Tori Spelling gave birth to baby boy Finn Davey McDermott in late August. It was her her fourth pregnancy overall, and her second pregnancy in the span of 20 months. Everyone thought Tori’s fourth pregnancy was easy and uncomplicated, but days after giving birth, Tori was rushed to the hospital after facing complications with her C-section. We didn’t discuss the hospitalization at the time because it just seemed sad and invasive (invasive to discuss!). But now Tori is on the cover of Us Weekly, debuting her youngest child and discussing what happened during her hospital drama:
Tori Spelling nearly lost her life fighting for her unborn son. Twenty weeks into Spelling’s fourth pregnancy, doctors diagnosed her with a condition known as placenta previa — a condition in which the placenta covers the cervix, leading to massive internal bleeding. She was even at risk for a bleed catastrophic enough to force doctors to terminate her pregnancy.
The actress and reality star, 39, spent 10 weeks in the hospital and four grueling months on bed rest, worrying about dying and leaving her family behind. But she kept her ordeal secret from fans. In the new issue of Us Weekly, on stands Friday, the mother of four shares the emotional story of her terrifying pregnancy with son Finn.
“I just remember thinking, I can’t leave three children behind,” Spelling, 39, tells Us exclusively of Liam, 5, Stella, 4, and Hattie, 12 months, who she shares with husband of six years Dean McDermott. The Craft Wars host’s condition was caused in part by conceiving Finn just one month after giving birth to daughter Hattie, and undergoing three prior C-sections.
Fortunately, after enduring nine massive bleeds — and one very close call — Spelling safely welcomed baby Finn Davey McDermott on Aug. 30. (Three weeks later, the star underwent successful emergency surgery after her C-section scars burst open.)
Spelling proudly shares the first pictures of baby Finn — with Mom, Dad and his three proud siblings — shot in the family home in a stunning, exclusive eight page portfolio in this week’s Us Weekly.
“When they put him in my arms I was like, ‘We made it.”” she tells Us. “We have an insane bond. We’ve been through hell and back.”
For all the exclusive first photos of adorable baby Finn and how Spelling stayed strong during her heart-wrenching medical scare — pick up the new issue of Us Weekly, on stands Friday.
I’ll admit it, I could only skim that story. If I actually paid attention to what she was saying past “the placenta covers the cervix, leading to massive internal bleeding,” I would have had to dry heave a little bit. It’s not about Tori and her struggles – it’s about my forever-queasiness with these kinds of medical things. Anyway, I’m glad she’s doing well and that everybody is healthy at this point. And seriously, I hope this was her last baby. I hope that she at least takes a break for a little while and lets her body heal after back-to-back pregnancies. And that’s directed at Dean too: keep your hands off your wife for a while, for the love of God.
Photos courtesy of WENN, Us Weekly.
How could she have been on bed rest for four months when we saw pictures of her constantly? This is what I hate about celebrities, they can’t just have complications, they have to have something incredibly dramatic and then they overstate it.
Obviously, I’m glad everybody is fine, but don’t go to Hawaii or the the local farmer’s market on a weekly basis and then tell me you spent four months in bed.
But of course it’s true. And remember – Liberty Ross didn’t leave her house for 7 weeks. 🙂
I thought the same thing when I read this. The pics above are just a few days before she gave birth. I’m happy they are fine, but the drama is to sell the magazine. The same goes for LeAnn Rimes and her “massive infection” that caused her to cancel a concert one night but show up at one the next. Ridiculous.
I agree. I follow her on Twitter and she was EVERYWHERE during this pregnancy.
She needs to “slow her roll” on the pregnancies….2 pregnancies in 20 months??? I have never been pregnant so I have no idea, but that just seems too much for the body. I like Tori though. I never liked her until I saw a couple of episodes of her show. She seems chill.
The conception of Flinn was a complete surprise. She got pregnant basically right after the time spent healing came to end. She had no idea that was going to happen. For some people pregnancies that close together would be a problem, for others, not so much.
I know after a section you are advised to wait at least 18 months before getting pregnant again to prevent rupture of the uterus and other possible complications.
I’m glad to hear she and baby are both doing well now but Tori.& her hubby were more than stupid to risk getting pregnant so soon after her 3rd section.
