Melissa Joan Hart Talks Pregnancy and Childbirth

Now pregnant with her third child, the actress tells us how she feels and what she's planning for labor and delivery.

Medically Reviewed by Hansa D. Bhargava, MD on July 11, 2012
2 min read

Best known as Clarissa (in Clarissa Explains It All), Sabrina (in Sabrina the Teenage Witch), and Mel (in Melissa & Joey), Melissa Joan Hart is also a writer, director, and producer. Last April, she and her husband Mark Wilkerson announced they were expecting their third child. Hart talked to WebMD the Magazine about how the third pregnancy is different, whether she wants to know the baby's gender, and how her two young sons feel about their new sibling.

You're mom to Mason, 6, and Braydon, 4. How is pregnancy with baby No. 3 different?

I was pretty scared the first two times. I'm not as scared this time around, which is a relief. I'm so excited. And somehow, I'm much more secure that we can handle it.

You're in your third trimester -- how are you feeling?

I can't complain because I've had totally healthy pregnancies every time, but I'm just massively uncomfortable. This one is a little bit more hormonal. There was a lot more nausea in the beginning. I got really big really quickly. At three months I felt like I was in my ninth month.

Are you going to find out the baby's sex?

No. We want to keep it a secret this time. I've always wanted to do that. But the first time my curiosity got the better of me, and the second time the ultra­sound technician pretty much gave it away. This time I wanted it my way.

What are your labor plans?

The first one was very medical [pitocin to induce labor and an epidural for pain relief]. And the second one was very natural. I wasn't hooked up to anything. I actually labored at home for about 10 hours. And I hope to do that again this time.

How do your sons feel about their new sibling?

The boys are so excited. They've decided they want a boy now but before that, they wanted a girl because Mason especially loves little girls.

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