Madonna Recalls Daughter Lourdes' Dramatic Birth in 30th Birthday Tribute
The pop icon shared intimate details of Lourdes' birth, describing an 18-hour labor and emergency C-section, and a profound 'biblical connection' with her eldest daughter.
Madonna celebrated her eldest daughter Lourdes' 30th birthday with a heartfelt tribute, reflecting on the dramatic circumstances of her birth and their unique bond. The singer, 68, described Lourdes' arrival as a 'fever dream' and recalled an 18-hour labor that culminated in an emergency Cesarean section.
Lourdes Leon, born on October 14, 1996, is the daughter of Madonna and actor Carlos Leon, with whom the singer had a relationship in the 1990s. Madonna shared childhood photos of Lourdes, accompanying them with a poignant message.
"Your chin was tilted up in my birth canal, you were looking for the stars you were stuck," Madonna wrote. "After 18 hours of labor and your heartbeat slowing down, an emergency C-section was the only option." She also alluded to the media attention surrounding the birth, mentioning "helicopters and news crews swirling above our heads on the top floor of the hospital in East LA."
Madonna emphasized the deep connection she shares with Lourdes, calling it "Biblical." "When I ask God to explain it to me He tells me- Look in the mirror!" she stated. "We are Two sides of the same coin. If what we risk reveals what we value then I would risk it all on you."
She concluded her message with words of encouragement for Lourdes: "Never forget who you are - Little Star, shining brighter than all the stars in the sky. Never forget how to Dream Butterfly. Never forget where you come from. From Love."
Carlos Leon also marked his daughter's birthday, posting a slideshow of photos accompanied by Stevie Wonder's "Happy Birthday."
Lourdes, who goes by the stage name Lolahol in her music career, has been building her own path in the entertainment industry. After studying at the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance, she began releasing music in August 2022. She has also ventured into modeling, appearing in campaigns for brands like Burberry and Marc Jacobs, and for Rihanna's Savage X Fenty line.
Madonna is also mother to Rocco Ritchie, 26, David Banda, 20, Mercy James, 20, and twins Stella and Estere, 14. The singer has recently been the subject of public discussion following her performance at the VMAs and a subsequent health scare that led to hospitalization in the ICU with a serious bacterial infection earlier in the year. She had previously described the health event as a "near-death" experience.