Refrain from s8x for a while or at least use all precautions available. If she was worried her husband would stray or leave if she witheld then she’z better off w/o him, but after 3 & now 4 kids I doubt he’ll up & leave.
Common sense pls!!
Of course it would have been better to follow the instructions set for them, but it still doesn’t change the fact that the chances of her getting pregnant such a short time after giving birth and recovering were pretty low. I’m not saying they didn’t do anything ill advised, just that it’s understandable that they didn’t understand just how risky this could be or how fertile they were.
Um, if you have a basic understanding of biology, you know that sex can lead to pregnancy, whether you’re nursing or not. It’s not rocket science.
Anyone who has had basic biology, sex, AND a child should know that unprotected sex is the #1 cause of pregnancy.
@ Trek Girl, as Bella has pointed out, you would have to be really really stupid not to be aware of the risks of another pregnancy after just one instance of s8x (nursing or not) & directly after a 3rd section – & I am crediting Tori and hubby with at least 3 brain cells so they WOULD have been aware of the risk and chose to ignore it.
Luckily and thankfully it turned out well for them.
@Ruby Red…just curious…why are you censoring yourself when you write the word “sex”?
@Jaye – just to prevent sitting in moderation for hours! No wierd hang up I promise! 😉
It is VERY hard on your body. Two of my kids are 10 months apart. The second one did time in the NICU, which is basically hell for babies. It’s only now that they are 5 and 6 (with 2 more close-together babies born more recently, but those babies are a more reasonable 17 months apart) that I am finally kind of starting to feel normal again. I mean, look at Ma Duggar.
Doesn’t he have other kids with his first wife? Why don’t we ever see them?
he has a little boy I think, he lives in Canada? Wonder if she got her tubes tied. Cause for me, if that happened with my last baby I don’t think I’d be keen on having another one.
Her kids are all very cute though..
i think he was also in the process of adopting a daughter with his first wife, but then took off with tori in the middle of it. the wife went through with the adoption on her own.
total douche.
this is the guy tori is putting her life on the line for??? women make such poor choices in men.
@Jackie O – haha do we? Maybe he was the best there was after you disregard the rapists, perverts, abusers, murderers, idiots etc etc etc.
He has a son, Jack, with his first wife. I believe that his ex-wife refuses to let him on the show. I know when I watched (I had back surgery, don’t judge) their show the small amount of time Jack was on there they had to blur his face. They also blur his face in any picture they have on the wall.
He has a son and was going through the adoption process when he started boffing TS. (She was also married at the time, if I’m not mistaken. Her dad spent like a million dollars on her wedding, and she filed for divorce a year later.)
I believe the former wife proceeded with the adoption solo (a la Bullock), and he has limited or no contact with his oldest child.
He sees his oldest son quite often, probably school holidays, and also flies to Canada to see him. There are many photos with Jack hanging around with his Dad and the rest of the family.
my sister had placenta privia with my niece, she was hopitalized for 20 weeks flat on her back, not a good thing when pregnant, she delivered her as soon as her lungs were developed, that was in 1978, I’m sure things are a little different these days, but still a very serious risk of bleeding out.
I’m glad she’s ok but this is what happens when you have 4 c-sections. Vaginal births are so much easier.
I think easier may be an overstatement here. Aside from the stitches bursting, her other three c-sections went just fine. Many women still die from vaginal birth. Its all about you and how you feel about your body.
@Melissa, some people don’t have a choice. I didn’t. I had 3 C-Sections. First 2 emergencies and 3rd (obviously) planned. I am fine and actually recovered faster than people I know who had “natural” births. Let’s not judge. 🙂
It is a fact that c sections are statistically riskier than vaginal births, and that the risks increase with each c section. I’ve only had one c section, and, it wasn’t a choice for me, either.
@seagull I wasn’t referring to the risks, but the recovery. Experience here. 😉
I think I agree with your essential point @Melissa, but you have stated it too broadly. Vaginal births are not “easier” but that is the way our bodies were designed to deliver children. They may or may not be easier to *recover from.* Personally, I had a natural birth and a year later have not fully recovered, whereas a friend who had a section was doing yoga 6 weeks later.
