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Can you imagine – 17 and a new baby. She looks beautiful though.
On the pregnancy: Keisha: [I was used to having irregular periods], so I was more than four months pregnant [when I found out for sure]. It was really weird because I’d been playing this pregnant woman [Mary in The Nativity Story] for three months and then all of a sudden I was pregnant. I remember thinking, ‘Maybe I’m imagining it.’ I just got so caught up with Mary.
Brad: ‘I had always imagined starting a family at the age of 24 or 25. So when Keisha first told me that she might be pregnant, I didn’t know what to think. I was a bit blown away. I just wanted to go to the doctor and find out for certain. Then, when we did find out, having it confirmed, I was over the moon.’
On media attention due to her age: I just didn’t expect it. I suppose I was living in a bit of a fantasy world in my head. I thought, ‘I’m going to tell everyone, and everyone is going to celebrate.’ Absolutely everyone in the country had something to say about it. I thought, ‘At the end of the day, I am going to be the one looking after this baby in the middle of the night and it doesn’t affect you.’
People overseas were really supportive. I had lots of letters of support from people I had worked with in America and friends over there. Then we came home and it was just like a small town. I expected there would be a small story inside the paper about it, not that it would be all over the front pages and on the six-o-clock news. It was hard for my friends because everyone was talking about it on the radio and it made them angry. And it was hard for my family because things that were said were reported completely out of context.
People have said to me, ‘You are only 17, what will happen to your life?’ But I’m not like most 17-year-olds. I have only lived 17 years, but I have already done so much. In the last four years alone I have done more than a lot of 40-year-olds have. I’m about as ready for this as I could ever be.
Yes, I was scared when I found out I was pregnant. But if I got pregnant when I was 27, I would have been scared too because it is a huge step.
Being ‘over it’ by week 39: Most of the time I felt really good, although by week 39 it was driving me nuts. I was over it. I used to go shopping all the time for the baby, but by then I didn’t want to go near another baby shop.
Her labor: Keisha was a week overdue when her three day labor began. After two days of mild contractions, the third day was tougher, but Keisha labored at home until her contractions were six minutes apart. Keisha says, ‘I was planning to have a water birth at home. I wanted so much for it to be natural and I didn’t want any pain relief.‘
However, after a morning visit to her OB, the decision was made for Keisha to be admitted to the hospital. She says, ‘They had booked me into Middlemore Hospital under another name. The plan was to smuggle me in. I was going to pretend I was having a contraction and hold a pillow over my face as I went into the hospital so that no one would recognize me…by the time I got to the hospital I was screaming for the epidural.’
On the birth: After two hours of pushing, the baby’s head was deemed to be at an awkward angle and preparations began for a c-section. Keisha wasn’t happy, but says she understood. ‘At that point I was really upset because everything was going so wrong. But I knew that I would do anything to make sure my baby was healthy. If someone had said to me at that point, ‘The only way she is going to come out healthy is for you to chop off your head…I would have chopped off my head.’
Happily for her, Keisha did not end up needing the c-section, but the birth was still difficult. She had a high forceps delivery [this means the forceps were applied when the baby's head was not fully engaged -- many doctors prefer to do c-sections instead of using mid or high forceps].
Immediately after the birth, Felicity-Amore’s breathing was compromised by a wrapped cord, so she was taken away to be checked. Keisha says, ‘I was really upset by then because I thought, ‘I have done all of this work and I can’t even hold her.’ Then they brought her over and it was just the most amazing moment. For the last three days I had been in the worst agony of my life and right then I forgot every single minute of it. I just thought, ‘I’d do this all over again.’
On names: ‘When I first found out I was pregnant, I liked less conservative girls’ names like Fifi or Lulu.’ ‘Dog names,’ Bradley interjects. ‘But then we came up with Felicity, which we both liked. We didn’t really talk about names for a long time after that. Then, when she was born and they asked me what her name was, I said, ‘Felicity-Amore.’ She just looked like a Felicity and it seemed right. I didn’t even know it meant ‘happiness’ until a few days later when Mum looked it up in a book. And Amore? Love, of course!’
