Savannah Guthrie reveals she had a miscarriage after birth of daughter Vale

Savannah Guthrie has revealed that she suffered a miscarriage and underwent two rounds of in vitro fertilization before welcoming her second child. 

The Today host, 50, and her co-anchor Hoda Kotb, 57, opened up about their struggles with infertility and being ‘older’ moms while starring on the cover of the April 2022 issues of Good Housekeeping. 

Guthrie, who has a seven-year-old daughter, Vale, and a five-year-old son, Charley, admitted that she started to doubt she would ever have children and become a mom as she got older. 

‘I stopped even letting myself hope or believe I could [get pregnant], because the years were getting on. It wasn’t that I thought it was impossible; I just thought it wasn’t likely. I didn’t want to get my hopes up,’ she told the magazine. 

Guthrie and her Today co-anchor Hoda Kotb, 57, opened up about their struggles with infertility and being ‘older’ moms in the magazine’s April 2022 issue 

‘I just tried to tell myself that it would be OK if it didn’t happen: “Maybe it’s not meant for me, and that’s OK because I’ve already been blessed so much in my life. I’m not entitled to have a baby too,”‘ she recalled. 

‘Looking back, that mindset was probably a self-defense mechanism.’

Guthrie was fourth months pregnant with Vale when she married her husband, Michael Feldman, in 2014. After welcoming their daughter in August of that year, she had a miscarriage and did two rounds of IVF to get pregnant with her son. 

The mother of two was 44 when she welcomed Charley in December 2016. 

Kotb, who is mom to adopted daughters Haley, five, and Hope, two, also spent years thinking that parenthood wasn’t in the cards for her. She was diagnosed with breast cancer when she was 42 years old and came out of treatment unable to conceive. 

‘I remember that my oncologist called and we were talking about freezing my eggs. She basically said that given my age and [my breast cancer treatment], it was pretty close to a dead end,’ she told Good Housekeeping. 

The Today stars are all smiles while posing together on the cover of the new issue 

‘I was in my room and I just sobbed. I thought, “Well, that’s that, isn’t it? Like, you almost blame yourself. Why didn’t I do this? Why didn’t I do that?” So I just pushed it away, because the reality seemed impossible to bear,’ she recalled. 

‘How do you survive knowing you can’t have what you desire and what you feel like you actually physically need?’ 

Kotb later realized she was meant to be a mom and pursued adoption with the support of her ex-fiancé, Joel Schiffman, with whom she shares her two daughters. 

She announced on the Today show last month that she and Schiffman, 63, had broken up after eight years together, saying they are ‘better as friends and parents.’ 

‘I don’t think I would’ve adopted if it hadn’t been for Joel. Having a stable relationship in that moment was really important. Once that fell into place, it didn’t seem as scary to me,’ she told Good Housekeeping.  

The mother of two shared that she also reached out to actress Sandra Bullock, who has two adopted children of her own.   

Guthrie, who has a seven-year-old daughter, Vale, and a five-year-old son, Charley, admitted that she once doubted she would ever have children

After she and her husband, Michael Feldman, welcomed their daughter in August 2014, she had a miscarriage and did two rounds of IVF to get pregnant with their son, Charley (pictured)

‘I stopped even letting myself hope or believe I could [get pregnant], because the years were getting on,’ Guthrie told Good Housekeeping 

‘I’d always felt a weird connection to her, though I only knew her from the show. But she was my age, and I just thought, “Wow, she’s really cool.” I called her, and we talked,’ Kotb explained. ‘She said adopting was the most important thing she’d ever done. 

‘When I had made the decision to adopt and was on the plane to pick up my [first] daughter, I called her again. She said, “It’s about to begin!” Sometimes all you need is a model before [you realize], I can handle it.’ 

Guthrie and Kotb both agreed that there are benefits to being an ‘older’ mom, saying they are more patient and calmer than they were when they were younger. 

‘Hoda and I are both at a point in our careers where we have a lot more certainty about our schedules — that helps,’ Guthrie said. ‘By this time in life you’ve seen a few things and you know how to weather the ups and downs. 

‘I’m glad my kids don’t have the stressed, anxious, and insecure 30-year-old version of me. The peace and calmness that comes with age is a great thing for kids to see in action,’ she explained, though she sometimes wonders if she’d be less tired if she was younger. 

‘We live in New York City, and there are a lot of older parents, so you don’t stick out like a sore thumb,’ she noted. ‘But sometimes I wonder, on a Saturday afternoon when I’m really tired, “Do younger parents feel this way?” And the answer is yes. I know them, they’re my friends — and they’re exhausted. 

Kotb, who is mom to adopted daughters Haley, five, and Hope, two, also spent years thinking that parenthood wasn’t in the cards for her

Kotb was diagnosed with breast cancer when she was 42 years old and came out of treatment unable to conceive

‘All parents have those moments of low energy and times they’re frustrated. That’s just the nature of it.’

Kotb added that having children later on in life has given her a new perspective.  

‘All of a sudden all the things about having little kids that seem like a problem, you see in a whole different way,’ she said. ‘And I find myself being so much more patient and calm than I ever would have been at a younger age.’

The Today anchors shared that it is helpful to work closely with another mom who understands what they are going through day to day.  

Since they both have high-pressured jobs, they know that finding a balance between their careers and motherhood can sometimes feel next to impossible.  

Kotb said talking to her co-star makes her ‘feel less alone, while Guthrie shared that they ‘trade parenting tips or ideas.’ 

Kotb credited her ex-fiancé, Joel Schiffman (pictured), with helping her become a mom, saying she doesn’t think she ‘would’ve adopted if it hadn’t been for Joel’

Kotb also reached out to actress Sandra Bullock, who has two adopted children of her own. She and Schiffman adopted Haley in February 2017 (left) and Hope in April 2019 (right)

The journalist announced on the Today show last month that she and Schiffman, 63, had broken up after eight years together, saying they are ‘better as friends and parents’

‘I don’t know what balance is. Sometimes you’re out of whack — and sometimes you have a good day. I don’t even think in those terms,’ Guthrie explained. ‘My family is my priority — it’s not even a close call — but I have a job that I just love. And so I try to do both to the best of my ability.’

The moms also shared their key takeaways as parents, with both of them agreeing that they have to be good examples for their children. 

‘I want my kids, particularly my little girl, to have a positive body image. I say all the right words, but I’m not sure that’s what she sees every day,’ Guthrie said. ‘It really makes you look hard at yourself, and there’s nothing I care more about than for her to grow up feeling confident and strong and just loving herself. 

‘And so for me…I said to myself, “Well, you’d better straighten this out right now, you’d better get your head on straight,” because this little girl is watching you.’

Kotb shared that she has found it’s important to be honest and authentic because your children will notice if you’re not. 

‘Our kids sense every single thing we do, and they feel everything. They know if you’re being real and they know when you’re not,’ she explained. 

‘You have to really figure out who you are, because your kids are taking notes. Just be truthful and be true to yourself, and your kids are going to turn out just fine.’