Angelina's Doctor Speaks: Delivery "Moving," Twins Are "So Cute"

Angelina Jolie brought her twins into the world on Shabbat.

That fact may have been overlooked last Saturday by the thousands of media outlets covering the birth, which took place at Lenval Hospital's Santa Maria Clinic.

But the timing did not escape Dr. Michel Sussmann, Jolie's Jewish obstetrician.

Sussmann, a former vice president of Nice's Jewish community whose daughter lives in Israel, basked in the media spotlight after he delivered the world's two most widely anticipated newborns, Knox Leon and Vivienne Marcheline, the children of actors Jolie and Brad Pitt.

"The delivery was very emotional and exceptional as Ms. Jolie is a superstar, but I think that it happened on Shabbat made it that much more moving," Sussmann said during an exclusive interview with JTA at his office in one of this city's most elegant Art Nouveau districts.

"It was not an easy operation--a second cesarean with twins is difficult--but it went perfectly and they are so cute."

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[SlippingInTheDip]

so "C" and "People" Mag are bidding maybe 16 mil for the pics...lol...only worth that if one of the pups is black and the other is white...

[shedances]

In a sense, you are right Slipping ~ because such constant media coverage has to do with how celebrities are successfully {or unsuccessfully, as the case maybe} marketed (sold) to the public ... all of US. As you point out ~ if they're unusual or controversial or out-of-character, out of the norm in some way (eg., certain types of adoptions, marital problems & scandals & divorces, roles as UN ambassadors after years of being labeled 'bad' by the media, etc.,) then it's pounced on as "news." The problem is, as you say, a lot of what's being reported about these celebrities isn't news & isn't of interest to the majority of readers. Very recent public opinion polls on these two celebs show a huge disinterest (70%) in this Jolie/Pitt twin drama. Hopefully, that will tell the media something! LOL

K

[GrandyK]

Excuse ME???

[Posterella]

What babies are not cute? More importantly, they are meal tickets of astronomical proportions. Those poor innocents are starting out their tiny little lives with no privacy. Their images are out in the private domaine for all the world to project upon. They don't have any say as to whether they want people looking at their photos and discussing every detail about them. That's a lot of unfamiliar energy to absorb. Much of the commentary can be very cruel just by virtue of their parents. They will get to read about it when they are older. Not fair.

With regard to the Jolie-Pitt Foundation, they put money in there, yes, but does it all go to charity? Of course not. Remember, it can legally pay for anything that is involved in their charitable endeavors. So, a one day photo opp. in a certain country can justify private jets to get there, helicopters, stylists, hotels, suv's, security, limos, etc. It's really a tax shelter. There has not been any official word that the money is going to charity anyway. That is something that the press has assumed. Why don't they just donate to charities out of their big wad of cash instead of selling their babies to the highest bidder?

[GrandyK]

How do you know what the Jolie-Pitt Foundation gave. Evey foundation has administrative costs -- their's was quite low in the first 6 months of operation, and included no personal expenses for the family. The foundations taxes will be public quite soon so I am sure you can pick them apart then but until then you have no facts worth noting "posterella."

Elle & Dakota Fanning and Freddie Highgate's parents pimp their kids and Billy Ray Cyrus, but I suppose it is a forgone conclusion you are blasting them, as well. Can you provide links to your other tirades?

[shedances]

Unless you're an insider, I don't know how you could credibly make such specific claims about such a Foundation. As many others have said on the blogs ... please cite your source(s) to back up such claims you are making here & have been making for awhile now, Grandky.

It's fine, of course, if your sources/links are from outside the U.S. ... like the UK, for example.

K

[shedances]

Yes, indeed ... every new life, every newborn is a miracle of nature ~ just because they're the offspring of movie stars, such as Angelina Jolie & Brad Pitt, certainly doesn't make them more "extraordinary" or beautiful than any other human being's babies.

I also think Dr. Sussmann, Jolie's oby/gyn, is being not entirely selfless with his statement to the press. In a way, he may be helping to (unintentionally?) market his patient's newborns to the press. This story will most likely heighten his reputation, too.

