Aubrey Plaza Announces Pregnancy

Aubrey Plaza has shared the exciting news that she is expecting her first child. During a recent episode of the podcast “Smartless,” the “Parks and Recreation” actress reflected on past medical challenges, mentioning that oral contraceptives might have played a role in her experience of having a stroke at the age of 20.

When the hosts inquired about her contraceptive choices moving forward, Plaza casually stated, “I have a baby inside of me,” catching Will Arnett, Jason Bateman, and Sean Hayes off guard.

She humorously recalled her day at the doctor’s office, saying, “Today was a big day. I went to the doctor today, and my dog went to the doctor too.” She added that both underwent tests, playfully elaborating, “I’m not kidding.” Plaza went on to share that she had a belly ultrasound and confirmed the presence of a baby.

The 41-year-old actress, who is in a relationship with actor Christopher Abbott, expressed her enthusiasm about motherhood, noting that she has always been curious about the experience.

Earlier in the podcast, Plaza opened up about the stroke she suffered—an incident she described as sudden and shocking. “It just happened out of nowhere, in the middle of a sentence,” she recounted. After a night out with her sisters, she began to feel strange while talking about a Hilary Duff concert.

She described the moment when her right arm felt numb and how disorienting that was. “I had slurred speech but felt like my arm wasn’t my own,” she explained, conveying the confusion and fear that accompanied the event. Plaza mentioned blacking out and losing the ability to speak, attributing it to a blood clot affecting her speech area.

In reflecting on her medical history, she expressed uncertainty about the cause, noting that birth control was the only medication she had taken at the time. Despite the trauma, Plaza continues to view her experience through a changed lens, especially regarding her spirituality, influenced significantly by her Catholic upbringing.

In a bittersweet context, Plaza’s pregnancy announcement follows the tragic suicide of her estranged husband, director Jeff Baena, earlier this year. The loss, which deeply affected her family, had been kept largely private.

The couple was together since 2011 and appears to have married in 2021, although details remain scarce. Plaza’s joyful news of impending motherhood comes amid a period of personal upheaval, revealing the complex layers of life’s journey.