Although this actress and musician loved being pregnant, she went through a painful ritual of needles and medicine to make sure her only son was born healthy.
This actress and singer might be a country music legend, but she loves being a mom. She and her second husband tied the knot in 1989 and stayed together for 26 years.
Shelby Blackstock and Cindy Bailey Gillihan as seen in a November 10, 2020 Instagram post | Source: Instagram.com/shelbyblackstock/
The singer adopted her husband’s three children from his previous relationship and welcomed her only biological son in 1990. Her son was “devastated” when his parents divorced in 2015, but he keeps a healthy relationship with them.
Learning about Her Pregnancy
The singer learned that she was pregnant at age 34 in 1989. She had just returned to her home in Nashville, and while her husband groomed his beard, she saw the result of her home pregnancy test; it was positive.
They were both excited about it but wanted to keep the news a secret (only their mothers knew) until making sure everything was fine. She got an appointment with Dr. John Van Hooydonk, and she liked that he had integrity.
Due to her age, the doctor asked the singer whether abortion was an option if she had an amniocentesis procedure and discovered something was wrong with the baby. She said no, and he revealed he wouldn’t be her doctor had she said yes.
Later that night, the news of her pregnancy was everywhere. The singer was sure Dr. Van Hooydonk didn’t do it because of his integrity. She hated the invasion of privacy, but she and her husband considered it was just a tiny cloud on their joy.
The singer continued her World Tour ’89 until December 3. The next day, she returned to Nashville and had a prenatal exam with Dr. Van Hooydonk, who discovered her cervix had “thinned considerably.”
They were distraught because her due date was March 8, and she was already having minor contractions. The singer’s doctor asked her to “take it easy,” or more drastic measures were to come.
“I’m so glad I wanted until I was mature enough.”
Going through a Painful Ritual
She went to Oklahoma to spend Christmas with her family, but once in Nashville, she was hospitalized twice because of her contractions. After her second admission, the “painful ritual” started.
Shelby Blackstock as seen in a May 27, 2021 Instagram post | Source: Instagram.com/shelbyblackstock/
The singer explained they sent her home with a syringe and a pump attached to a tube that ran to her stomach. Whenever she felt contractions, she had to pump medicine to stop them.
If that wasn’t enough, she had to return to the doctor’s office to change the needle in her stomach every three days. However, the singer was willing to do everything, including hanging by her toes from the ceiling, to have a healthy baby.
She spent almost two months flat on her back and resting to make sure her baby stayed in her womb until her due date. In February 1990, Dr. Van Hooydonk told her it was okay to return to a regular routine because the baby’s lungs were developed.
Welcoming Her Son in Shock
On February 22, the singer went out shopping but felt very tired. Later that night, she was admitted to the hospital 40 minutes after her water broke. She was shaking, and nurses said she was in shock.
For security purposes, she checked in under her husband’s surname. Once in her private birthing room, Dr. Van Hooydonk began the examination and told the singer to hold off on the epidural for as long as possible.
On February 23, 1990, her son was born. They chose their son’s name after his father’s paternal grandfather and his second name after his mother’s paternal great-grandfather.
Embracing Her Maternal Instincts
Shortly after the singer gave birth, rested, and woke up, she asked nurses to bring her son back. She confirmed the maternal instincts existed because she could differentiate her son’s crying from the other babies.
[The singer’s] son fell in love with racing driving a golf cart.
Shelby Blackstock, Ryan Booth and Neil Alberico in Houston, Texas, on June 29, 2014 | Source: Getty Images
When her son was a boy, the singer wanted to be with him all the time. She would take him along on tours and after shows, and he even got on stage a few months after his third birthday. The singer added:
“I enjoy motherhood. It was something brand new for me, and I’m so glad I waited until I was mature enough to cope with the huge responsibility.”
Reba McEntire with husband Narville Blackstock and son Shelby on January 13, 2002 | Source: Getty Images
She knew that her son’s childhood would be different from hers because of her wealth and success. Still, she wanted her son to respect people who work for a living and to understand that working hard is crucial to getting nice things.
Shelby Blackstock’s Adult Life
Nowadays, Shelby Steven Blackstock, Reba McEntire and Narvel Blackstock’s son, is a 32-year-old professional race car driver. He began his career in 2010 by competing in the Skip Barber Summer Series and Southern Regional Series.
In 2012, he placed eighth in the U.S. F2000 National Championship. The following year, he finished third in the Pro Mazda Championship. He has also participated in the Indy Lights, the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge, and the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.
Having a successful racing career is challenging, but Shelby didn’t stop there. In June 2021, he launched his outdoor apparel brand called Hartland.
He explained that racing was just one of his passions because he has always been interested in hunting, fishing, and wildlife conservation. His brand’s mission is to “connect and grow a community” rooted in the love of the outdoors.
McEntire revealed her son fell in love with racing on a golf cart. Even though he could barely touch the gas pedal, he would jump on the golf carts, chase geese, and drive her around the place, saying, “hang on, it’s going to be a bumpy ride!”
Reba McEntire with her son Shelby in Beverly Hills, California on November 30, 2005 | Source: Getty Images
The singer was surprised when Shelby decided to drop out of college as a freshman to focus on his racing career full-time. Luckily, she noticed it was his true calling because he felt like a kid in a candy store.
On December 31, 2020, Shelby proposed to his longtime girlfriend, Marissa Branch. Branch calls herself a “Disney Princess” on social media, so he cleverly took her to Walt Disney World to get down on one knee.
The now married couple met in January 2014, and even though they have no kids, they are raising two dogs, Watson and Belle. McEntire must be proud!
Source: news.amomama.com
