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Barbie collecting began in 1959 when that wonderful doll was introduced to us. Barbie, loved by so many, has been featured as the roll model of many American girls, “I want to be like Barbie”. Every Barbie collector We've talked to has told us, “No, Mattel never made a pregnant Barbie doll”. They did make the Heart Family. Production began in 1985 and ended in 1990. Mr. Heart was actually a "Ken doll” and Mrs. Heart looked like Barbie’s cousin "Jazzie". It originally had a Mom, Dad and two twins. The collection soon included Grandpa and Grandma heart, six baby cousins, Trueheart the English sheep dog and all the accessories you could imagine.
There are a lot of pregnant Barbie type dolls made by other companies, ( Steffi Love, and Mommy to be Doll for example). But never a pregnant Barbie doll by Mattel! Mattel produced in 1986 a Heart Family "New Arrival Mom and Baby (#2412) that caught the attention of the media. Produced in both Caucasian and African American versions. I believe the #2412 was of the Heart Family, but it is not a Heart family doll that we’re talking about, nor are we referring to Midge, Barbie’s cousin.
In the late 80’s to early 90’s, (possibly Barbie’s 30th Birthday - during the Summer of the year) Mattel had announced they were going to release a pregnant Barbie to be sold in time for Christmas. Mattel had already started production of these Barbie’s (I believe at their plant in Middleton, WI). Upon this announcement thousands of mothers protested to Mattel saying “We don't want our daughters growing up, to believe this is the way babies come about”, “Barbie can't be pregnant - she hasn't even gotten married yet”, etc., etc. and Mattel had stopped production and never officially released the doll.
A friend whom we will call Sally, had a friend that worked at the plant. The friend at the plant sold Sally 3 of these pregnant Barbie dolls ($20.00 each), before production was stopped. The belly rolled around, (like smash up cars) concave on one side with a little baby that you lifted out. The other side bulged out, even after the baby was out. I have no idea how many of these dolls were stolen from the plant, (probably less then a dozen) but if they are out there you will find them between Middleton, WI and Minneapolis, MN. Now ironically a couple of years later Sally's house and dolls were destroyed by fire.
In January of 2003 we were alerted to an e-bay auction that was titled "PREGNANT BARBIE~NOT MIDGE~SHE' HAVING A BABY" So we went there, and this was the description the seller gave:
I CAN'T BELIEVE IT.........EVIDENTALLY BARBIE AND KEN GOT MARRIED SECRETLY BECAUSE SHE IS SPORTING A RING ON HER LEFT HAND AND IS READY TO HAVE A BABY ANY DAY....... JUST LIKE HER BEST FRIEND MIDGE FROM THE HAPPY FAMILY. BARBIE AND MIDGE LOOK SO CUTE TOGETHER WITH THEIR BIG TUMMIES. BARBIE COMES TO YOU LOOSE, DRESSED IN HER FAVORITE MATERNITY DRESS AND MARYJANE SHOES. BARBIE HAS A GENUINE BARBIE BODY. SHE HAS NOT BEEN PLAYED WITH AND IS IN GREAT CONDITION. HER PREGNANT TUMMY CAN BE REMOVED AND HER STOMACH WILL BE FLAT AGAIN FOR POST PREGNANCY GOOD LOOKS. SHE COMES WITH ROCKING CRIB FOR BABY, NEWBORN, BABY ACCESSORIES, RECEIVING BLANKETS. SHE IS LOOKING FORWARD TO MOTHERHOOD AND KNOWS KEN WILL BE A GOOD DAD! DOLL IS NOT PART OF THE HAPPY FAMILY.
We would appreciate any updates on this pregnant Barbie, the two photos (1st two below) are from the above listing. The third photo is one we found in a March 2009, Google, image search. (http://babyblogblog.com/2008/09/). The Blog said this was a Midge body, the side card says “Teen Pregnancy Barbie” but nowhere in the photo do we see the Mattel name. Can anyone tell us if this(1st two) is the #2412 Barbie, or if the last one is in fact by Mattel?
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