Courtney Stodden got a “reborn” baby doll to help her cope with her heartbreaking miscarriage, and it is has made a big difference, she tells Us Weekly exclusively.
“I got a reborn baby based on the advice of my therapist,” the TV personality, 22, explains to Us. “Apparently, quite often, these babies are used to help women cope with losing an angel baby whether that be in the form of a miscarriage, stillbirth or neonatal loss.”
On July 18, a rep for Stodden confirmed that the “Reality” singer and her husband, Doug Hutchison, had lost their unborn child at 13 weeks. The Couples Therapy alum is hoping that caring for the lifelike doll will help counteract her emotional pain.
“It’s been surprisingly healing having him here with me,” she says. “When I hold him, I feel incredibly calm. He offers a soothing effect that I need at this point in time.”
Additionally, Stodden tells Us how she picked out her perfect doll. “I chose my ‘baby’ by going online and looking at many different dolls. He stood out to me. I thought the artist did a remarkable job at creating him and I liked how his eyes were closed rather than open,” she recalls. “The ones with those open eyes kinda scare me!”
The former teen bride — who famously married Hutchison, now 56, when she was 16 in 2011 — confirmed her pregnancy to Us exclusively on May 16.
“It’s a bittersweet time for me right now. I’m dealing with a lot of stress and emotions surrounding life and its ups and downs,” she told Us at the time. “Doug and I weren’t planning on going public with this so soon. I’m only four weeks along in my pregnancy. But some things are out of your control.”
Early on in her first trimester, Stodden revealed to Us that she was suffering from depression, and it was beginning to have a negative impact on her health.
“I suffer from depression. My depression affects my appetite, sleeping patterns and overall perspective on life,” she shared in May. “At times, I have severe insomnia and other times I find myself sleeping too much. I have feelings of hopelessness but experience many moments of absolute euphoria.”
