matter how rich or poor the loss of a child and to have to deliver that child is the most
Horrendous experience that any mother goes through and one that you never get over. Your pain and grief grows as the child you never got to keep grows up.
Wow i had no idea about most of those. Ive had a miscarriage and a full term Stillbirth daughter. I have 3 living children too. Its utterly devestating.
I’m sorry. I have two adult daughters and can’t imagine how devastating it must be to deliver a stillborn child.
How are you doing now and what did you do to get through?
I am sorry for your loss Caz how are you doing and what have you done to get through?
I lost my baby the 23rd of June 2015. It just doest make sense. . I had a fantastic pregnancy and went to all my mid wife appointments. We had a post mortem but it didn’t come up with anything. She was 6lb 11oz and perfectly formed. Phoebe Pamela Cross forever my first.
May I ask how far along you were and what you are doing to cope?
Hi Sam, Phoebe arrived on my due date so I carried her 40 weeks to the day. It was only the last two days of the pregnancy that I think something changed. My body was going through all the normal pre labour symtoms… I think because I was concentrating on these new feelings I didn’t think to focus on her movements.. after all I was expecting her at any second. I loved being pregant and will always be grateful for the time we had together. My husband has been my rock and we feel positive for the future.
Wow you sound amazingly strong…this is really tough and I can’t wait for the ache in my heart to subside
I am really sorry for your loss. I can imagine how you feel.. I lost my son at 39, 5 weeks due to placental abruption on October 16, 2016. He was 6 pounds, a beautiful baby. I also had a perfect pregnancy, no issues at all. I should have listened to my instinct 5 days before he died. My first born was premature, he was born at 35 weeks, now he is 4 and doing great and I asked my Obgyn to schedule me for a c-section at week 37 or 38 but he and the other obgyns said, I was perfectly fine and I should not fear…. and 5 days later, I had lower abdominal pain and started bleeding. I lost a lot of blood and by the time I got to the hospital my baby died. I am still devastated, my husband does not want to talk about it, he has been really distant since our son died. I feel like I failed my baby. Until now we have no diagnosis or no reasons why that happened. It has been also difficult for me to have a normal life after 4 months, healing my emergency c-section and dealing with lactation were the most horrible moments in my entire life. I wish you strength in this hard time. I am glad your husband is supportive, mine has been the opposite for me.
I just lost my baby boy at 36 weeks from a true knot. Its devastating. He was perfect and would have been ready to come into the world. Aedan Paul Thomas
I lost my daughter at 37 weeks this year . Oct 26
I lost my son Joseph Jordan W. on November 11,2016. He was 37 weeks. He had a heartbeat at 8am in the morning the day of my delivery. Hardest thing to go through in my life.
I am sorry for your loss. What are you doing to get through?
I just lost my little Aiden on 12/07/19, also to a true knot. My heart breaks for the both of us.
It’s amazing seeing that other women went through the same thing as us . Had a still birth at 37 weeks ,
Sorry for your loss. COmfort and peace to you and your family.
Sorry for your loss. This is more common than I thought.
Went into labor at 37 1/2weeks nov. 16th had a perfect pregnancy left my house otw to the hospital my daughter stretched out up into my ribs moving around. We got to the hospital 10min later after I last felt her move. they hooked me up to the monitors and she had no heart beat. My placenta ruptured. Definitely wasn’t what i had expected to hear. It’s been 3 weeks and I’m lost I just want my beautiful baby Alayna. She was utterly perfect 🙁 feel lose and empty without her
I am so sorry that happened to you and your family. I know how devastating it is. Please be kind to yourself as you heal.
I’m so sorry for your loss. I went into early labour at 24 weeks and delivered my baby girl, but she sadly she passed on December 17th. This has been the hardest things for me I cry and miss my baby daily.
I just delivered my stillborn son, Madoc, 3 weeks ago. I was at 41 weeks and 4 days. I saw my midwife at 9:30p the night before and everything looked good. Nothing prepared me for this. I know what you are all going through and I am very sorry.
I am very sorry for your loss. How are you doing and what have you been doing to get through this storm?
I lost my baby 2 months ago and it has been the most challenging event in my life thus far. I miss her dearly and can’t stand the silence. I didn’t know that you could lose a baby so far in a pregnancy (I was very naive) but feel a lot more empowered if my partner and I decide to go down that road. Nothing in life is guaranteed but I am surprised that not once did any of my doctors ask me how the baby was moving. I still wonder if me monitoring her movements might have made a difference.
Hugs to you all as I understand the utter pain, shock and devastation.
