KRISTEN Welker became a mother for the first time with the arrival of her daughter Margot.
The former Today Show anchor and her husband, John Hughes, called their baby girl “the love of our lives.”
Kristen Welker spoke candidly about the surrogacy process and the birth of her daughter Margot[/caption]
How many kids does Kristen Welker have?
From her marriage to John Hughes, Kristen Welker has one child and is expecting another baby.
On April 23, 2021, she and John announced they were expecting their first child via surrogate.
On June 12 of that year, the couple welcomed their daughter, Margot.
“I cannot wait until the moment I hold you for the very first time…it is all I have dreamed about for years,” the Meet the Press host shared in an open letter addressed to baby Margot.
“Your story is one that your daddy and I will always be proud of and celebrate.
“It is a reminder of how much we cherish you. Even before your daddy and I met, we both dreamed about becoming parents.
“When we got married, we couldn’t wait for you to join our family!
“When you didn’t arrive at first, we worried something might be wrong.”
Kristen added: “Your daddy and I wanted to do whatever it took to meet you.
“We started a long process, called IVF, that involves almost daily visits to the doctor and required even more patience.
“We felt like those things were so small compared to how much we wanted to meet you.
“Your daddy and I cried a lot during that time, but we never, ever gave up.”
She also explained: “So, with an incredible team (or surrogacy agency) and family support system, your daddy and I found a special helper who has turned into our hero.
“Families are made in all different ways, come in all different shapes and sizes, and all families should be celebrated.
“And, finally, while I didn’t carry you in my body, I have always carried you in my heart and I will always be your mommy.
“Also, Margot is truly the love of our lives. Seeing her precious face and looking into her eyes had made every minute of our journey worth it.”
On May 14, 2024, Kristen announced she and John were expecting a second baby via surrogate.
Their son – John Zachary Welker Hughes – was then born on May 30, 2024.
NBC News Chief White House Correspondent Peter Alexander announced the news on June 2.
“The Meet the Press family officially has a new member,” he said, while hosting the show in Welker’s absence.
“John Zachary’s big sister Margot, as you can imagine, she is extremely proud, welcoming home her baby brother yesterday.
“Kristen shares her surrogate, who she calls her ‘angel on earth,’ is doing great,” he said.
Kristen Welker is known for her gigs on The Today Show and Meet the Press[/caption]
What is gestational surrogacy?
Gestational surrogacy refers to a process where one person gives birth to another couple’s child.
During gestational surrogacy, the surrogate does not provide the egg for fertilization.
In this situation, the surrogate is referred to as the gestational carrier.
Meanwhile, the couple are referred to as the intended parents.
Regarding the process, Kristen said it took her and John three years of IVF treatments before their doctors revealed the lining of her uterus was too thin to carry a baby.
When they discovered this complication, the couple sought a gestational carrier.
The former Today co-host remembered: “In that time, we saw four different doctors and it didn’t seem like anything was working.
“Like many people going through the same thing, we felt very alone.
“We spent a lot of time talking to doctors and family and reading as much as we could.
“We slowly started to connect with other families who used helpers and learned that we were not alone.”
