pregnancy

Katherine Heigl prefers adoption over pregnancy for a reason every mother can understand.

If you’re looking for advice about options surrounding fertility, pregnancy or counselling, always consult your doctor.

Katherine Heigl is fortunate to have three beautiful children; Naleigh, 8, Adalaide, 4, and her baby son, Joshua.

The two girls came into her life via adoption, and after the “emotional highs and lows” that came with the birth of her little boy, the Grey’s Anatomy actress says she prefers adoption.

Speaking to People, the 38-year-old said while her pregnancy was “pretty easy” (minus some indigestion), the period after the C-section birth was unpredictable.

“One minute you’re weirdly obsessed with this baby, like ‘Don’t take him out of my sight,’ and the next you’re kind of blue, you’re a little sad and a little freaked out,” she said.

“I actually prefer the adoption way because I wasn’t subject to hormones.”

Katherine and her daughters. Image: Instagram.

Still, she says, the way her children arrived into her life has no bearing on how she feels about them.

“The moment you hold your child, you’re wholly in love,” she said. “And you’ll do anything to protect them and shelter them.”

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Heigl, who has been married to musician Josh Kelly since 2007, always wanted to me a mother but says she didn't necessarily plan on conception.

“I’ve never been determined to experience pregnancy,” she told People. “But I’m so grateful that I did. I think that if it hadn’t been a surprise, I’m not sure I would have done it. It was an incredible experience, it was kind of magical.”

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@joshbkelley and I are beyond thrilled to finally share the arrival of our little man Joshua Bishop Kelley Jr born December 20th, weighing in at 7 pounds 15 ounces. We are all happy, healthy and beyond grateful! For more pics and the exclusive story check out @people magazine (out Friday) who I must profusely thank for helping us to announce our happy news in a beautiful, honest and loving way! I also want to give a big hearty loving shoutout to my bestie @cheyenneellis for the gorgeous photos including this one! And one more GIANT thank you to all of you for your wonderful words of support, love and all those beautiful well wishes! As always I am incredibly grateful to have such wonderful fans! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

A photo posted by Katherine Heigl (@katherineheigl) on

In 2009, the couple adopted their eldest from South Korea, the same country in which Heigl's own sister was born.

As the actress told USWeekly in 2010, "adoption has been a part of my life and a part of my family, so it was how I wanted to start."

Mamamia's Infertility Week shines a light on the joy, the pain and everything in between when it comes to creating a families. To read more from Infertility Week, click here.