Former "Little House on the Prairie" star Melissa Gilbert says the premature birth of her son was "the most frightening adventure I have ever been on."
"Birth was supposed to be kisses and hugs," Gilbert said in the Feb. 26 issue of People magazine. "Instead, it was tubes and wires and my son sprawled out like a frog."Michael Garrett, named after "Little House" star Michael Landon, was born three months prematurely on Oct. 6, 1995.
Gilbert and actor-husband Bruce Boxleitner weren't allowed to hold the baby for the first two days of Michael's life. And, it wasn't until seven weeks after his birth that the infant could leave the hospital.
"I was so happy, I screamed," the 31-year-old Gilbert said.
The baby now weighs 13 pounds and is doing well.
The couple, who have three children from previous marriages, said they are grateful for Michael's birth but that they don't plan on having any more children.
"We think this is our last baby," Gilbert says. "His birth took a lot out of us, physically and emotionally."