Mum Star

Back in 2009, there was much talk about whether Ronnie Wood, of the Rolling Stones, might become a father: his young girlfriend (who was 20) was nattering, apparently, about starting a family together.

At that time Ronnie Wood was 62 and had four children and a stepson from his previous marriage (which had lasted 23 years, to Jo Wood), and he felt that his relationship with then-girlfriend, Ekaterina Ivanova, wouldn’t last.  Ekaterina, meanwhile felt that she’d met “the love of her life”.

Well, he was right, wasn’t he?  They’re no longer together and now his new wife, Ana Araujo, is putting the pressure on to start a family with her.  Ana is 33 and is a Brazilian model, though it’s not clear (as Mrs Merton would say) what attracted her to multi-millionnaire 63-year-old Ronnie.

In what is starting to sound like a familiar story, Ana feels that: “Ronnie is the love of my life. I can’t wait to have a family – it will happen one day as children are important to me.  We did a photoshoot the other day and we couldn’t stop laughing. I love that he doesn’t take himself too seriously.”

Ronnie’s keeping quiet about it all…  We’ll keep you posted.

A report by the Centre for Maternal and Child Enquiries (CMACE) has stated this week that whilst stillbirths and newborn deaths have been steadily decreasing in number since 2000, 10% of such deaths featured a mother with a BMI of over 35 (technically obese).  Given that only 5% of all mothers to give birth are ‘obese’, this represents a worryingly high percentage.

The report also found a link between the numbers of stillbirths or newborn deaths and the age of the mothers involved: mums aged under 20 years were 1.4 and 1.2 times more likely to suffer stillbirths / new born death respectively, whilst mums age over 40 were 1.7 and 1.3 times more likely to suffer stillbirth / newborn death respectively.  These figures were compared against mums age 20 – 29.

The report also found a link with mums’ ethnicity, with ethnic minority mums being more likely to suffer stillbirths/new born deaths, from  1.6 times more likely (mums of Asian origin) to 2.4 times more likely (mums of black ethnic origin).

The figures don’t help to explain why there is a difference in the ethnicity or age of the mums in terms of how likely they are to have a stillbirth or new born death, but the figures on obesity are enough to warrant strenuous advice being given to pregnant women and women planning on starting a family to change their lifestyles.

President of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, Dr Tony Falconer, said,  “Maternal obesity is a key public health concern and pregnant women who are obese need to know about the possible risks to them and their baby. The ideal situation of course would be for women to maintain a healthy weight before they fall pregnant to ensure the best outcome for them and their babies.

“Therefore, it is vitally important for women to be encouraged to lead healthy lifestyles throughout their lives and they can get good information from their GPs on diet, nutrition and exercise.”

Celine Dion doesn’t look like she had twins five months ago!  She’s already back to her pre-pregnancy stunning figure although she says that she wasn’t desparate to lose the baby weight.

She says that breastfeeding and ‘good genes’ have helped to shift the weight quickly and naturally.

Celine, 42, said, “You get busy with twins and you feed them so they help you to recover very fast.  So I helped them help me.”  She insists, though, that her mind was far from focused on any set goal of losing weight. “It’s not important. I’m not a model.  I’m not there to wear a size 2 or 0 or 4. I’m going to find the dress that’s going to fit the body at the time. But it happened to be that the weight loss (happened) very rapidly. And genetically, I’m very lucky, too.”

The twins were born after six cycles of IVF – the two little boys, named Eddy and Nelson, were born last October, joining their older brother Rene Charles, 10.

They’re a busy family unit.  “There’s a lot to do and lots of fun,” she says. “RC’s [Rene Charles's] in a baseball league and there was a ceremony and he said, ‘Papa, do you think it’s possible for Eminem to come and sing the national anthem. And Rene looked at him and says, ‘Oh my god. You can tell this kid has traveled around the world…No, we can’t get Eminem to sing the national anthem.’”

Celebrity stylist Rachel Zoe (of the six-inch-high heels fame) has had her baby.  She and husband Rodger Berman announced the safe arrival of their baby boy, whom they have named Skyler Morrison.

On her Twitter page, Rachel said, “Thank you all so much for your love! @rbermanus and I couldn’t be happier with little Skyler Morrison in our arms…he is everything. XoRZ”

Baby Skyler weighed a healthy 6lbs 12oz at birth and was 20 inches long.  The couple released a statement saying,  ‘Mom and Dad ‘LITERALLY’ could not be happier or more in love with their son!’

Rachel, 39, had a baby shower last month but rather than accepting gifts for her baby she asked that guests donate to a charity called Baby2Baby, which gives to families in need.

Rachel’s clients include Demi Moore, Anne Hathaway and Cameron Diaz.  However, she was once accused of promoting the size zero trend in her clients includine Nicole Richie and Lindsay Lohan.  Rachel denied this, saying, ‘The accusation that I’m somehow responsible for causing anorexia is beyond hurtful. I’ve never told anyone to lose weight.’

