In case you missed it, Kat Von D just announced that she's given birth to her first child, Leafar Von D Reyes, in a natural birth in her own home.
Von D's pregnancy has no doubt been the subject of a whole lot of controversy, mainly due to her decision not to vaccinate the child. That announcement accompanied many other choices and moments during her nine months that garnered a lot of attention, both positive and negative.
Relive her entire pregnancy below with this list of critical moments.
Of course, there was the moment Von D and Reyes revealed the pregnancy.
And that time they had a photo shoot in a bed of flowers together.
And when they had a date to go see Von D's midwife.
And they did yoga together!
And they got married — a second time — in front of all their friends and family in Los Angeles.
And had a "secret honeymoon" in the woods somewhere with butterflies and a giant chess board.
And a swing set!
Shortly thereafter, Von D posted this now-deleted photo and revealed that she planned to not vaccinate her child.
The post, which has been deleted at some point in the past few months, read:
"I knew the minute we announced our pregnancy that we would be bombarded with unsolicited advice.
Some good and some questionable — unsolicited nonetheless.
I also was prepared for the backlash and criticism we would get if we decided to be open about our personal approach to our pregnancy. My own Father flipped out on me when I told him we decided to ditch our doctor and go with a midwife instead.
If you don’t know what it’s like have people around you think you are ridiculous, try being openly vegan.
And, if you don’t know what it’s like to have the entire world openly criticize, judge, throw uninformed opinions, and curse you — try being an openly pregnant vegan on Instagram, having a natural, drug-free home birth in water with a midwife and doula, who has the intention of raising a vegan child, without vaccinations.
My point being: I already know what it’s like to make life choices that are not the same as the majority. So your negative comments are not going to influence my choices — actual research and educating myself will — which I am diligently doing.
This is my body. This is our child. And this is our pregnancy journey.
Feel free to follow me on here if you like what I’m about — whether it’s tattooing, lipstick, Animal Rights, sobriety, feminism, ridiculous gothiness, black flower gardening, cats, or my adorable husband.
But if you don’t dig a certain something about what I post, I kindly ask that you press the unfollow button and move the fuck on.
So before anyone of you feel inspired to tell me how to do this, I would appreciate you keeping your unsolicited criticism to yourself.
More importantly, for those who have amazing positive energy to send my way, I will gladly and graciously receive it with love! X"
The controversy stewed for a few days while Von D continued her Extremely Summer Goth pregnancy.
Until she wrote another Instagram post attempting to clarify some of the decisions a majority of people were not happy with.
"We are not against vaccines," she wrote. "Just because we have hesitancies and valid concerns about injecting our baby with specific chemicals and toxins does not mean we are anti anything. As a soon-to-be-parent [and especially as a first-time-mom] I do feel it my responsibility to have questions, and to listen to my motherly instinct to question things, and do my research. What we have found is that sometimes it isn’t always so black and white. While we believe medications, including vaccines, are not all bad — we also can’t dismiss the fact that some may not be good for everyone.
"There are plenty of studies that show some vaccinations can work wonders. And there are also studies that show some people [including mothers, and babies] may be more susceptible to vaccine injuries more than others.
It’s unfair for anyone to expect me [or any parent] to take the word of the pharmaceutical companies who have much to gain from an industry worth billions without question — and then have to dismiss any concerns of my own.
Our personal medical records are no one’s business, and why we would feel it is important for us to explore all our options when it comes to vaccinating our child, is also no one’s business — regardless of what I post on Instagram.
So, perhaps before any of you feel inspired to harass us, spew hatred, or send ill will our way, I hope you would try and understand that this is our first child together, and we are simply just trying our best."
After that, things continued as normal. She bought a Victorian barn to restore and later move into.
She had a regular checkup with her midwife — it's at this point that Von D publicly revealed the baby's name, Leafar, for the first time.
She posed in slow motion.
She tattooed — a lot.
She and her mother felt the baby kicking.
She sang and played piano for the baby.
She posed in even MORE black clothing.
She did more yoga, this time with her cat in tow.
She took hypnosis birthing classes to prepare for a natural, drug-free child birth.
She guest-starred in a pregnancy podcast.
She began conceptualizing a tarot-themed makeup collection for Kat Von D Beauty.
She filmed scenes for her yet-to-be-released birthing documentary.
She sang onstage with her husband.
She bought the baby some tiny little goth clothes, because of course.
She took a hike at 38 weeks.
And finally, she gave birth and revealed Leafar Von D Reyes to the world for the first time.
Victorian baby carriage not included.