Thanks to modern medicine, many women and children are alive because doctors can perform c-sections. HOWEVER, c-sections are vastly overdone in the US and that’s partially because people do not appreciate the long-term effects of major abdominal surgery. I have no idea why Spelling had her original c-section, but we know that in places like NY and LA, many women deem themselves “too posh to push” and have completely elective, unnecessary c-sections. Here we have a perfect example of why that is a terrible idea: there are side effects, especially if you intend to have many more kids.
I agree, vaginal isn’t always easier…..my first I was in labour for 43 hours (hard labour) wasn’t pushing right when it came time to push so they turned off my epidural (that I had just gotten 20 hours before), then my daughter got “stuck” and they had to vaccuum her to deliver her and in the process dislocated both my hips. So no, not always easier.
I’m going to have to respectfully disagree that the c-sections caused this. I have 4 children, delivered first 3 vaginally, no complications whatsoever. When I got pregnant with my 4th I was diagnosed with placenta previa and was on bed rest for the last 2 months. I’m happy to report baby & I came through with flying colors but it was pretty scary knowing I could bleed out literally in a matter of minutes…
In my second pregnancy (first delivered vaginally) I had grade IV placenta previa. I was in hospital for nine weeks and I had irregular bleeding throughout my 3rd trimester until my daughter was born four weeks early after an emergency c-section. It took me ages to recover only because I was servely anemic. When I got pregnant with my 3rd baby 18 months later I was told I should have had a blood transfusion after my pregnancy. I remember I couldn’t stand up for long periods of time because I was so weak and dizzy. One nurse couldn’t even draw blood from my arm to test my blood iron levels. But with my third delivery (also a c-section) I was fine and recovered well. Every pregnancy is different.
Note: If anyone ever loses a lot of bllood during their deliveries demand the hospital/doctor help supplement yout iron/hemoglobin levels. There are other ways besides blood transfusions.
I don’t understand how she could have conceived one month after giving birth. I thought there was a no sex rule for 6 weeks after, or something. I’ve never given birth so I have no idea.
It’s great that she and the baby are both okay.
Lol its just a rule thats why. Trust me it happens all the time.
There is a rule but people don’t follow it. I didn’t after my csection but did follow it after a vaginal birth.
I’m surprised she was able to ovulate that fast! I thought you had 6 weeks of lochia(?) and then ovulated and had am period the next month. Guess I was wrong! But with my son I didn’t get a period until he was 9-10 months old (thank you breast feeding!)
Oh, okay. Thanks, ladies. I thought there could be medical complications and such if one had sex before the 6 weeks. All this birthing business is scary stuff, though I’m sure the end result is beautiful.
It’s not a rule, just a recommendation. As much as anything I think it’s that you’re so exhausted (and a bit raw!) it’s a ready made reason for not being up for it! I had a c-section and if you’re careful you can be at it again in a few weeks!
I thought it was more than a recommendation. If I remember correctly when I had my son they said you’re not even supposed to wear tampons. Introducing anything to that area is a risk for infection. Waiting those weeks is for healing in there. Waiting at least 9-18 months after a child is good for the body too but that seems more of a recommendation.
I am glad she and Finn are ok (he is a lil cutie). But jeez when a doctor tell you to abstain from sex after a C-section (and in her case multiple operations in such a short span of time) this is the reason why! They are not saying it to be cute! You are risking your life and that of your unborn child not to mention leaving your surviving children motherless. How selfish! I wonder if she got her tubes tide? That’s like tempting fate, if it’s as serious as described (I read the whole thing lol Kaiser) then she is very lucky. She has 4, plus a step son—that’s plenty. Oh, I don’t care if anyone on here calls me harsh.
+1!
whew. soooo scary.
glad they made it through.
adorable kids.
doesn’t this woman breast feed at all?! conceiving a month after giving birth doesn’t occur if so. Just awful
That’s not completely true – pregnancy can still happen when breast feeding. Many, many children have been born to women who misunderstood this method of natural birth control.
Like my sister!
It’s an old misconception that you can’t get pregnant while breastfeeding. Many women are less fertile, but you’re not infertile, while breastfeeding.
