Keri Russell Welcomes Daughter Willa Lou

01/05/2012 at 08:00 AM ET
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Keri Russell is a mom again!

She and husband Shane Deary welcomed daughter Willa Lou Deary on Tuesday, Dec. 27 in New York City, her rep confirms to PEOPLE.

“Everyone’s happy and healthy,” the rep says of the new addition, who joins big brother River, 4Β½.

Hopefully things went a bit more smoothly for Russell, who has said her first delivery experience was challenging — she revealed afterward that she’d been in labor for a full 38 hours.

“It was intense,” she revealed in 2007. “It was a long time. But it all worked out okay.”

As for being a working mom, Russell, who is best known for her turn in the TV show Felicity and also starred alongside Harrison Ford in 2010 in the film Extraordinary Measures, says she enjoys the dual roles.

“Luckily, right now, the schedule I get to keep with film really allows me” to balance work and family, she has said. “I get to work really hard for three months, but then I get to be home for four months where I get to put him to bed every night.”

She added, “I like getting to be in the adult world a little bit and then getting to be in the mom world and cook dinners. And, for me, that balance is what makes it nice.”

— Sara Hammel with reporting by Julie Jordan

FILED UNDER: Births , News

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Showing 77 comments

Tee on

Such wonderful news! I love the name that Keri and Shane have chosen for their daughter!

I do have to giggle just a bit at the comment towards her first birth, though. 38 hours is not that long to be in labor when you’re a first time Mom with no interventions. I could be wrong here but I seem to remember that she spoke about having a natural (meaning drug free labor vaginal delivery) birth the first time around? If my memory serves me correctly, then there would be nothing unusual about the amount of time she was in labor.

AW on

Congrats to Keri, Shane and River!!

Jennifer on

Willa Lou? Ok then.

Jess on

congrats to her and her hubby. i’m almost done my third pregnancy. i can’t wait to meet my lil one.

Anna on

Willa is adorable baby name. It’s by far one of the most normal names given to a child in hollywood. I think a lot of hollywood moms give their children names that only work for babies but never grown ups. It’s like they don’t imagine them physically growing up. I mean, Apple is ridiculous but I can handle that name for a child but can you imagine having a friend of colleague named Apple or Bear Blu? I mean, the kid might as well be named Blues Clues.

Brooke on

I love, love, love this name. Fabulous choice!

klutzy_girl on

Congratulations to them! I love the name! In fact, Willa’s on my list of favorites.

Sue on

38 hours is a long time… I had a shorter first labour – 12 hours total (no drugs and that included waiting for the obstetrician to show up). Most of the first time moms who were there at the same time as me delivered in less than 24 hours from the first twinge of labour until the actual delivery.

K on

Her kids have the best names!

Liberty on

LOVE the names Willa and Lou, but they sound strange in succession. Willa would have been my #1 pick to name a daughter if I hadn’t ended up marrying a man with the last name Smith. Now, naming a baby Willa Smith is just going to make people think we’re diehard Will Smith fans, or something, haha.

JMO on

I think the names kind of cute. I wonder if the baby will get her curly locks cause it seems as though River has poker straight hair πŸ™‚

Julianna on

I like the first name but not the middle one. And, hum, hasn’t she announced she was pregnant just (like) the other day?

Bancie1031 on

I didn’t even know that she was pregnant! Congratulations!!!

Jen on

Willa’s a pretty name…at least it sounds more normal that most of the Hollywood crowd.

J on

No, hum, Julianna, it was announced quite a while ago. Hum (what is that by the way? Always wondered why people take the time to actually type things like uh, ummmmm, hmmm, etc…lol!

kate on

Love the name…super cute.

And my first pregnancy I went into labor at 8pm and by 1am she was here (no drugs or anything)…my second was in about 3 hours (watch out if we have a 3rd)…it’s different for everyone!

Betty Finn on

While every woman who gives birth to a child deserves major props no matter how long or short their labor was, I do find it funny that 38 hours is considered long. Try 72. That’s was my lucky number. Difficult doesn’t begin to describe it – but my healthy and beautiful baby was worth every minute πŸ™‚

Monica on

I know this is an old article, but I came across it because I am currently pregnant and I love the baby name Willa!

But as to why I’m replying, I just couldn’t help myself. It’s funny how women always seem to feel the need to minimize the birthing experiences of other mothers to make themselves feel better. 36 hours in labor is a long time. 72 hours in labor is also a long time. And there are also people all over the world dealing with debilitating injuries and chronic illnesses that make your 72 hours look like a walk in the park on a lovely afternoon. What do you want, a metal? You already got a baby out of the deal, so stop being a hater.

Shannon on

Willa Lou? Reminds me of Cindy Lou Who. 😦

stacey on

Another hideous name.What is it with celebrities. Willa, Hattie, Billie, Grier, Pax, Bear, Sparrow, Bingham, Zuma…..

