Alyssa Farah Griffin missed The View as she went into labor with her first child, a baby boy
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The co-host previously shared her excitement about becoming a mom after a challenging IVF journey and endometriosis diagnosis
Guest hosts, including Savannah Chrisley and Sheryl Underwood, will fill in during her maternity leave starting Feb. 17
Alyssa Farah Griffinwas absent fromThe Viewon Tuesday, Feb. 10, for a very good reason.
At the top of the ABC daytime show, co-hostWhoopi Goldbergrevealed that the former White House Communications Director turned television personality wasn't at the Hot Topics table because she was in labor.
"She's at the hospital right now!" Goldberg, 70, said, to the cheers of the audience and fellow panelistsSara Haines, Joy Behar and Sunny Hostin. "And we are wishing her the best as she waits for her baby boy to arrive."
"Yeah, it's kind of fabulous!" Goldberg added, encouraging the applause. "Welcome that baby!"
Just on Monday, Alyssa had sat atThe Viewtable, joking about howBad Bunny's Super Bowl Halftime Showperformance might put her into labor early.
Alyssa —who is expecting her first baby, a boy,with husbandJustin Griffin— was planning to begin her maternity leave after the show on Friday, Feb. 13, though told PEOPLE last week she was ready to go anytime.
"I'm due Feb. 19, but my doctor expects he'll arrive slightly early, so it's keeping me on my toes," the conservative pundit said. "I'm ready for any scenario, really."
Of course, pregnancy is nothing new atThe View.Co-hosts over the years likeHaines,Elisabeth Hasselbeck,Abby HuntsmanandMeghan McCainhave been pregnant on air before her.
"I've been really lucky and I felt really, really supported by the show," the 36-year-old said. "Everyone's used to the rhythm of it here. It's old news!"
Lou Rocco/ABC
That support at work has included contingency plans to account for a range of health-related scenarios, like discreet camera adjustments if Alyssa feels nauseous or prearranged exit routes if she needs to step off set unexpectedly — none of which, luckily, anyone actually had to use.
But the preparation has also carried over to the Griffin home, where Alyssa's bags have been packed for over two weeks now.
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"Oh, we're ready," Alyssa shared. "I'm a very risk-averse person. And after going through such a difficult IVF process, and being a higher risk pregnancy to being with, I've really leaned into trusting what my doctor's best recommendations. So I just went over my birth plan with my amazing OB-GYN and feel really happy about where we landed."
"The only fear I have now is, 'Am I going to be with my husband?' " Alyssa noted. "That's something every pregnant woman deals with. 'Are we going to hop in the car together and drive into the city? Am I going to be at the studio and he's working?' Those logistics are all up in the air. But it's all going to be fine."
ABC/Lou Rocco
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PEOPLE helped break the news of Alyssa's pregnancy back in October. The happy announcement came after a long journey for the Griffin, who wed in November 2021 and tried for two years before conceiving after five rounds of in vitro fertilization (IVF).
During that span, Alyssa learned she had endometriosis, a condition where tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside of it, making it harder to get pregnant. "I went undiagnosed my whole life until I started this process," Alyssa shared at the time. "So that just added to the complications."
But all the struggles, they say, were worth it — especially when they found out they were having a boy.
"I'm so excited to be a boy mom, even though I'll be outnumbered at home because we have two male dogs." Alyssa said, joking thatThe Viewco-hosts will help "balance" things out. "But wanted a boy first. I grew up with sisters, and I've always liked the idea of a big brother looking out for the younger siblings (because we both want two kids)."
That's something Justin knows firsthand. "I grew up with a younger brother, and you have a built-in best friend," he said. "Even now — my brother, he's also my business partner. He beat me to the altar and now has lapped me in the delivery room with two amazing kids. And I've got to watch him grow into this unbelievable dad, balancing it all effortlessly, which is really cool. I'll definitely be looking to him, and my own fantastic father, as an example for the type of dad I want to be."
ABC/Michael Le Brecht II
As forThe View, they've got plans Alyssa's final day onThe Viewis expected to be Friday, Feb. 13, should she make it to her due date. From there, guest hosts will start filling in, beginning withSavannah Chrisleyon Feb. 17.
Others announced to keep her seat warm include Amanda Carpenter, Sheryl Underwood, Whitney Cummings and former co-hosts Hasselbeck and Huntsman.
Read the original article onPeople