@Jen, I couldn’t breasfeed. 🙁 I hated myself because of it. Thanks for making, and others feel even better about it! Btw, you’re wrong about your facts! 🙁
Aww. This response gave me a twinge of sadness because I was in the same boat. {hugs to you, mama}
Nessa, thank you and same to you. 🙂 It seriously bothers me when comments are made about woman not breastfeeding as I was always sad to think of how easy it was for other Moms. And a little jealous of the closeness they had. 🙁 My kids are healthy and happy, so that is all that matters, as I am sure your’s are too! 🙂
I went through the same issues, a medical trauma shortly after giving birth left me unable to breastfeed. I just ignore ignorant comments like that, don’t let people get to you!
I was only able to nurse my son for about 6 weeks. He is 16mos now & I still feel super guilty about it
raise hands any mom who had easy BFing? for the first 2weeks i had cracked, bleeding nipples, sweat broke out and toes curled just at the thought of BFing and a crying nonsleeping baby.yea, i survived and did it for 2years.but the first 14days were pure hell.
as for Tori, best birth control – squeeze an aspirin pill tight between the knees and never let go.sorry, for the terrible birth experience.but the outcome is beautiful.
I feel you, Sunny. I developed an infection after I delivered my son so I was on medication and couldn’t breastfeed. By they time I’d gotten the okay to try, he was already used to the bottle and wouldn’t take the breast. I felt like a failure. I know I had no control over what happened, but I still felt awful.
I just read an excerpt from Rod Stewart’s biography and his first wife was breastfeeding their baby and got pregnant with the second. I wonder why anyone would think breastfeeding would prevent pregnancy anyway?
It’s called Lactational Amenorrhea, or LAM. Google that and you should a get good description that doesn’t take too long to read.
Ignorance. Just like the other ignorant posters talking about vaginal births are safer and less complicated. We are all different and that includes our bodies. Stop judging.
I have 2 boys 11 months apart and I breast feed exclusively. Where do you think the term Irish twins comes from?
Yeah…I totally didn’t ovulate while I was breastfeeding. Even after my period started when my daughter was 12 months old (lucky me), I still wasn’t ovulating. We still used protection until we were ready to try for a second….I didn’t have a period until he was a year old, either (makes up for how terrible I am at being pregnant.)
I know probably 15 women who conceived while BFing
I was nursing my daughter when I got pregnant with my son (surprise!)…so don’t count on that as a sure-fire method of birth control. My oldest two are the same age for two months every year, lol
She really needs to nip it in the bud. I think she’s a good mom, and she seems pretty low key. Which is amazing, considering how she grew up. But, her body is say, ” yo I’m tired! ”
I think the reason her stepson isn’t seen publicly with them is because the relationship they have with Dean ‘s first wife is a bit frosty. He left her for Tori, and the first wife was pissed and very vocal about it. S
I don’t think that’s true.
it’s not a 100% fool proof birth control.
Regardless, having sex that soon after a csection with no protection is insane.
I have a csection (and breastfed 20 months) and I would kill my husband if he tried to get it on sans rubber that soon after a major surgery!
20 months of breastfeeding? ,whao. In my country,it’s advised that you do it for 2yrs(3rd world,ready source of protein and calcium for the child and all that) but i stopped at 13mths and even that was very trying.lol
I don’t think I said anything about breast feeding. I think she’s tired her body after having two babies back to back. Breast feeding is great, and it should always be encouraged
Bedrest sucks! If its all true, I’m happy her and her son made it out okay. Pregnancy scares really put you through an emotional rollercoaster…
Scary situation. Glad everyone’s ok now.
That placenta previa things sounds horrifying. Id be afraid to pee.
I feel so drained on her behalf. ha!
Thank God all is well now.
Actually pregnancy can happen while the mother is breastfeeding. It might not happen if the penis is kept away from the vagina until the mother is healed enough.
After that I’d be telling him to lock that thing away and throw away the key. Your done.
I’m two months into my first pregnancy – this is NOT what I want to read!
don’t worry too much, mary. 🙂 i just had my first baby 6 weeks ago, born at 38 weeks, happy and healthy as can be. i also had placenta previa.it DOES NOT lead to catastrophic bleeding on its own. you’re not allowed to have sex when you have it, which is what can lead to complications – if you don’t, everything is fine. and, for me, it went away after a couple of months – the placenta moved away from the cervix, we resumed having sex, and all was well with the baby. ask your doc about it to ease your mind. 🙂
Tank you 🙂 I know everything will probably be just fine, I’m just get a little nervous everytime I realize all the things that could go wrong :/ Put yeah, mostly I’ m just happy 🙂
Is anyone else so sick of her hair color? I like her enough, but man, what’s with the hair??
