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Early years

20th Jun 2018

James Van Der Beek shares photo of ‘placenta in a mixing bowl’ after wife’s home birth

Jade Hayden

Why not, like?

James Van Der Beek has shared a photo of some “placenta in a mixing bowl” following his wife’s home birth.

The former Dawson’s Creek actor posted the photo on Instagram to mark the birth of his new daughter, Gwendolyn.

She is the fifth child to James and wife Kimberly, who are also parents to Olivia, 7, Joshua, 6, Annabel Leah, 4, and Emilia, 2.

Writing on Instagram, the dad said:

“The category is: Home-Birth Realness. (Word of caution, if you’re squeamish, just double-tap and move on )

“Messy bed ✔️ Plastic sheeting underneath old sheets ✔️Old towel crumpled on the floor ✔️ Vomit bag (unused) ✔️ Inflatable birthing tub (also unused )✔️

“Shirtless Dad ✔️Boy in Spider-Man pajamas ✔️Happy, healthy baby ✔️ Happy, healthy Mom in her own shower right after giving birth ✔️ Water bottle ✔️And… placenta in a mixing bowl ✔️ (I warned you ?)”

You did indeed, James.

The new dad’s post has since received a lot of praise online, with the actor’s fans saying it was great he was showing the realities of home birth.

“Thank you for normalising birth,” wrote one person.

“Home birthing is such a beautiful experience,” said another. “Thank you for sharing.”

“Thank you for being open and willing to teach in a non-judgmental way!” wrote someone else.

Van Der Beek also shared many other photos of the home birthing experience, including all of his children huddled around newborn Gwendolyn, himself holding his daughter, and mum Kimberly holding her baby “… because the last pic I posted had a placenta in a bowl.”

Because the last pic I posted had a placenta in a bowl.

A post shared by James Van Der Beek (@vanderjames) on

It did, yeah.