Brad as a dad: Keisha raves about Bradley — he even gets out of bed in the middle of the night to bring Felicity-Amore to Keisha to breastfeed, so she doesn’t have to get up!
For Brad though, it took awhile to believe that he had a daughter. He says, ‘When we finally brought her out to see [our mothers] I broke down and cried. I was just so emotional.’
On names: ‘When I first found out I was pregnant, I liked less conservative girls’ names like Fifi or Lulu.’ ‘Dog names,’ Bradley interjects. ‘But then we came up with Felicity, which we both liked. We didn’t really talk about names for a long time after that. Then, when she was born and they asked me what her name was, I said, ‘Felicity-Amore.’ She just looked like a Felicity and it seemed right. I didn’t even know it meant ‘happiness’ until a few days later when Mum looked it up in a book. And Amore? Love, of course!’
Brad as a dad: Keisha raves about Bradley — he even gets out of bed in the middle of the night to bring Felicity-Amore to Keisha to breastfeed, so she doesn’t have to get up!
For Brad though, it took awhile to believe that he had a daughter. He says, ‘When we finally brought her out to see [our mothers] I broke down and cried. I was just so emotional.’
Baby blues: The midwife came to me on day three and said, ‘You might have a baby blues day soon,’ and I thought, ‘I feel fine.’ Of course, the minute she left I was a mess for the next 12 hours. I felt like I couldn’t do anything right. I’d change her nappy and it wouldn’t fit properly. Then I’d feed her and she wasn’t latching on properly. Brad was saying, ‘What’s wrong? Why are you crying?’ and I’d just keep crying and saying, ‘I don’t know what’s wrong.’ Then the sun came up and I was fine again.
No sleep: I’d be up checking, checking, checking, being paranoid. I remember when one of my friends had a baby she said it was like that in the first few weeks. And I said, ‘If I had a baby I would just sleep the whole time and I probably wouldn’t even wake up for it.’ But it’s so true because this little person relies on you and I know if anything happened, it would be my fault.
On family: At the moment, I think, ‘What would I do if I wasn’t at home and I didn’t have the support of my mum and my family? I think it helps that I’m not at home by myself during the day. I’m lucky.
On staying in: When I was pregnant, people would come up and touch my stomach. I don’t really want to have to deal with people wanting to touch Felicity-Amore all the time. It’s just an invasion of your personal space.
Tags: keisha castle hughes
People cut this girl some slack at least she is taking care of the baby. It’s her choice to do whatever she wants. If she wants to have a baby let her have the baby!
Hi. i’m LeAnn Neely aka Anna Neely, I think we need to read what other peoples say about you and your baby and you can see I’m nice to you this time I’m sorry and I won’t do it again I just got confused about something and I hope you forgive me and it’s something that I need to apologize to the family about this it’s no one.
I love your baby girl.
I just needed some help with my disease or disorder but I can’t tell you what I have but I know there’s nothing to offer.
your baby girl is starting to look like you to me but I don’t know if anybody eles does and when she was born she looked like the daddy Bradley.
well I guess I’ll go and I hope you forgive me in time and the Lord forgivess me also because I’m doing this if any one haas something to say hand it over.
Are we friends Keisha?
Love
LeAnn Neely
I see absolutely no reason why Keisha wouldn’t be a great role model. She is a spirited, successful young woman who has accomplished more in her teens than most of the assholes on this site who said negative things about her would be able to in a lifetime. She certainly seems more than capable of raising her daughter in a loving, nurturing family. Keisha, I wish the best of luck to you and yours.
