Every time an actress becomes pregnant, the producers/writers have to decide whether to incorporate it into the storyline or cover it up- cue the large purses, close ups etc.

In the former case what real life pregnancies resulted in onscreen babies?

Way back in the 50's Mary Stuart was pregnant so Jo on SFT was also expecting, resulting in baby Duncan (who got killed off). Maybe that was the first soap to do that.

What are some instances you recall over the years?

Edited September 22Sep 22 by Paul Raven

I think both of KKL's first two pregnancies were written into B&B's storylines. They resulted on screen in Rick and Bridget.

Edited September 22Sep 22 by I Am A Swede

Melody Thomas-Scott had both her pregnancies written in and Bill Bell somewhat changed the course of the story for her first pregnancy.

I think Kim Zimmer's pregnancy was written in when Reva was pregnant with Marah or Shayne.

6 hours ago, I Am A Swede said:

I think both of KKL's first two pregnancies were written into B&B's storylines. They resulted on screen in Rick and Bridget.

Yes... and they came at just the right moments storyline wise too. LOL. KKL-Brooke was so cute when she had the baby-weight cheeks. Adorable. 

As the World Turns:

• Martha Byrne (Lily Walsh Snyder): Resulted in the introductions of Natalie Snyder (2002) and Ethan Snyder (2006)
• Kelley Menighan (Emily Stewart): Resulted in the introduction of Jennifer Ryan (2006)

The Bold and the Beautiful:

• Heather Tom (Katie Logan): Resulted in the introduction of Will Spencer (2012)
• Jacqueline MacInnes Wood (Steffy Forrester): Resulted in the introduction of Hayes Finnegan (2021)

Days of Our Lives:

• Allison Sweeney (Sami Brady): Resulted in the introduction of Sydney DiMera (2009)

General Hospital:

• Kimberly McCullough (Robin Scorpio): Resulted in the introduction of Noah Drake (2017)
• Kirsten Storms (Maxie Jones): Resulted in the introduction of Georgie Spinelli (2013)

The Young and the Restless:

• Elizabeth Hendrickson (Chloe Mitchell): Resulted in the introduction of Miles Mitchell (2020)

Lindsay Hartley on Passions in 2004. Theresa was pregnant with twins.. (One baby was Gwen’s) 

JMW's 2nd pregnancy on BOLD was written in AFTER she had given birth, when Steffy was pregnant with Hayes in 2021, they wrote it in while she was pregnant but Steffy gave birth after JWM had her leave and returned lol 

Laura Malone was pregnant when Blaine and Sandy had their son Alex on Another World in 1984. Laura was given a hard time about losing her baby weight and was replaced by Judy Dewey after her return from mat leave.

 

Lesley Lu Spencer was created because of Genie’s first child. They didn’t write in her second pregnancy, which resulted in her very long maternity leave.

Rena Sofer’s real life pregnancy was written in for BLQ, although she also ended up leaving the show after.

Wasn’t there a couple of examples of actors being pregnant and having to play out things like miscarriages and babies that didn’t survive very long after birth? I seem to remember a performer talking about this but I cannot remember who it was.

They there are people like Sarah Brown that had to play pregnant for a long time on the show, then became pregnant in real life, and they just had to roll with it because it would be too soon for her to be pregnant again.

1997/98 - Guiding Light's Jenna (Fiona Hutchison). It resulted in one of the most pointless babies ever created on soaps - Baby Rocky - dumb name with a re-written conception, saying it was Jeffrey Morgan's, which later resulted in her own death, and baby Rocky was shipped off at some point never to be seen again. 

A very consequential one would be Tracey Bregman's pregnancy on Y&R, which led to the birth of Scotty and kicked off the baby switch. Tracey's son Austin played baby Dylan, the one who was switched, so that he could be on set with Tracey even though he was not Lauren's biological son.

3 hours ago, titan1978 said:

They there are people like Sarah Brown that had to play pregnant for a long time on the show, then became pregnant in real life, and they just had to roll with it because it would be too soon for her to be pregnant again.

On AW Brittany had her baby in June 1986 and her husband Peter became abusive when he realised that the baby was Catlin's. Sharon Gabet has mentioned being pregnant in real life during the abuse storyline and when she left the show in January 1987.

Was Alice Barrett Mitchell pregnant IRL when Frankie miscarried in June 1991? Her daughter Julia was born in late January 1992.

 

Edited September 22Sep 22 by Xanthe
Frankie

Beth Ehlers’ pregnancy was written in as Harley expecting Rick’s baby on GL. Pointless child, can’t even remember his name. 

I seem to remember it was Eileen Davidson who was pregnant IRL, pregnancy was written in and then Ashley lost her baby in a car crash. Always thought that was a crass choice. 

ATWT

Maura West's first pregnancy, ended in her miscarrying Mike Kasnoff's child

Kelly Hensley's first pregnancy was written in I believe, Emily gave birth to Daniel Hughes

All of Martha Byrne's pregnancies were written in, resulting in Faith, Natalie and Ethan Snyder

Hillary Bailey Smith's pregnancy was written in, and Margo had an affair with Hal, producing Adam Hughes.

Collen Zenk's second pregnancy, when she gave birth to Will Munson.

 

Guiding Light

Two of Kim Zimmer's pregnancies, resulting in Marah and Shayne Lewis

Maeve Kinkead's second pregnancy, Vanessa gave birth to Bill Lewis.

Jessica Leccia's pregnancy, giving Frankie a daughter, Francesca.

Liz Kiefer's pregnancies, Blake giving birth to Kevin, Jason and Clarissa Marler.

Edited September 25Sep 25 by P.J.