A tale of two grandmothers of note.

Matriarchs are not often mentioned in our posts because many of our blogs are inspired by current news items regarding women’s reproductive health and choices. So we are pleased to feature today two grandmothers who have made choices in support of their own daughters’ choices.

First up: Jaci Dalenberg of Ohio decided that she would be a surrogate mother and carry her daughter’s fetus to term. Kim already had two children was unable to become pregnant because of a hysterectomy.

A 56-year-old woman who gave birth to her triplet granddaughters a month ago is recovering from a Caesarean section and hopeful that one of the girls will be home from the hospital by Saturday. … Dalenberg said she wasn’t frightened to be pregnant at her age.

“I’ve always been really healthy. I did get medical clearance, including psychological testing,” Dalenberg told The Associated Press on Tuesday. “When we found out it was triplets, I did get really nervous for about four days, but that passed real soon.” …

Dalenberg, who has four daughters, ages 31 to 36, said she would have preferred to try natural
childbirth, but her doctor told her that was out of the question. “I’m fine. I feel great,” Dalenberg said. “Knowing the outcome, I would do it over again, but … I’m not going to do it again,” she said with a chuckle. “We wouldn’t do that to her again,” her daughter said, smiling.

And then, Marian Robinson who may become the most famous granny in the US.

When the Obamas do finally move into the White House in January, they will be determined to take their normal family life with them – and that includes Michelle Obama’s mother, who has reluctantly agreed to leave her home on Chicago’s South Side and move to Washington. The nation’s new First Granny is Marian Robinson, 71, who regularly looked after Malia, 10, and Sasha, seven, while their parents were campaigning. …

It is the first time in living memory that three generations of a presidential family have all moved to
Washington, although Mrs Robinson has not yet decided whether to take rooms in the White House or live nearby. Mrs Obama “begged” her mother to come with them. “The girls are going to need her, as part of their sense of stability,” she told Newsweek. “And what is true for my mom is that she does anything for us and her grandkids.

First posted at Birth Pangs.