Jen Affleck’s Unmedicated Triumph as Baby Penelope Joins the Family
Here’s the lowdown: Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star Jen Affleck and husband Zac Affleck officially became a family of five on July 2, welcoming their third child, baby girl Penelope Affleck. The big reveal arrived via Jen’s Instagram, where she shared tender snapshots of proud new parents cradling their bundle of joy. “Baby Penelope is here,” she captioned, adding that their newest daughter “is perfect.”
In an exclusive People interview published February 11, Jen confided she’d “dreamed about this little girl for a while,” and her instincts proved spot-on. The couple, already proud parents to daughter Nora, 3, and son Lucas, 23 months, had kept the baby’s gender under wraps—only to confirm just hours before birth that it was, indeed, a girl.
The delivery itself was nothing short of cinematic. On June 26, Jen’s TikTok documented her squatting mid-manicure, seeking cervical checks on the salon floor and even monitoring contractions between nail strokes. TikTok star nail tech Kortney Poulson couldn’t resist joking, “The cervix check on the salon floor was the plot twist we all weren’t expecting,” after witnessing Jen’s impromptu labor sequence. Five days later, Jen opted for an unmedicated birth, calling it “the most painful but empowering experience of my life.” She credited Zac and their supportive doula for helping her navigate each wave of labor without medication.
Amid this whirlwind, Jen’s calendar just got busier: she’s set to join Dancing With the Stars season 34 alongside Secret Lives co-star Whitney Leavitt. The surprise casting announcement dropped during Hulu’s reunion special on July 1, with host Nick Viall teasing, “Because you women are so adorned, we’re sending two of you to Dancing With the Stars.” Jen and Whitney promptly celebrated, shouting, “We’re moving to L.A.!” before Whitney quipped, “Hope you’re ready to lose!”
Jen’s social following underscores the buzz: 3.2 million TikTok fans and nearly one million Instagram followers eagerly tracking every milestone. With Penelope earth-side and dance rehearsals on the horizon, the Affleck household is poised for nonstop action. What’s next for this reality-star-turned-producer mom? Stay tuned for her first dance performance and behind-the-scenes glimpses of day-to-day life with three little ones in tow. And there you have it—Penelope’s here and the dance floor awaits. Make of that what you will.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and People Magazine, E! Online
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
