On Monday, 31 August, Emilie Ikeda captured the attention of viewers during the live broadcast of the ‘3rd Hour of Today’ with an unexpected announcement: she is five months pregnant. The surprise revelation took her co-hosts, Dylan Dreyer and Craig Melvin, off guard as they discussed their weekend activities.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/Emilie-Ikeda-NBC-pregnancy-news-083126-a0cc89b537614d96afe9daf450e1d746.jpg)
As the show began, Ikeda, 32, teased the audience by suggesting she had images to share from her weekend. The suspense built when she unveiled ultrasound photos alongside her husband, Pat. Melvin’s reaction was one of disbelief and excitement as he exclaimed, “Oh my God, you’re having a baby!” Ikeda clarified that her co-hosts were genuinely surprised by the announcement, telling viewers, “I’m surprising them right now.”
Ikeda confirmed that she is due to give birth in January, explaining that the baby is currently “the size of a banana.” The warmth of the moment was palpable as Melvin embraced her, expressing his joy for her news. The segment quickly shifted from casual banter to genuine excitement as the implications of the announcement set in.
In the conversation that followed, Ikeda highlighted some subtle hints she had dropped regarding her pregnancy. She pointed out her enthusiasm for Dreyer’s Parent Chat podcast, jokingly revealing that her consistent listening was an indication of her impending motherhood. Dreyer had wondered about Ikeda’s interest in her podcast, dismissing it initially, but was now connecting the dots.
Reflecting on her experience thus far, Ikeda shared her feelings about entering the second trimester. She described the sensation of feeling the baby kick as “miraculous,” expressing how it has positively affected her mood. “I might be in a bad mood. I might be preoccupied. I might be into a script and then I feel this baby kick and I’m like, ‘Oh, it’s my buddy,’” she explained.
However, the first trimester was challenging for her, with severe nausea describing her experience as “absolutely miserable.” Now, though, she is relishing her growing pregnancy and the progression into a more manageable phase. Her optimism was evident as she beamed about being able to feel the baby’s movements.
In a whimsical turn of conversation, Ikeda shared that she and her husband have opted not to discover the sex of their child before birth. “It feels like the ultimate surprise!” she remarked, suggesting their decision reflects a playful curiosity about the impending arrival.
Melvin, stepping in with a humourous quip in the absence of weatherman Al Roker, playfully stated, “Our control room just pointed out that Emilie Ikeda is about to have an A-Kidda.” His joke punctuated the excitement in the studio, prompting laughter and further light-hearted exchanges among the trio.
With this heartwarming announcement, Ikeda not only celebrated a personal milestone but also shared a moment of joy with her colleagues and the audience. Her revelation sparked a sense of community among viewers, who joined in the excitement of welcoming a new life into the world. As the segment concluded, it was clear that this new journey for Ikeda and her husband would be one filled with cherished surprises and heartfelt memories.