The Whale Rider was one of the best movies I have ever seen and I am 64. I hope your family stays together. Unreal actress. Thank you
hello ”pai” thas who your allways goin to be to me i think your a woderfull mom and a amazing actres love your work.
we should have a vote about her its eather we dont care and respect her and her baby,or,we hate her and her choises!!! i vote the respect her because its her choise and as long as she can seport her choise and resalt!! ceep voting!!
she is good at acting!!:) and i want to meet her so bad to ask her about whale riders!!
and it is none of you guys bisness what goes on in her life!!! she dont know you!! like what “eliza-molly” said that is her own bis not yours!!
hi
I think Keisha Castle-Hughes is an amazing actress, and I think everybody who’s nitpicking on the whole ‘role-model’ issue needs to stop being so backwards. I didn’t even know she’d had a baby until this morning (a year after it happened) and I don’t think anything less of her. In fact, it just makes her even more respectable. She’s incredibly mature for a 17 year old, whereas when I look at Jamie-Lynn’s pregancy I think “how lame and sad”, because her mother has obviously tried to cash in on the whole pregnancy. So good on yer’ Keisha.
P.S. Hyphenated names are awesome. I should know. I have one.
Dear Keisha,
you’re baby is so amazingly beautiful.
i am 16 years old and i have been pregnant for 3 months now. before i read this story of you and your baby i was very afraid of what was going to happen, but now i can see how much you love your child and nothing has gotten in the way of you and brad raising your child and not listening to what anyone thinks.
that inspired me to do the same, i don’t give a damb what people think and i am going to have my baby and i’m going to love and cherish him/her forever.
you’re a very talented actress Keisha and i hope to see more fantastic movies from you.
good on ya girl, what a beautiful baby girl you guys are honestly blessed. don’t listen to what any one says about you having a baby at your age, i had my first when i was 16yrs old and now i have 3 children and im only 19yrs old people looked down on me but i just keepet my head high at all times. young mums are just as good as older mums, at less being a young mum you have plenty of energy to do things with our children.
hey,
congrats on the baby. being a young mum myself i know the crap people say. but its great to see how happy you are with your beautiful little daughter. i have a son who is 6 weeks and hes one of the best things to happen to me. have fun and enjoy motherhood!
This is to Keisha
I would like to know, did you really give birth to the baby on the ending to the movie, the nativity story? I am just asking thats all. Please respond to the e-mail address I posted thank.
Qute baby girl :)
Ewwww Watar UglY Kunt….
this is so kute mahn i luv tha baby shez so kute
nd keisha ur juzt so pretty mahn uze make a niice famaly ecept foa ur bf nar jokez qee streight uhp mean maorii mean….katch u uhp i hav 2 qo 2 my next klass im aht skool…from renee and danny
When did the world become so self righteous that it should dictate puritanical values onto clearly sound individuals? If K C-H wants to be a mom, and has become one then who among you ill wishers can reverse that and take away what she has already done? You go Grrrrl! People need to stop blaming “society” for their role model shortcomings. Raise your own damned kids and stop depending on the media to do it. K C-H has done more in her short life that the majority of us. Everyone of us has dreams, too bad that some of our goals have become to kill others’ dreams and spread hate. At the end of the day none of us has a hand in raising or providing for F-A. So send your best wishes and love. Keep the bad stuff to yourselves. They are far from destitute and can figure life out on their own…
I love Y’all, best of luck.
I must say, all the people on here who have written derogatory comments seem to have a focus on the role-model issue. From my point of view, Keisha has shown that she was not trapped into this by an overbearing spouse. She has been decisive and empowering to young women, showing that we not only have options but can choose our own future as well.
My daughter is 6 months old and I hope she will look to Keisha for guidance because taking each moment as it is and looking at a baby as a miracle, not a burden, is something the world has lost.
To Keisha, I offer my rather late congratulations and best wishes for the future. Felicity-Amore is beautiful.
i only can say: beautiful baby.
she was pregnant, she had a baby girl, she´s her baby, and that´s the only one thing anybody could say: beautiful baby.
i really don’t think it’s anyones business! i mean its Keisha and Brads baby no one elses. i mean come on if you were pregnant you wouldn’t want anybody posting it in tabloids, newspapers, and talking about it on the radio. would you? i would. anyway i think its wonderful that shes’ pregnant i mean i had a kid even younger i was 14 when i had my kid. well thats my opion on this matter. tata
Omg! i cant believe she had a baby. i am a huge fan. she was great in the nativity story she really brought to life what God did for us. I hope her new life with her baby will be full of joy and laughter.