Clare Crawley, best known as the season 16 star of “The Bachelorette,” has welcomed her first child with husband Ryan Dawkins. The couple announced on January 16th that their baby girl was born via surrogate after years of painful fertility issues.
A Dream Come True After Heartbreak
Crawley, 43, and Dawkins, 37, have been open in the past about their fertility struggles. They suffered through multiple failed IVF cycles and miscarriages over the years. Crawley was even hospitalized in 2021 due to life-threatening ectopic pregnancy complications.
Despite the heartbreaks, the couple persevered. They found a surrogate last year and were overjoyed to finally have a healthy pregnancy.
On Monday, Crawley posted on Instagram that their “dream had come true” with the birth of their daughter. The baby’s name and exact birthdate have not been released yet.
Outpouring of Support From Bachelor Nation
The announcement has been met with an outpouring of congratulatory messages and well wishes from Crawley and Dawkins’ inner circle.
Several of Crawley’s former “Bachelorette” suitors commented on the Instagram post. Blake Monar said the new parents “couldn’t deserve this little blessing more.” Chasen Nick wrote that “this news warms my heart.”
Fellow franchise alums like Jason Tartick, Kaitlyn Bristowe, and Ashley Iaconetti also congratulated the couple. Bristowe commented how she “couldn’t be happier” for Crawley finally becoming a mom.
| Person | Comment |
|---|---|
| Blake Monar | “You guys couldn’t deserve this little blessing more” |
| Chasen Nick | “This news warms my heart” |
| Kaitlyn Bristowe | “I couldn’t be happier for you” |
The Winding Road To Becoming Parents
Crawley has dreamed of being a mother for years. She spoke in the past about freezing her eggs in her late 30s when she still hadn’t settled down.
The hairstylist thought she had finally found lasting love on her second chance as “The Bachelorette” in 2020. She got engaged to contestant Dale Moss less than two weeks into filming. But the relationship quickly fell apart and the engagement ended in early 2021.
Later that year, Crawley began dating Dawkins, an automotive manufacturing executive. After about 8 months of dating, Dawkins proposed in Mexico in September 2021.
The two knew starting a family wouldn’t be easy given Crawley’s age. But they were still shocked by their difficulties getting pregnant. After IVF attempts and losses in 2022, they made the decision to pursue surrogacy. Their surrogate became pregnant last spring.
What’s Next For the New Family
The public likely won’t see photos of Crawley’s daughter or know her name anytime soon. The new parents seem to want privacy as they adjust to finally becoming a family of three.
But Crawley will probably give updates here and there, especially relating to any lingering postpartum physical or emotional health issues. She has been candid over the years about her mental health struggles tied to infertility and pregnancy loss.
It’s also possible Crawley and Dawkins will want to expand their family further down the road. They could attempt IVF again using Crawley’s frozen eggs or embryo adoption. Their gestational surrogate may also be open to carrying another child for them.
For now, Crawley and Dawkins are surely over the moon bonding with their long-awaited baby girl. Congratulations again to the new parents!
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