Gee, don't say that! Though didn't the Kennedy family lose a baby around this time, perhaps due to Jackie's smoking...

I think the stillborn baby was just a reason for Mrs. Whitman to accept little illegitimate Dick as her own. Betty is probably hoping that it's a girl because she has issues with little boys.

I wouldn't worry about it Ive seen photos of them on set with a baby

The infant mortality rate was high during the early sixties because there was no speciality of neonatology and the only treatment available for meconium aspiration and the immaturity of lung tissue secondary to prematurity was 'the incubator'. Of course, maternal smoking accounted for some low birth weight babies, but smoking and drinking during pregnancy was not frowned upon and breast feeding had begun to fall into disfavor thanks to the dawn of formula companies.

hyper - good points, but despite Betty's habits, I suspect their baby will do well. Betty, I suspect, will loose all her signs of having been pregnant two weeks post partum and will NOT breast feed the little one. It may not be spawn of Don after all. Didn't Betty exchange bodily fluids with a stranger in a stock room during the seperation?

Fear not Greg, there will be conflict! When the third child is born little Bobby will be the "middle child". And if he has a new baby sister, he'll be outnumbered. He may want to camp out in the playhouse with Glenn??!!!

blipterblip: I'm pretty sure Don is the father since he and Betty had sex while visiting her father. Don was sleeping on the floor and Betty had her way with him...remember? That was before the pick-up at the bar.

the flashback was to let us better understand Dons passed and understand his pain that he hides...the pregnancy just reminds him of it, BUT what about when he couldnt remember the day his own daughters was born!! thats good stuff!!

Greg, interesting connection. And, did you see my thread on Anna as a figment of Don's imagination? (I posted it Saturday and now it's buried.) If you've got time, give it a look; I'd be interested in your opinion on the theory, as you had some good insights about their relationship in your Noir thread. I'd post the link, but I don't know how!

I believe the baby will be fine because, according to Betty, "...she wakes up at night when I drop off..." Anyone who has been pregnant can sense the inactivity of a in utero baby as a clear signal of problems--particularly after the baby as been active throughout the pregnancy. This baby is active.

I also believe Betty is telling us this will be a headstrong girl, "Who knows what she wants." She will be the child that reaps the benefit of the women's movement. (Older sister Sally will be the older hippy sister protester.)

We shall soon see. I like your speculations, most have a valid foundation. In this case, I sure hope my thoughts are right. A stillborn child would not be good for Betty's mental state.

The creator of the show already said the baby was Don's and that's why she could have the affair because she was already pregnant.

I can't believe how many people keep talking of the possibility the baby is not Don's. Didn't that whole episode with Betty and the stranger start out at the doctor's office with him telling Betty she was pregnant?

…..Matt has repeatedly said the baby is Draper’s.

And they do leave the hospital with a baby.

The whole baby thing is bringing up old wounds for the handsome, flawed protagonist.

Otherwise known as a “hot mess.”

Mambo, yes I did find it and commented. When you're on the main TALK page, you can click "view all topics" and it gives you a bullet-point listing of all the topics, only giving you the heading. Hardly any scrolling necessary that way.