Dean needs a vasectomy. Problem solved! Glad they are all ok.
Time for him to get the snip snip! Or maybe they tied her tubes while they were in there hopefully
They might still want children; there’s no reason for them to jump to snipping and tying just because they’re fertile. Birth control will do the job, if they feel like using it.
If they want more children,they should try a surrogate or adopt. Tori should NEVER AGAIN have a C-section.
Yeah, she could have that complication again, but depending on how long she waits and what treatments were done, as well as some other factors, she could give birth again successfully. I’m not saying they shouldn’t get snipped or tied, just that they have options and jumping to actions like those might not be helpful.
Placenta previa is a big deal. I’m glad she and the baby are OK.
As for the sex rule, well, I had a c-section with my first, and my husband and I, who are normally good about following rules, just…kinda…well it happened at the 3 week point. Chances are that you won’t conceive, but you never know.
If you breastfeed regularly, you have protection, but no birth control is perfect. BTW, my midwife told me that regular, round-the-clock breastfeeding has a 98% effectiveness rate in preventing pregnancy, so as good as other forms of birth control. But trust me, we were told not to count on that alone.
I said this up-thread already, but I know at least 15 woman who conceived while exclusively BFing
I don’t have the stats to disprove it, but that 98% seems off. Way off. I don’t think most doctors even consider breastfeeding as a ‘form’ of birth control at all. It depends on the individual, and there is just no way of knowing when ovulation will occur after giving birth. For some, it may not happen while nursing full time, for others it can happen shortly after giving birth… even during that first 4-6 weeks of bleeding.
She is Horrible, has luck with her children
My cousins wife has placenta previa and had two massive bleeds and was on bedrest for months too. She and her baby are fine but it was scary. Glad they’re both ok!! I got a c section and was told to wait a year before getting pregnant again (LOL more like 3 years) so I’m pretty shocked that they decided to have a baby so quick after a c-section.
They didn’t really ‘decide’ to have another baby so quickly. Apparently they were both so hot for each other that they just couldn’t wait the suggested amount of time to have sex…. and went at it only a couple of weeks after Tori gave birth the third time.
I feel sad for the third baby.
Why? My Mom had 7 kids, a few of us close in age and we are fine. Are you talking experience? Sorry, buy I really hate it when woman judge another! What about her older kids? Feel sorry for them too? Get of your high horse! 🙁
I’m not on a high horse and I’m not judging the mother. I just feel sad that the third baby didn’t get to be the baby for very long with Tori getting pregnant only one month after her birth. She didn’t even make it to her first birthday without another baby coming in and stealing her thunder!
I come from a larger family too and I’d by lying if I said I wasn’t a teensy bit bitter about my position amongst my siblings. So I’m allowed to feel sad for the third baby because I’m feelin’ her!
Well @Judyjudy that is I read it and I apologize if I was wrong. That being said, I grew up with 6 siblings and we all survived ans thrived. My point was that a Mom loves and gives the same attention to all her kids equally. Maybe sometimes there are distractions, but I would hope all kids have the attention they deserve and I am sorry, according to to you you didn’t. 🙁 You don’t know what goes on in their home is all I am saying. Oh yeah, and don’t judge. 😉
I don’t doubt she’s a good mother and I am sure she loves her children immensely AND equally. My comment was meant in no way as a judgement. Everyone is part of a family and gets to navigate their relationships, birth order, life circumstances, etc.
That said, I’m still on team third baby. Poor thing got bumped from the baby slot by some stinky old newborn. 😉
…’a Mom loves and gives the same attention to all her kids equally.’
no, that is not always the case, and a rather a simplistic, naive response.
I saw a quote from Tori on an Entertainment show today from another recent interview, and she said her third child really didn’t even know her. I was shocked. I guess all the bedrest and hospitalizations and new baby the third baby got lost in the shuffle. She said she missed lots of important moments her first year of life and wonders if the lack of bonding time with her will negatively impact her daughter. Yet she has raved about her insane bond with her fourth child. So JudyJudy was on point.