GeorgiaGrace on

I like the name Willa.

canada girl on

Congrats!! I love her!! Willa is a cute name

Candy on

Love the name Willa!

Brenda on

I’m sure she’s only going to call her by her first name for the most part. It’s a cute name. Congrats to Keri, Shane and River!

t. on

I love Willa Deary… Lou I’m not a fan of here too cutesy.

Lau on

I absolutely love the name Willa. Not a huge fan on how it flows with Lou, but that’s just my opinion. I do think River and Willa sound great together =)

Congrats to the family!

melissa on

Not a fan of the name, Willa Deary sounds like a stripper name to me. I bet she’s adorable like her big brother

Sophia on

Congratulations to Keri, Shane and River, and welcome baby Willa! The name is sweet but kind of trips up on itself with the prominent L sounds in Willa and Lou. River and Willa are cute together though πŸ™‚

Steph on

I love the name, Willa…great choice!

3boysmom on

I had a very dear friend growing up named Willa I think it is a beautiful name and reminds me of the beautiful friend I had.

francesca on

Such awful names!

Romy on

All of my labors were just about 12 hours with no drugs helping them along. So, yes, I do think 38 hours is a long time. I like the name Willa. I don’t like Lou unless it is after someone.

Anonymous on

Love that name Willa!!!

Harley on

Willa is not a ‘weird’ name – maybe it’s just strange to you because you’ve never come across it before. It’s been around for quite some time and was extraordinarily popular during my great-grans time (early 1900’s). Perhaps Lou is just a shortened version of Louise and they weren’t big fans of the whole name? Regardless, of some of the other choices out there these days – I still think it’s a beautiful name for an undoubtedly beautiful little girl.

Willa on

My name is Willa and it’s a lovely name. Congratulations Keri and Shane.

Anonymous on

Congrats to them, and I think Willa is a lovely name!

Bree on

Congrats to the happy family!! Willa isn’t a name I would choose (It sounds horrible with my husband’s last name!!) but I really like it, it is different without being really crazy or out there.

38 hours of labour sounds like a dream to me!! My daughter was 11 days late before they induced me and even after the induction it was a full 48 hours of labour before she was born. I would do it all again in a heartbeat but I am definitely hoping my labour is shorter when we have baby number two!!

Lulu on

Uh, looks like I win. My first labor was nearly five days long. Once my water broke it took 22 hours to deliver.

jones on

Love the name Willa and it goes well with River. Keri seems like such a grounded person.

Laurie28 on

Like Keri and all but then name? Woof.

TheTruth on

Congrats to Keri and her family πŸ™‚ love her!

meme on

Willa is an adorable name.

Ella on

Congrats to them! I think Willa is an adorable name and I think River and Willa sound very cute together.

Emily on

Oh my goodness what a beautiful name! Love that she had a girl too – feels like a lot of people have been having boys lately. This has got to be one of the best celebrity baby names I’ve heard in awhile. Only downside is that I think River and Willa are a bit too rhymy. But that’s probably just me being really fussy. Congratulations to them!

JLL on

I love Keri. Soo glad she had a girl. I was hoping she would. I have a son and daughter as well. It is awesome having one of each. It is the best of both worlds. Congrats!!!

Holiday on

Congrats to them! I think 38 hours is a very long time to be in labor! My first was totally natural and no intervention at all and from the first contraction to the time he was born was 9 hours. Cant imagine 38!!

Pat on

Maybe people have different ideas of when labor actually starts. With the very first contraction, or when you start pushing? That would make a big difference in the timeframe! Personally, I count it from when you start pushing.About 5 or 6 hours for me with my first born.

I like the names of her children – River and Willa.

Ro on

love the names of both her kids! congrats to her & her family. liked her since Malibu Shores & Felicity… she seems like a good, grounded woman & mother πŸ™‚

icky on

First labor – 2 hours. Second labor- 8 hours. Third labor – 40 1/2 hours. I’m done.

MariaP on

Congrats to Keri and her family. When I try to say full name Willa Lou it looks a lot like Willow.

Lyl on

Beautiful name, love Willa, one of my favs, congrats! πŸ™‚

Ashley on

Couldn’t agree more with Stacey and the WEIRDO names “celebrities” name their kids. I couldn’t feel more sorry for those children…..

Lisa on

I was lucky and had two natural births, the first lasting exactly 4 hours (including pushing) and the second 3 hours, so 38 sounds like forever to me! lol

Good for her; my daughter has a friend named Willa and it’s adorable πŸ™‚

Lisa on

Pat – uh, the start of labor is NOT when you start pushing. That’s “pushing” lol Early labor and transition ARE stages of labor, and it’s characterized by consistent contractions that progress your cervix.

Lady on

I actually really love her kids names. I’m partial to unique different names, but not too out there & I think they are. Congrats to the family, I’ve always loved her!!