I lost my baby boy at 38 weeks 2 weeks ago. I miss him so much every single day. my heart aches so much for him. It seriously is the hardest thing I have ever had to go through. I went in for an induction and within the first 5 or 10 min I was there… No heartbeat … It was worst feeling in the world to hear “I am so sorry….” My mind went blank and I just started screaming… My entire world crushed down on me. I cry every single day, multiple times a day. Luckily I have a great support system and my 2 year old daughter who pulls me up from my utter sadness. She wipes my tears and says “No cry mommy!” However the pain I feel inside for losing my son is far greater than I can control. It helps knowing that there others out there like me who have gone through the same situation and have rised up. It gives me hope.
I lost my son at 38.5 weeks in 2011. I had a clinic visit 5 days beforehand and he looked great. I felt less movement that week. I wish I had gone in but I didn’t think anything could be wrong at that point. I guess I am over it; I moved on with the help of my daughter and husband but we all still miss him and want him. Life will never be the same.
I lost my daughter at 36 weeks on March 4 2017. The moment when that ultrasound technician left the room , I knew she was gone. When she came back in she told me my daughter no longer had a heart beat. Even since that moment my soul died. I’ve would of gave my last breathe to watch my daughter take her first. Nothing makes me happy and this is ruining my marriage. I just love her so much. This is what you call life / the pain and beauty of it
I am so sorry but also grateful for all of you beautiful women. I am devastated to hear all of these stories but feeling a little lighter to know that I’m not alone. I just lost my son Ellison at 29 weeks on July 10th. He was thriving and I never saw it coming. I have already lost 2 other children; one at 11 wks and and my son last August at 19 weeks. Each situation was so different, so I am at a loss. My babies are together in heaven. My hopes are that my husband and I will one day give birth to a baby that will live here on Earth with us.
My daughter would have celebrated her 18th birthday this year. When I think back on the moments surrounding her birth/passing, it still feels like a dream. The emptiness that fills your heart and soul never diminishes but, somehow you learn to cope and function again. Parents who have endured the loss of a child knows and understands that life is never the same and you must adjust to a new life… a life without the future you had planned and envisioned.
I just gave birth to my baby boy 10 days ago. He was 40 weeks 1 day. He was stillborn due to placental abruption. I was in labor for 4 days and I felt something wasn’t right because my labor was lasting so long but I was determined to go through the process without complaining or sounding the alarm unnecessarily. The midwife was unable to find his heartbeat and I was brought to the hospital where they confirmed my son was gone. I’m heartbroken. I’m so sad and wish I could hold him and kiss him. I’ve never felt so low in my life.
I lost my son Memphis Matteo, stillborn at 39 weeks pregnant. Everything was normal in my pregnancy. He was born June 12th 2021. Took me 2 days to give birth. He was our first son.
My husband and I just had our second son Matteo Jakobi. In no way will he ever replace Memphis and we miss Memphis dearly, but I am feeling more hopeful for the future and find joy and happiness raising our little one.
I try too look at it in a positive light. I will never be without a child because when I die and go to heaven I will get to be with my Memphis again. Untill then I shall day dream about the man he is becoming in heaven and send light and love his way whenever I think of him.
I lost my son at 39 weeks . No prior issues
I just lost my son on 8/24. He was 2 weeks old. He was born premature at 26 weeks, 6 days. I had to have an emergency c-section. I developed IUGR at 20 weeks. He was measuring small. An appointment for a routine ultrasound at 24 weeks, 6 days on 7/27 changed everything. I ended up being admitted to L&D because there was restricted blood flow to my baby. They kept me several days for monitoring and wanted to deliver me at 25 weeks, 4 days but my husband and I prayed and we decided to try and make it to 28 weeks. Well our son Rome had other plans and made his debut 1 week earlier than we planned on 8/9. He was in NICU and we knew he had a long road ahead but he was so strong and such a fighter. Unfortunately he caught an infection and passed away on 8/24. He died in my arms. The most heartbreaking and devastating thing we have ever experienced. The entire NICU staff was affected as well as they all loved him because he was so special. He had so much personality! I am still struggling with his death and so is my husband but we are getting through it together. We do still plan to extend our family. We have our daughter London who gives us strength, especially on our weakest days. It’s just hard because we had a miscarriage Aug 2022 and now we lost our son August 2023, 3 days before my husband’s birthday. Things will never be the same. We are trying to find our new normal. Please give us strength to get through the holidays. Peace, love and strength to you all!
im so sorry for your loss. As i was reading your story, it reminded me of ny little boy. I had the same exact situation. i went in on 10/20 for my rountine check-up and also found out my son was severe IUGR (less than 1%, 16 days behind). everything was fibe for weeks until i went in on 11/8. i developed severe preclampsia and was admitted to the hospital until i gave birth. my son was born a week later (at 28 weeks +3) and died 2 days later in the NICU. he also died in my arms and it’s so hard. even though he was so tiny, 1lb 8oz, he was so perfect. its so hard going through the days knowing my son is up in heaven and not here on earth. i pray for strength and healing. ❤