Is this the best nick-name ever?  Footballer Peter Crouch at 6’7″ is well known for his lanky appearance and now that he’s a father he’s been given the moniker ‘Daddy Longlegs”.  He and his partner Abbey Clancey had their first child last week – baby Sophia – and were spotted out for a walk with the pram this week.

Abbey has told of the rather difficult labour she endured but said it was all worth it for her beautiful baby girl: ‘I can’t stop staring at my beautiful new baby. Pete’s fab, he just feels on top of the world, he’s so happy.  You know I didn’t feel any pain through the labour because I had an epidural. But when she actually came out it was horrific.’

Already, she’s looking forward to getting back to normal as she adjusts to new motherhood.  She says it’s all been ‘tiring but wonderful’.

She said, ‘I’ve got my stylist Angie Smith round and we’re trying all new clothes for my new body without my big massive bump. So we’re having a girly night. I’m sick of having Primark leggings on’

Baby Sophia was conceived shortly after Abbey decided to stand by Peter despite the allegations that he hired a prostitute in Spain.  They’d been together since 2006 and engaged since July 2009 and the allegations rocked their relationship.  She said: ‘I worried about stress affecting the baby. I’m a hypochondriac anyway.’

But she insisted that the couple had survived the allegations unscathed: ‘I’m fine. We’re both fine. We’ve got our little baby coming. There are worse things that have happened. It’s weird how you can go from your whole life being perfect – and that excludes living in a nice house and having all that – just being so happy with someone who’s your best friend and then a baby, a miracle.’

Ryan Phillippe, star of ‘Lincoln Lawyer’ is in dispute with an ex-girlfriend about whether the baby she is carrying is his or not.  The ex-girlfriend is Alexis Knapp and she says the baby is Ryan’s, and what’s more she’s having to take all the work she can get in order to support herself and the baby because Ryan isn’t helping.

Alexis is currently undertaking some work as a maternity model and she tweeted, “Back in LA, home sweeeet home. 1st maternity modeling job done. Let’s keep em comin mama needs to bring home tha Bacon!! (sic)”

She’s due to be in her second trimester and the baby’s due in June.  Ryan apparently wants to take a paternity test when the baby’s born and if he is the dad he says he will fully support Alexis and the baby.  Meanwhile, though, in America it’s not cheap to be pregnant and there are plenty of medical bills to pay.

Ryan dated 36-year-old Alexis for several months on and off until September 2010.  The baby will join half-siblings Ava, 11, and Deacon, 7, who are Ryan’s children to his ex-wife Reece Witherspoon (from whom he separated in 2006).

His current girlfriend is Amanda Seyfried, who stars in Red Riding Hood.

Take That singer Robbie Williams is apparently “terrified” of becoming a dad.  He’s married to Ayda Field, who wants to try for a baby soon but in a recent television interview he admitted he’s nervous about the prospect of having a child.

“I thought that was part of the job. That’s how it goes, isn’t it? She desperately wants a child … I am terrified of that … I’m going to have to be [a good dad] and I will be because I will have to be…. I’m selfish. I enjoy doing what I want to do, whenever I want to do it. But on the [other hand], a baby comes into your life and you’re forced to not have everything be about you, and that will be good for me.”

Meanwhile, Robbie’s been toning up and losing weight in preparation for the Take That Progress Live tour later this year.  He and Gary Barlow are competing to see who can lose the flab quickest.

Robbie, 37, said, “Me and Gary vary in weight. We go up and down by the week. Gary and the boys were at my house in Los Angeles last week when Gary turns to me and says, ‘I won’t be needing these clothes soon, do you want them?’ – because he’s going on a diet.

“That was the day I thought, ‘Right, if you’re eating a lettuce, I’m eating half a lettuce.’ ”

He’ll need every ounce of strength and every bit of fitness if he’s going to be a daddy, never mind the tour…

Mel B posted on her Twitter page: “Ahh big thanks to my spice girls melc,geri and emma for all the baby well wishes! Love you! Xxxxx”

It seems that Mel B is being magnanamous though and feeling rather generous of spirit towards Victoria since she added later, “I love and support all my spice girls always have!!!”

The baby will be Mel B’s third child and is due this Summer, joining half-siblings Phoenix Chi, 12 (whose father is Mel B’s ex-husband Jimmy Gulzar) and Angel, 3 (whose father is Eddie Murphy).  The new baby’s dad is Mel B’s current husband Stephen Belafonte, and apparently they’ve been trying for a baby since December.

‘We’re really excited. We wouldn’t have planned and waited for four yours to have a baby if we weren’t really excited about it and ready for it. Even though you can never really be truly ready.’

Victoria is also expecting (this will be her fourth) as is Emma Bunton.

James Corden, star of Gavin and Stacey, has announced the safe arrival of his first child.  He’s “over the moon” after Julia Carey, his fiancee, gave birth on Tuesday 22nd March at the Portland Hospital in London.  The couple now have a baby boy, although no details about his birth weight or name have been revealed yet.

It’s rumoured that David Beckham and Kate Moss may become the baby’s godparents.

James and Julia announced the pregnancy in September last year, and got engaged in December.  It’s not known when they will be tying the knot.  Julia is a charity worker and met James through a mutual friend.