Jeannie Mai announced Monday she is expecting her first child with her husband, Jeezy.

The Real co-host says,

“Jeezy and I have been kind of saving this and hiding this for five months,” she tells Women’s Health. “So, we’re relieved to finally share the news.” She’s admittedly a bit nervous, too. Before this morning’s show her co-hosts, Adrienne Houghton, Loni Love, and Garcelle Beauvais, had no idea she’s expecting. But she looks forward to celebrating with them. (And no longer having to conceal her belly—a tough feat for the fashion-lover.)

The former ‘Dancing With the Star’ and Jeezy wanted to start a family nearly a year ago, but they struggled to conceive. “The couple opted to try in-vitro fertilization (IVF), which was a humbling experience. “We both needed a bit of assistance, especially with me being 41 at the time,” Jeannie explains. But then, just a month before the couple’s March 2021 wedding at their Atlanta home, Jeannie discovered she was pregnant. Soon after, however, she had a miscarriage.”

“I wondered if I was being punished. I wondered if I’d jinxed myself or cursed myself,” says Jeannie because, up until last year, she never wanted to be a parent. “My entire life, I never wanted children. When I say never, I’m talking a hard-stop never.” She symbolized the choice with a tattoo on her stomach. It gave her a sense of freedom and serves as a reminder that motherhood is always her call.”

Falling in love with Jeezy made me see life differently for myself, says Jeannie. Our love is honest, pure, and safe…something I hadn’t felt as a child,” which made her now want to “foster a happy environment that she and Jeezy missed out on growing up.”

Jeannie thinks that being a mom is hands down the hardest role in the entire world, but seeing Jeezy, the father of two, is a comfort to Jeannie as they prepare for their new bundle of joy.

Congratulations!

Photo Credit: GEORGE KAPETANAKIS (@KAPETANAKIS_SANTORINI)