Gypsy Rose Blanchard, who gained national attention for her involvement in the murder of her mother, Clauddine “Dee Dee” Blanchard, has announced that she is expecting her first child with her boyfriend, Ken Urker. The 32-year-old shared the news in a heartfelt 9-minute YouTube video, revealing that she is 11 weeks pregnant and due in January 2025.
“This was not planned at all, it was completely unexpected, but we’re both very excited to take on this new journey of parenthood,” Blanchard said. She described the pregnancy as a “blessing” and expressed her excitement about becoming a mother.
Blanchard and Urker’s relationship has had its ups and downs. They were previously engaged in 2018 but parted ways in 2019. Blanchard then married Ryan Anderson in a prison wedding ceremony in 2022, but the couple split earlier this year. Following her separation from Anderson, Blanchard reconnected with Urker, and the two have been together since.
Blanchard’s announcement comes after a tumultuous period in her life. She was sentenced to 10 years in prison for her role in the murder of her mother, who was killed by Blanchard’s then-boyfriend, Nicholas Godejohn. Dee Dee Blanchard had subjected her daughter to years of abuse, convincing her and others that Gypsy was severely ill with various conditions, including leukemia and muscular dystrophy, which she did not actually have. Gypsy was forced to use a wheelchair and an oxygen tank, despite not needing them.
Godejohn was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison. Blanchard, who was released from prison in December 2023 after serving seven years, has since been trying to rebuild her life.
In her YouTube video, Blanchard spoke candidly about her pregnancy symptoms, including food cravings and mood swings. She also reflected on the emotional impact of becoming a mother. “Suddenly, it’s not about you,” she said. “It’s not about anything other than the tiny little life that’s inside you, that you are now in charge of protecting.”
Blanchard became emotional as she discussed her desire to be a good mother. “All of the things I wished I could have had when I was little… All of the things that I wanted in a mother, I want to give to this baby,” she said. “I just want to be a good mother for my child, I want to be everything my mother wasn’t.”
Urker has been supportive throughout Blanchard’s pregnancy, despite her mood swings and other symptoms. “He’s been very gracious about it. He’s been very forgiving about it,” she said. Blanchard also mentioned dealing with some fatigue but noted that her pregnancy has been relatively smooth so far.
Blanchard’s pregnancy has brought her a sense of peace and purpose. “I feel a shift in myself. When I found I was pregnant, none of anything else mattered,” she said. “The drama, the social media, the feud between creator and me and all of that drama, just all faded. It didn’t matter anymore.”
She emphasized that her focus is now on ensuring her health, the baby’s health, and maintaining a positive relationship with Urker. “All that matters is making sure that I’m healthy, the baby is healthy, my relationship with Ken is healthy and we are moving forward in a positive way,” she added.
Blanchard’s journey to motherhood is a significant chapter in her life, one that she hopes will be filled with love and happiness. “It’s an amazing feeling when your whole world shifts, suddenly it’s not about you, it’s not about anything other than the tiny little life that’s inside you that you are protecting,” she said. “That tiny life is a baby, a little tiny human that’s yours, that you have to make sure that you protect, you love, you take care of. All of the things that I wish I had when I was little.”
Blanchard’s story has been one of resilience and transformation. From her troubled past to her current journey towards motherhood, she has shown a determination to create a better future for herself and her child. “Knowing that I am a mother now, and I’m happy, and I just want to be a good mother for my child. I want to be everything my mother wasn’t,” she said.
As Blanchard and Urker prepare to welcome their baby in January 2025, they are looking forward to the new experiences and challenges that parenthood will bring. “We’re gonna stick together, we’re not breaking. We are a family now. And as unconventional as this relationship and this child may have come from, I couldn’t be happier and this is a blessing,” Blanchard said.
Blanchard’s announcement has been met with mixed reactions, but she remains focused on her new role as a mother. “I found my freedom in a way that I never expected and I’m OK with that. Everything that has ever happened to me in my life suddenly doesn’t matter because it all led me to be who I am today, and it all led me to this moment right here, right now. And that’s a blessing to say that I made it,” she concluded.
Source: CBS News, TODAY.com, E! News, ET
