Zac Affleck Celebrates Jen Affleck’s Powerful Natural Birth Journey
Zac Affleck honored his wife Jen Affleck following her “intense” experience of giving birth without pain relief.
On Wednesday, July 2, Zac, 28, shared a post on Instagram, reflecting on the arrival of their third child, Penelope.
“Before I fill your feed with countless photos of our beautiful baby girl, I need to dedicate this post to Jen,” he wrote. “Our doula mentioned, ‘You must reach for the stars to bring this baby back.’ We never expected how profound natural birth would be.”
He added, “It was a spiritual journey filled with a spectrum of emotions — one of the most connecting moments we’ve ever shared. I gained a newfound level of admiration and love for my wife that I didn’t think was possible.”
Zac expressed that he is “genuinely amazed by women, what their bodies endure, and what they can achieve. I love you, Jen, and I’m incredibly thankful for you bringing our wonderful children into this world.”
Alongside his heartfelt message, he shared behind-the-scenes photos capturing the labor process as he supported Jen, 26, through the painful contractions.
“I’m over here in tears. 😭,” commented a fan on Zac’s post. “These are the sweetest photos. A loving and supportive partner means more than men often realize. Congrats! These moments are beautiful ❤️.”
Zac and Jen both star in the Hulu reality series The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives. They married in June 2019 and welcomed their daughter Nora in November 2021 and son Lucas in July 2023.
In February, the couple revealed they were expecting their third child.
Jen announced the arrival of Penelope on Instagram earlier Wednesday, stating, “Going without medication was both the most painful yet empowering experience of my life. I couldn’t have done it without Zac and my supportive doula! I’m so thankful and overjoyed that Penny is now here.”
Zac and Jen’s relationship struggles were a significant plot point in the inaugural season of Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, which aired last fall. Zac faced criticism for his treatment of his wife.
“I truly believe this was the best thing for our relationship,” she exclusively told Us Weekly in September 2024. “While viewers may think the show could jeopardize our relationship, it actually did the opposite. Being on camera and experiencing those moments forced us to reflect on our relationship and recognize what changes we needed to make.”
