Hayley Erbert Opens Up About Overwhelming Joy and Heartbreak of New Motherhood With Derek Hough

Dancing With the Stars alum Hayley Erbert is sharing a deeply emotional reflection on motherhood after welcoming her first child with husband Derek Hough, describing the experience as one that has left her heart 'breaking into a million pieces' — in the most beautiful way possible.

Erbert, who married the longtime DWTS judge and choreographer in 2023, opened up publicly about the complex emotions that have accompanied her transition into parenthood, saying that motherhood has proven to be 'even more complex and contradicting' than she ever could have imagined.

The arrival of the couple's first baby carries an especially profound weight given the life-threatening health scare Erbert faced just two years ago. In December 2023, she underwent emergency brain surgery after suffering a cranial hematoma — a serious condition in which blood pools between the brain and skull — that left fans and loved ones fearing for her life.

Her recovery was long and uncertain, making the milestone of becoming a mother all the more significant. Derek Hough was vocal throughout her recovery about his gratitude and admiration for her strength, and the couple has since spoken openly about how the experience reshaped their perspectives on life and family.

Erbert's candid words about motherhood resonate with many new parents who find the journey to be both transcendent and emotionally overwhelming. Her honesty about the contradictions of the experience — joy intertwined with vulnerability — has drawn an outpouring of support from fans and fellow parents alike.

The couple's journey from a medical crisis to welcoming new life has become an inspiring story of resilience, love, and renewal that continues to unfold in the public eye.