Letsy on

Willa was on our list of girl names. We went with something else both times, but I still love it.

Moore on

“First labor – 2 hours. Second labor- 8 hours. Third labor – 40 1/2 hours. I’m done.”

– Lol!

If you’re counting from the first push then my labor was less than 20 minutes. From first contraction my labor was a little over 7 hours and 20 minutes. I was always told to expect a long labor. Imagine my surprise on the drive to the hospital…

King Kong on

Best. Name. Ever.

I wish my parents had named me Willa.

Becky on

Love the name Willa, and Lou must be in honor of someone I’ll bet. Congratulations to them all.

Ali on

I think Willa is very pretty. Not a fan of the Lou though. But, still…very unique and whimsical.

Love Kerri. She was one of my role models growing up when she was on The Mickey Mouse Club. I adored her!!

Wondering if her little girl will get those crazy tight curls like she had or if she will get the pin straight hair her brother has? So cute!

emily on

38 hours is long! I have a 4 month old. My labor lasted 3 hours — from the first contraction to the time I was holding my baby in my arms, no drugs or interventions. I pushed for 10 minutes, if that.

My labor was super intense, but I’d rather endure the intense “sprint” than a 38 hour endurance challenge!

Steph on

To the giggling tee, how long were your labors?

Mine was 32 and that was long enough. 12 is about average for first time labors. Don’t minimize the difficulty of anyone’s labor. It’s always relative.

Amanda on

Congratulations to the Deary family! And can we please stop with the “I win because my labor was easier/faster/longer/etc. It’s not a contest. Every woman’s birth experience is as unique as the woman and the baby. You’re not any tougher because you had a fifty hour labor, or because you only pushed for five minutes. We all need to support each other no matter what our experiences, and stop playing mommy martyr. On that note, I must have won something because my son was 10lbs12oz, right?

angel on

Congratulations to the happy family! My first labor was exactly 24 hrs, pushed for three hours, long but not too painful. Second time around labor was 12 hrs and pushed for twenty minutes. It was sooo much more painful than the first! So longer labors don’t mean much. Every woman is different. Of course it is all worth it in the end!

Jillian on

Tee,
Why would you giggle at a mother saying 38 hours of labor is long? It is long and hard and very insulting, to giggle at her comment. Doctors do consider 38 hours long. That is one and a half days of active labor. I was not in labor that long with my daughter, but mine also was drug free (12 hours). How long were you in labor for?

Anonymous on

i’m surprised nobody has gotten their underwear in a bunch because keri russel says working women are adults THEN she goes home to be mom. soo she’s insinuating moms aren’t adults.

Amanda on

Anonymous, nobody is getting their panties in a bunch because Keri didn’t insinuate anything like that. Unless somebody is just looking for something to complain about, that statement was completely innocuous.

Indira on

I love the name Willa, it’s on my list of names!

Hoopla on

My mom was in labor for three days with me (no drugs) until they finally had to induce her. Luckily my two younger brothers were a lot easier and took about 1/3 of the time. Anyway, congrats to her.

Mamie on

Bit of a tongue twister…Wil-la-lou! I love the name Willow, but not Willa and definitely not Lou.

Bea on

at least its not Blue Ivy, right?

Shawnielee on

Is 38 hours a long labor? Well it all really depends on WHEN you actually start counting. Is it is from your very first tiny little pain or cramp or actual full blown labor with consistent and strong contractions?

I have had six children (one weighed over 10 lbs) and each labor was completely unique. I have had labors lasting almost 2 days, and labors lasting less than 1 hour start to end!

Induced labors are so much more painful and I don’t understand why so many women choose to go this route just because they want to speed things up or they are tired of being pregnant (past their due dates etc) It seems to me, very few “induced” labors with pitocin are truly medically necessary! Trust me ladies…if you are pregnant and you can avoid an induced labor…then DO SO!

I have met very few women that can go without pain meds during labor once they allow doctors to start pumping their veins full of Pitocin. Natural labor is so much easier to tolerate! I have had both types, multiple times and I KNOW!!!

In any case, I do think Willa is a pretty name..but it is a bit of a tongue twister with “Lou” as a middle name. It is certainly better than “Apple” though. Geez…what are some of these stars thinking? Why not “Banana” or “Watermelon?” LOL

Lauren on

Interesting…I distinctly remember her being out and about the very next day after having her first–couldn’t have been that intense. She can’t have it both ways!

http://celebritybabies.people.com/2007/06/18/keri_russell_we/

Alex on

NICE COMBO RIVER & WILLA. WHAT IS RIVER’S MN?

Alex on

YOU LADIES SEEM INSANE. (SORRY:-( I’M NO TRYIN’ TO BE MEAN OR CRUDE) GIVE KR A BREAK I LIKE NAMES SHE & HER MAN FOR THEIR KIDS (EXCEPT FOR LOU)

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