Blizzard warnings in Northwest Minnesota, winter weather advisories across the state

MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding. Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all. 

Turn Up Your Support

Michele Bachmann, the Minnesota
congresswoman seeking the Republican presidential nomination, said
Wednesday that a "devastating" miscarriage led her to become a
foster parent to 23 children.


      Speaking to voters in South Carolina, the mother of five
biological children said the experience changed her and refocused
her family's priorities. As she appeals to voters, she is talking
about opening her home to a rotating crew of teenage girls from
troubled families, some staying a few weeks and others for years.

      "After our second was born, we became pregnant with a third
baby," she said. "It was an unexpected baby, but of course we
were delighted to have this child. The child was coming along, and
we ended up losing our child. And it was devastating to both of us,
as you can imagine if any of you have lost a child."

      She said the experience led her and husband Marcus to
re-evaluate their priorities.


      "At that moment, we didn't think of ourselves as overly
career-minded or overly materialistic, but when we lost that child
it changed us, and it changed us forever," she said. "We made a
commitment that, no matter how many children were brought into our
life, we would receive them because we are committed to life."

      Bachmann previously had discussed her miscarriage. In an
impassioned speech against abortion on the floor of the U.S. House
in 2008, she said, "We didn't know if we could go on anymore"
after the loss.

      In an interview with The Associated Press this spring, Bachmann
said she had seen many members of her church with foster children
and decided to join them.

      "Both my husband and I looked at each other because we had
broken hearts for at-risk kids and we thought that maybe we could
do something like that now that I was home fulltime," she said.
"It was our belief that a foster child needed a parent who could
be home fulltime."

      Bachmann's comments in South Carolina were first reported by
CNN.

Gallery

Politics and Government News

Michele Bachmann, the Minnesota
congresswoman seeking the Republican presidential nomination, said
Wednesday that a "devastating" miscarriage led her to become a
foster parent to 23 children.


Bachmann says miscarriage shaped family priorities

Go Deeper.

Like this?