@judyjudy . Sorry I didn’t mean to
sound as bitchy as it came across. 🙁 Had a crappy morning, but after reflecting and reading my responses again, I was out of line. Sorry 🙂 Hope you accept. 😉
I had the same condition with my second child, including major bleeds (rushed to L&D each time), plus 7-1/2 weeks on bed rest at the hospital. While I believe she had this, it does seem odd that her pictures were all over the place, making me seriously doubt her “4 months of bed rest” or whatever she said.
It’s not something to goof around with because it CAN lead to Placenta Abruta (where the placenta peels away from the uterine wall, causing massive bleeding and death for mom and baby).
I think the real problem was having the 2 C-sections so close together. Maybe now one of them will get fixed. She may not be so lucky next time!!
Hopefully she will listen to her doctors and have this be her last pregnancy. It would be extremely unsafe for her to attempt yet another.
Agreed. Having back to back like is really hard on the body. I think she needs to listing to the doctors and her body. If I were her, I’d be thankful for what I got and be done
Placenta previa is really dangerous, but there’s no evidence it can be caused by previous c-sections or getting pregnant so quickly after having a baby.
From my understanding, its most dangerous when you’re giving birth and that’s why most moms who have it must have a C-section because the baby can’t come down the birth canal. But since Tori had already had multiple C-sections (I think) before this, there really isn’t any question she was going to have another. You don’t automatically get to have a vaginal birth if you’ve done a C-section. It’s usually the opposite.
Glad she’s okay, tho.
I had placenta previa and there absolutely is evidence. Every c-section you have significantly increases your risk for placenta previa. Basically, your placenta, instead of stretching and moving how it’s supposed to, ges “stuck” on the internal scar tissue from your c-section.
I wish her the best. I’m not even a fan, but I’m a mom of 2 who had complications (not PP) and it’s terrifying no matter what. I hope she gets to enjoy her family without further medical complications.
Dean should get a vasectomy,they have enough children already. Thank goodness the kids look like him.
If she’s smart she should make Dean get a vasectomy or she should get her tubes tied. The pregnancies were too close together.
Actually this is what happens when you have several repeat c-sections. I love Tori and I was born via c-section so dont jump down my throat… its the truth.
I spent two ENTIRE pregnancies on bed-rest (when I wasn’t in the hospital – it SUCKS!) and nearly died with my Toddles. I had a uterine abruption, and because it was an ER C-section (3+ weeks early), it wasn’t my OB.
The man wouldn’t talk to me about what was going on, but I could feel him tugging at my body and heard him saying “Come on! COME ON!” repeatedly and mumbling med-speak to the anesthesiologist. When I asked what was going on, the anesthesiologist said “He just wants me to adjust your meds.” It was TERRIFYING!
Baby boy was fine, but Mommy was not. I had to stay in hospital for a full week after delivery, and my OB (and mother) said “No more kids for you!”
Tori needs to listen to what her body is telling and ease up on the unprotected sex. Otherwise, she’ll be leaving FOUR kids behind.
Glad Tori and her baby are well but is there anything that she won’t use for publicity? When I heard that she was in the hospital I predicted that she would publicize the experience. She’s so attention seeking. I don’t think she’s a bad person but I’m tired of her shtick.
As I see it, Tori has to do anything she can to make a buck. Husband has no career whatsoever. Perhaps he is a good F###, but does that require her to risk her life? She has been hawking things for years via the TV show, shopping networks, et al. It is another Kardashian situation. I hate to put her into that classification, however, since she was left with very little when her mega wealthy father passed on.
Her mother seems to be a horrible person, one who would cut Tori out of her will and donate it to a fund for poodles or something tacky. I feel sorry for Tori, to have to eke out a living by selling your soul and pictures of your small children.
I’m glad she and baby Finn are okay! What a frightning situation. I almost lost two of my kids and I don’t wish that fear on anyone! I really, really hope she gives her body a lot of time to heal!
I do feel sad for Hattie… She missed out on a lot of mom/ baby time with Tori.
Glad to hear she is ok, it also explains those photos where we saw her in one of those store scooters. she probably was supposed to be on bed rest but needed to at least take the kids out.
I hope she stops now. I see on my FB due date mom club that there is such things as baby collectors, who have a kid a year. I find that disturbing. One lady had TWO kids since 2009 (that was when our kids were born) that was her 8th kid!