How Many Kids Does Laura Prepon Have? Inside Her Family, Parenting Choices, and Work-Life Balance

Laura Prepon is best known for her role as Donna in That ’70s Show and Alex in Orange Is the New Black, but she’s also a mother of two. While she keeps much of her family life private, fans are curious about her journey as a parent and the role her children play in her life.

How Many Kids Does Laura Prepon Have?

Laura and her estranged husband, Ben Foster, began dating in 2016 after being close friends for years. Ben proposed in October 2016 and less than a year later, the former couple welcomed their first child together.

Laura gave birth to their daughter, Ella, in 2017. Three years later, Ben and Laura welcomed a second child, a boy, but have declined to reveal his name to the public.

Laura Prepon’s Decision to Keep Her Children’s Lives Private

The That ‘90s Show actress opened up about her reasons on why she decided not to release her son’s name and why she keeps her children’s lives private shortly after her son was born in February 2020.

“We make all those decisions as a family,” Laura told People in an interview published on May 5, 2020. “So at a certain point … we’ll say it, but … being that we’re in the public eye, we always have conversations around anything, especially that has to do with our kids. We’re very protective of that.”

She continued, “Everyone is different with [posting] pictures of their kids — no judgment, do your thing. It’s a personal thing. But for my husband and I, that’s where we do remain extra private, is when it comes to our kids.”

What Has Laura Prepon Said About Motherhood?

Laura has been particularly candid about the parts of motherhood she struggled with, and she even wrote a book on the topic as an effort to help other moms who might be fighting similar battles. In You and I, as Mothers: A Raw and Honest Guide to Motherhood, which was published after the birth of her son in 2020, the Slackers actress took a closer look at her anxiety and how she handled postpartum depression.

“I think for me, the first time, I had no idea what was going on. I really struggled with mama bear protection to the nth degree, to the point where it was almost debilitating. I was so invested in protecting this child that I couldn’t help myself or my family. I’m a ‘get it done’ person and I was a complete disaster,” Laura told Western Nassau Moms in an article published on April 14, 2020.

She continued, “The second time around, I knew what to expect, and I knew how to support myself emotionally and physically. A lot of us are dealing with similar things in different ways, and speaking to my mom squad as well as women from different backgrounds and ages of children was very healing. You kind of mourn your previous self and become a different person. Becoming a mother is the most incredible thing I’ve done and the most terrifying.”

In 2022, Laura also opened up about the difficulties of balancing a busy work life with being a mom.

“The work-life balance is tough,” she told Us Weekly in an interview published on June 15, 2022. “You wanna be home with your kids and then when you’re with your kids, you’re like, ‘I should be working.’ And that mom guilt is still an issue.”