K

[LoRiseAntlers]

HuffPo is becoming a wasteland of inane,irrelevant and noxious celebrity gossip.

[shedances]

Dr. Sussmann must have forgotten that having babies & giving birth is the province of all human beings, really; & nothing extraordinary just because of the parents' occupations as film stars. Also, these types of stories that offer little or next-to-nothing in the way of actual news/relevant information seems to be more Celebrity selling/marketing/over-hype to the public. Let's hope the demand for such stories goes down ... public market appeal determines a great deal.

K

[GrandyK]

How would an obstetrician NOT know that having babies is a human activity "shedances?" He's probably delivered 30 since he delivered AJ/BPs. He may very find it "extraordinary very last time.

[shedances]

Actually, you misunderstood my post (once again).

I personally believe that EVERY baby born is a miracle in & of itself. But I completely disagree with Dr. Sussmann that these twins are "extraordinary" just because the parents are film stars from Hollywood.

Does it follow-up help you to better understand my original post? I hope so.

Enough said.

K

[DragonMama]

Obstetricians are surgeons and many of them know as much about the real holistic nature of birth as your average car mechanic knows about horseback riding. They know a specific way to fix things that go wrong in one way of getting from point A to point B, but very little about other ways of achieving the same outcome.

I have given birth, completely unmedicated, twice. Both times I labored for several days (first birth 5.5 days of labor before birth, 2nd birth 3.5 days of labor before birth). I was just fine, and because I was well prepared, I was not scared and so was able to sleep each night I was in labor without anything more than a hot pack on my low back to ease discomfort. I mention that I labored for more than 24 hours around anyone with a medical degree and they're shocked that I wasn't c-sectioned. The reason I wasn't? I educated myself and got a midwife instead of an OB.

[CKieffer]

"exceptional as Ms. Jolie is a superstar"... lord love a duck.. this is just going from the absurd to the ridiculous.

[marymansour]

I could not agree more. I am glad babeees arrived safely but let's move on to more important things. We have a crazy president and the globe is going wild, as is the economy. Enough of Brangelina and their multi-colored brood.

[GrandyK]

You're in the ENTERTAINMENT section -- what would you rather read about babies being "so cute" or whether Lindsay Lohan is a lesbian?

[SweetJudith]

Amen to that!

[pinkyboo]

Babies are cute??? Thanks for this very important breaking news Huffpo!

[SlippingInTheDip]

Yep...always mention that the money will go to Charity...but forget to mention the "Charities" name: Jolie-Pitt Foundation. Money goes from left pocket to the right pockrt.

[GrandyK]

. . .AND THEN THE "RIGHT POCKET" HAS TO FILE A FEDERAL TAX RETURN THAT IS PUBLIC INFORMATION!

[rzan]

Don't be so cynical. I am sure they are sincere in supporting various charities.

[meleon]

No it doesn't, and that info can be found out with but a few keystrokes if in fact you really want the truth and don't mind it messing with what you'd rather the truth to be (that they pocket the money ).

[Anonani]

Excuse me, why is it relevant the the obstetrician is Jewish and his daughter lives in Israel? Am I missing something that everyone else gets?

[GrandyK]

Did you read the posting or just come to comments? The publication is called "The Jewish Journal".

http://www.jewishjournal.com/hollywood_jew/article/tales_from_the_crib_jolies_jewish_ob_gyn_speaks_20080715/

[shedances]

This is what I mean, gk .... you finally cited your source.

Good for you! Be proud of yourself!!!

K

[meleon]

Did you not take notice of who was doing the interview? It's a Jewish life focused mag, he is Jewish, Israel tends to be mentioned when the subject of Jew's come up, the interview is about him,


Oy Vey!

[Chandidevi]

Awwwww!

[5150]

The identical father of twins! A cigar is just a cigar.

[GrandyK]

That's SWEET!

[Agentlady007]

Aw. Blessings to the new parents and their new little darlings. Lots of love and light being sent your way.!