Longtime Today show correspondent Emilie Ikeda surprised her colleagues and viewers alike during the Aug. 31 broadcast of the 3rd Hour of Today, revealing she is pregnant. Ikeda, who was filling in for Al Roker, broke the news while the group was discussing their weekend activities.
"I feel like my weekend is best encapsulated in pictures. I think we maybe have some," Ikeda said, before displaying a black and white photograph of herself and her husband, Pat, holding up ultrasound images. The revelation left co-anchors Craig Melvin and Dylan Dreyer visibly stunned, with Melvin exclaiming, "Oh my god," and Dreyer asking if the news was serious before offering her congratulations.
Ikeda noted that the surprise was intended for the audience as well, explaining, "For those at home, they legitimately don't know. I'm surprising them right now." Following the announcement, Melvin and Dreyer embraced Ikeda to celebrate the news. During the segment, Ikeda shared that she is five months pregnant and due in January. She lightheartedly mentioned that, according to People, the baby is currently the "size of a banana."
Melvin joked about the timing of the announcement, noting that "Roker's not here," while Ikeda quipped, "Where's Al? Did Al call in from Italy to say this?" The control room also joined in the humor, with Melvin remarking that they pointed out Ikeda was about to have an "I-kiddo."
Following the broadcast, Ikeda shared the news on Instagram, writing in the caption of her Aug. 31 post that she was "bursting with gratitude" and "sharing with so much joy" that the baby is due in January. She also opened up about her physical experience during the pregnancy, telling her co-hosts that while she felt "absolutely miserable" with nausea during her first trimester, she is feeling better in her second. She added that she has reached the stage where she can feel the baby kicking, calling the sensation "miraculous."
Regarding the baby’s sex, Ikeda revealed that she and her husband do not plan to learn it before the birth, noting that it feels like "the ultimate surprise." She joked that she and her husband "are a little psychotic" for waiting, but are eagerly anticipating the arrival.
