Journalist Kristen Welker, NBC News chief White House correspondent, has revealed that she and her husband, John Hughes, are expecting their first child together. The couple is pregnant via a surrogate and their little one is expected to arrive in June. Kristen and John appeared on The Today Show to announce the news.
Kristen and John shared that they had been trying to get pregnant for some time. But after all that trying, they’re now expecting a baby girl! They chose to share this news during Infertility Awareness Week to bring attention to the conversation and provide hope for others going through the same challenges conceiving.
The Weekend Today co-host shared, “I was 40 years old when I married John in March 2017. And we immediately started to try to have a baby. It didn’t work immediately.” As a precaution, the couple went to doctors for guidance. Kristen’s fertility specialist recommended in-vitro fertilization (IVF). Unfortunately, IVF was unsuccessful. The lining of Kristen’s uterus was too thin to carry a child.
After two years of trying, the couple accepted that Kristen would be unable to bear a child. “It was probably the lowest moment and realization that I’ve ever had.” Kristen felt as though she had let her future child down because she couldn’t carry a baby herself.
Kristen, who has been widely praised for her moderation of the final 2020 presidential debate, and John refused to give up and ultimately opted to choose surrogacy to bring their child into the world. Kristen’s Today family joined in her exciting and emotional news. The hosts on the morning news program are no strangers to sharing their personal parenting journeys. For example, Hoda Kotb has adopted two daughters and Dylan Dreyer has been vocal about suffering a miscarriage.
Congratulations to Kristen and John on growing their family! We wish them all the best as they prepare to welcome their baby daughter into the world.
Kate Fann (she/her) is the BabyNames.com celebrity blogger, as well as an established content writer, aspiring author, and social media expert. She has been featured in online publications such as Bolde, ManoByte, Medium, The Social Observer, and more. Kate has ghostwritten numerous romance novels and is currently working on publishing her own works in the Young Adult genre.
Kate lives in East Tennessee with her husband Casey and her two sons, Quinn and Noah. When she's not writing or scrolling Instagram, Kate can be found tasting delicious wines, playing with make-up, baking yummy treats, or hiking the beautiful Smoky Mountains.
