Shakira Gives Birth to Baby Boy
Shakira has given birth to a healthy baby boy, she and partner Gerard Pique announced yesterday. Baby Milan was born in Barcelona, Spain in order for him to have dual citizenship.
"Just like his father, baby Milan became a member of FC Barcelona at birth," Shakira wrote on her website. "The name Milan means dear, loving, and gracious in Slavic; in Ancient Roman, eager and laborious; and in Sanskrit, unification."
Earlier in the day, she tweeted a special request to her over 19 million followers.
"I'd like to ask you all to accompany me in your prayers on this very important day of my life," she posted. Baby Milan was born at a healthy 6 pounds 6 ounces and was in "excellent health," Shakira posted on her site.
She and Gerard have been together for two years and Shakira once described him as the "best thing" that ever happened to her.
"This man is the best thing that could have happened in my life. And now the baby!" she posted on Twitter.
Gerard is a soccer player for Barcelona and Spain, and a source told Spanish newspaper La Razon that the couple had scheduled an induction so that he could be present at his child's birth.
In an unusual twist, the high-profile couple decided to use the pregnancy to benefit others. Instead of a traditional baby shower, they decided to host an online "virtual" shower where people can buy gifts for babies that desperately need them. The gifts include mosquito nets, polio vaccines, and weight scales provided by UNICEF that will go to families that truly need them.