Dancing With the Stars Stars Share Painful Pregnancy Loss During Awareness Month
As Dancing With the Stars’ Hayley Erbert and Derek Hough joyfully anticipate the birth of their child, they are also observing Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month by sharing details of Erbert's initial pregnancy, which sadly concluded with a miscarriage.
“Some life events leave an indelible mark on you,” they stated in a shared Instagram update on Wednesday, October 15. “For us, this experience is precisely that. It’s a narrative woven with affection, sorrow, profound grief, and all that lies within. With October designated as Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month, we are revealing this segment of our journey to commemorate our child who never reached us. A quarter of all pregnancies result in miscarriage, an unspoken sorrow familiar to numerous families, and one we regrettably encountered. In sharing this, please understand that a beacon of hope always follows difficulty.”
The video clip included scenes of Erbert, 31, and Hough, 40, from the time of Erbert's initial pregnancy.
“This recording commemorates a segment of our personal narrative,” text superimposed on the video explained. “It's a passage marked by sadness, affection, joy, anguish, and all the moments connecting them. While our anticipation for our rainbow baby's arrival is immense, we dedicate this to our child who did not come to term.”
Key moments featured in the clip showcased Erbert informing Hough of her pregnancy, as well as them adorning their pets in coordinating bandanas proclaiming “big brother” and “big sister.” The video further contained scenes from one of Erbert’s ultrasound appointments and their announcement of the pregnancy to close family and friends.
The concluding segment depicted them embracing, seemingly in tears.
Fellow members of the Dancing With the Stars community expressed their solidarity in the comments section.
“My cherished friend, you possess unparalleled resilience!” Britt Stewart commented. “Your presence exudes power and radiance. By openly sharing your experience, you will inspire countless individuals. I hold immense affection for you.”
“Much love to you both,” Jenna Johnson also conveyed.
Erbert and Hough started their relationship in 2015, becoming engaged after seven years. Their wedding took place in August 2023.
“I believe that term now aligns with my sentiments and my dedication to her, our affection, our history, and our shared existence. … Hayley is my soulmate,” Hough revealed exclusively to Us Weekly in June 2022. “I am certain she will be an incredible mother and a wonderful wife; she is profoundly considerate, compassionate, and affectionate.”
“I know she’s just going to be an amazing mother and amazing wife and she’s so thoughtful, so caring, so loving,” Hough reiterated. “Observing her interactions with our pets, if she demonstrates even a fraction of that tenderness towards our children, I eagerly await witnessing her embrace motherhood.”
The couple shared in July that they are anticipating their first child.
“It’s remarkable that the most significant event in our lives could be so tiny,” Erbert posted on Instagram. The accompanying video displayed both ultrasound images and Erbert’s visible baby bump.
